# articles

feed_id: 53d7be37726fda5a1148ff8ad04e3ee8
title: Failure and future of democracy
uri: Failure-and-future-of-democracy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Failure_and_future_of_democracy%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/07/29/failure-and-future-democracy-europe">
The Failure — and Future — of Democracy In Europe.</a>
</p>


feed_id: e5c86605b7004b3281e901a7eb96123a
title: Human rights in China
uri: Human-rights-in-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Human_rights_in_China%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/01/opinion/chinas-vs-its-human-rights-lawyers.html">
China vs. Its Human Rights Lawyers.</a>
</p>


feed_id: d4beebc255a140f6446fec9a5cea521e
title: Ignorance of face recognition
uri: Ignorance-of-face-recognition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Ignorance_of_face_recognition%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/07/31/the-government-doesnt-know-how-businesses-are-using-tech-that-tracks-your-face/">
The [US] Government Doesn't Know How Businesses Are Using Tech That
Tracks 
Your Face.</a>
</p>


feed_id: 1f3e89a58b722c2c1b3e69607994d592
title: NSA phone records
uri: NSA-phone-records
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28NSA_phone_records%29
content:
<p>"The NSA has said it will delete its mountain of private telephone
records belonging to millions of Americans — just 
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/07/27/nsa_phone_metadata_latest/">
as soon as people stop suing it</a>
 for having done so."
</p>


feed_id: a779e6757e97d695b43e347056fb65a6
title: Facebook name policy challenged
uri: Facebook-name-policy-challenged
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Facebook_name_policy_challenged%29

content:
<p>One region of Germany has required Facebook to 
<a href="http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-07-29/hey-facebook-scrap-the-real-name-rule">
drop its "real name" rule</a>.
</p>
<p>It isn't clear to me whether this allows one person to get multiple
accounts
and use them for different purposes.</p>


feed_id: b4233b42af82527eff6e64bfd29d9083
title: Thugs can be reformed
uri: Thugs-can-be-reformed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Thugs_can_be_reformed%29
content:
<p>US thugs killed 115 people in July, in the 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/01/july-deadliest-month-2015-police-related-killings">
deadliest month so far</a>
 this year.
</p>
<p>New training enabled the Philadelphia thug department to 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/02/philadelphia-police-related-deaths-plunge-reform">
kill a lot fewer people</a>.
</p>


feed_id: cce7f4e3ea63a2e1e77307a7fd0cbb13
title: Burundi attack
uri: Burundi-attack
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Burundi_attack%29
content:
<p>The second-in-command of Burundi's "president" was 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/02/burundis-de-facto-internal-security-chief-killed-in-rocket-attack-on-car">
killed in an attack</a>
 with rockets.
He was responsible for crushing the protests against the "president"'s
seizure of unconstitutional power.</p>
<p>Part of the army rose up against "president" Nkurunziza, but was
suppressed.  It looks like some in the army have not given up the
fight.</p>
<p>Whether the army would defend constitutional principles, or just give
someone else the chance to seize power, I can't guess.</p>


feed_id: a56368d5ce82928413482e1e6c132869
title: Digital discrimination
uri: Digital-discrimination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Digital_discrimination%29
content:
<p>Many bookmakers in the UK systematically 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global/2015/aug/02/betting-horses-gambling-bookmakers-accounts-closed">
close the accounts of bettors</a>
that win.
</p>
<p>I don't think it is very important whether anyone can bet on horse
races, or whether races are held at all.  I mention this as an example
of how replacement of anonymous cash transactions with digital
accounts changes the system to the disadvantage of the customers.</p>
<p>In some cases it leads to 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-sep-dec.html#29_December_2012_(Airline_fares)">
not offering everyone the same price</a>.
</p>


feed_id: f51eb63f5fc45c8d38d2f4db36766a8e
title: Chinese medical care
uri: Chinese-medical-care
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Chinese_medical_care%29
content:
<p>China will give all citizens 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/02/china-medical-insurance-healthcare-xi-jinping">
50% coverage of medical care</a>
 for critical illnesses.
</p>
<p>This isn't up to the standard of advanced countries, but it surpasses
what the US does.  The US should provide universal medical coverage.</p>


feed_id: 19cbe5322d7ef9e9f070c042e0451073
title: Confiding in smartphones
uri: Confiding-in-smartphones
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Confiding_in_smartphones%29
content:
<p>In China, millions of people 
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/04/science/for-sympathetic-ear-more-chinese-turn-to-smartphone-program.html">
confide in a glorified "doctor" program</a>.
</p>
<p>This is a dangerous way to find a confidant: the state is surely
reading the messages.</p>


feed_id: 96bee7943dc80aab9c8e05880e44aa6f
title: Sued over toxic leaks
uri: Sued-over-toxic-leaks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Sued_over_toxic_leaks%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/01/vedanta-zambia-copper-mining-toxic-leaks">
Zambian Villagers Take Mining Giant Vedanta to Court in UK Over Toxic
Leaks.</a>
</p>


feed_id: 408c5bb0136e99ffac6665443579dd86
title: Biometrics for air travel
uri: Biometrics-for-air-travel
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Biometrics_for_air_travel%29
content:
<p>Watch out if you are invited to 
<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/2015/0730/Biometrics-the-future-of-air-travel">
use fingerprints to identify yourself</a>
 for a flight!
</p>
<p>I don't mind if they offer this option…as long as it remains
just an option.  I will not agree to it.</p>
<p>How about checking some other part of the body, such as the inside of
the elbow, which does not generally leave impressions where we go?
I would not mind if the inside of my elbow were scanned several times
in an airport, and another part of my body the following week in another
airport.</p>


feed_id: 77f920ae7ee81a92cff1cf189c9dc0e6
title: Zachary Hammond shooting
uri: Zachary-Hammond-shooting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Zachary_Hammond_shooting%29
content:
<p>Thugs in South Carolina claim a thug shot Zachary Hammond in self
defense, but
an autopsy 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/01/police-shooting-zachary-hammond-south-carolina">
suggests they are lying</a>.
</p>


feed_id: 6e8509e837f3a7481283b0425ca0f543
title: Media hype furthers terrorism
uri: Media-hype-furthers-terrorism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Media_hype_furthers_terrorism%29
content:
<p>A statistical study found that media coverage of terrorist violence
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/aug/01/media-coverage-terrorism-further-violence">
leads to more terrorist violence</a>.
The more coverage an act gets, the more similar attacks occur shortly
after.</p>


feed_id: 3d38d375e74a8ccf297362de20537ff1
title: Urgent: support Mass. ammendment
uri: Urgent-support-Mass-ammendment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_support_Mass._amendment%29

content:
<p>Massachusetts citizens: support the Massachusetts constitutional
amendment saying that 
<a href="http://passmassamendment.wikispaces.com/The+Language">
corporations are not people</a>
 and allowing regulation of campaign spending.
</p>


feed_id: 61b97336fcd18a4d3c9a6d307f0d2f02
title: Urgent: prosecute thug that arrested Sandra Bland
uri: Urgent-prosecute-thug-that-arrested-Sandra-Bland
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_prosecute_thug_that_arrested_Sandra_Bland%29

content:
<p>Everyone: <a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/prosecute-brian-encinia/?t=1008&akid=4645.1242918.D61bdt">demand prosecution of the thug that arrested Sandra Bland.</a></p>


feed_id: 0b91884576f0de646a26ba52cf793a74
title: Urgent: reconnect water to Flint, Michigan
uri: Urgent-reconnect-water-to-Flint-Michigan
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_reconnect_water_to_Flint%2C_Michigan_%29

content:
<p>Everyone: <a href="https://secure3.convio.net/fww/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=058D038A6DF4BE4CA2DC2906F9F002FF.app334a?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=2199">call on Flint, Michigan, to reconnect its water to Detroit.</a></p>


feed_id: 1d6b9a611dfdd9b080e0ffb073c504ac
title: Urgent: free Chinese human rights lawyers
uri: Urgent-free-Chinese-human-rights-lawyers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_free_Chinese_human_rights_lawyers%29

content:
<p>Everyone: <a href="https://act.amnestyusa.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1839&ea.campaign.id=40699&ea.tracking.id=Country_China~MessagingCategory_CensorshipandFreeSpeech~MessagingCategory_PrisonersandPeopleatRisk&ac=W1507EACSR1">call on China to free the arrested human rights lawyers.</a></p>


feed_id: 7ebc89f926f4b26cef89a5c278fac469
title: Tory lite
uri: Tory-lite
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Tory_lite%29
content:
<p>The "Tory lite" faction of the Labour Party can't understand why the party's members <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/03/jeremy-corbyn-new-labour-centre-left">are about to vote for a leader who stands for real support for the non-rich.</a></p>


feed_id: 71a8cb78cc636e557ead678dbcbaba6d
title: Protect sharks
uri: Protect-sharks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Protect_sharks%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.defendersblog.org/2015/07/sharks-the-wolves-of-the-sea/">Sharks are necessary to prevent ecosystems from getting out of whack.</a></p>
<p>So we need to protect them.</p>


feed_id: 97c1f5cf22443d74d9e33773083dcc8a
title: The Internet of Thieves
uri: The-Internet-of-Thieves
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28The_Internet_of_Thieves%29
content:
<p>Putting a safe on the internet creates <a href="http://www.wired.com/2015/07/brinks-super-secure-smart-safes-not-secure/">the Internet of Thieves.</a></p>


feed_id: 249f53311e78cdad3be0dcb42d0dc254
title: Environmental deficit
uri: Environmental-deficit
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Environmental_deficit%29
content:
<p>The most dangerous deficit is <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/03/our-environmental-deficit-is-now-beyond-natures-ability-to-regenerate">the environmental deficit,</a> which measures the environmental unsustainability of humanity's current mode of existence.</a></p>
<p>If we don't reduce our ecological footprint, we are in for disasters that will do so by killing people or wiping out industries.</p>


feed_id: df32dcae2aa88ad8786602834bda7944
title: California wildfires
uri: California-wildfires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28California_wildfires%29
content:
<p>California wildfires are raging; <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/03/california-wildfires-destroy-forests-threaten-homes">one has have burned 84 square miles.</a></p>


feed_id: 4d1ed95c92a5de06255d3fe704ebe32d
title: Troy Goode
uri: Troy-Goode
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Troy_Goode%29
content:
<p>Thugs arrested Troy Goode and tied him up.  Then they put him in a
hospital, and stopped his relatives from visiting him <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/21/man-hogtied-mississippi-police-dies-wife-alleges-threats-hospital-visit">until he died.</a></p>


feed_id: 2697892d72ba8d73cf5d071b742856be
title: Genetic engineering
uri: 2015-08-13-Genetic-engineering
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Genetic_engineering%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2015/07/fahrenkrug-genetic-modification-gmo-animals">A genetic engineering project could eliminate the need for painful dehorning of cattle.</a></p>
<p>I don't see anything wrong in principle with this project, and maybe
it is not wrong at all.  However, one needs to check for various
possible secondary problems.  Meanwhile, if this spreads patent
pollution, it could be harmful socially even if it is not harmful
biologically.</p>


feed_id: e8d76a9fae7f4cdac7667307add4d9da
title: Persecution of Christians
uri: Persecution-of-Christians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Persecution_of_Christians%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/27/christians-under-pressure-bigotry-school-imprisonment-murder">Christians face persecution for their religion, even murder, in many parts of the world.</a></p>
<p>Alas, Christians often persecute others when in the majority.</p>
<p>Nowadays it doesn't often go as far as murder.</p>


feed_id: 54a2d504d0da071b258f6b2c79c2e195
title: Copying and sharing
uri: Copying-and-sharing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Copying_and_sharing%29
content:
<p><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/copying-and-sharing-was-always-a-natural-right-restricting-copying-never-was-150802/">Copying And Sharing Was Always A Natural Right; Restricting Copying Never Was.</a></p>


feed_id: 0c7f93f27a01fc5dfa3060a781031e5a
title: Mexican journalist dead
uri: Mexican-journalist-dead
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Mexican_journalist_dead%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/02/mexican-photojournalist-killed-ruben-espinosa-tortured">Mexican Photojournalist Found Dead Was Likely Tortured.</a></p>


feed_id: 0752efe42ae2f49adc0bea3a54569af3
title: Bypass of Web censorship
uri: Bypass-of-Web-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Bypass_of_Web_censorship%29
content:
<p><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/anti-web-blocking-site-more-popular-in-the-uk-than-spotify-skype-150802/">A UK web site that bypasses government-imposed web censorship</a> is among the most popular sites.</p>


feed_id: 43886f2501b021a1e9cc640b1def34e6
title: Yemenite World Heritage Sites bombed
uri: Yemenite-World-Heritage-Sites-bombed
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Yemenite_World_Heritage_Sites_bombed%29

content:
<p>Saudi Arabia's bombing of Yemen <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/02/cultural-treasurs-are-also-victims-war">has damaged UNESCO World Heritage sites,</a> and destroyed a museum with an important research collection.</p>


feed_id: e7a073106790a192766e667877180b84
title: Shock capitalism in Ukraine
uri: Shock-capitalism-in-Ukraine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Shock_capitalism_in_Ukraine%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/07/28/ukraine-ripe-shock-doctrine">Ukraine is being subject to shock capitalism.</a></p>


feed_id: a3f1f7e04965b00a0e8f6f7383d6b3c2
title: Keeping state dealings secret
uri: Keeping-state-dealings-secret
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Keeping_state_dealings_secret%29
content:
<p>The dangerous practice of <a href="https://freedom-to-tinker.com/blog/davelevine/the-chilling-effects-of-confidentiality-creep/">keeping state dealings secret,</a> simply to protect companies from embarrassment about what they are doing.</p>


feed_id: 3b6b4786470b71941c9882c76f5e4bcf
title: Google and Guber pre-empt human rights
uri: Google-and-Guber-pre-empt-human-rights
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Google_and_Guber_pre-empt_human_rights%29

content:
<p>Companies such as Google and Guber are trying to pre-empt laws that protect the rights of human beings, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/28/uber-lawlessness-sharing-economy-corporates-airbnb-google">by charging in against them.</a></p>
<p>I would never consider using Guber, even if it paid drivers decently, because it is a surveillance system.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.in/eben-moglen/why-corporate-surveillanc_b_7879094.html?utm_hp_ref=india">Surveillance by companies dwarfs the direct surveillance by many governments, and feeds government surveillance,</a> so we must get rid of it.</p>
<p>If we do not want <a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">a world of total surveillance that forecloses democracy,</a></p>
<p>we must make a point of not being surveilled.</p>


feed_id: 6ba9733da18eabb04cab99368d53c99d
title: Volunteer
uri: 2015-08-13-Volunteer
url: https://stallman.org/index.html#volunteerListAnc
content:
<p>I am looking for people to help webmasters make simple but substantial changes in their
     web sites — for instance, to use the GNU Project's
     recommended terminology.</p>


feed_id: e3d36ed6fe9ca18ea22b048097ebc841
title: Irish economy
uri: Irish-economy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Irish_economy%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/30/irish-economy-grows-strongly-return-pre-crisis-levels">
Seen in plutocratist terms</a>, the Irish economy has "recovered" from the
crisis.
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/economics-blog/2015/jul/10/ireland-no-model-greece-troika-austerity">
For the non-rich</a>, there is no recovery.
<p>
  Perhaps the rich are enthusiastic about this outcome, having gained
  at the
expense of the rest.


feed_id: 6ba7ac1f34cc2bc1c99e63ae7bd8ef8d
title: Urgent: Schedules That Work Act
uri: 2015-08-13-Urgent-Schedules-That-Work-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Schedules_That_Work_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/schedules_that_work/?t=1001&akid=2200.1105163.LGx1IR">
support the Schedules That Work Act</a>.
<p>
Here's
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3071">
information about the bill</a>.
  It doesn't go far enough, but it is a step forward.


feed_id: 5226c244ba23559131bd1dc98247d0b6
title: Unable to reach agreement
uri: Unable-to-reach-agreement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Unable_to_reach_agreement%29
content:
<p>
The
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/03/trans-pacific-trade-deal-stumbled-now-time-walk-away">
negotiations on the Treacherous Plutocratic Poison</a> were unable to
reach agreement.
<p>
Delay is on our side, as the Canadian and US election campaigns will
put legislators under pressure to reject it.


feed_id: 6b5d461f9fc57f57dd00a6d24dab8fcd
title: Scott Walker
uri: Scott-Walker
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Scott_Walker%29
content:
<p>
Scott Walker welcomed a
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/03/scott-walker-climate-change-fake-check-koch-brothers">
group of young supporters</a>, who gave him an
imitation
check for $900 million from Koch brothers for 'climate denial'.


feed_id: a8abff881877455136287210ec537cab
title: Flack from prohibitionists
uri: Flack-from-prohibitionists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Flack_from_prohibitionists%29
content:
<p>
Amnesty International is taking flack from prohibitionists
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/03/prostitution-sex-workers-amnesty-meryl-streep-lena-dunham">
for
listening
to sex workers</a>.
<p>
Prudish disapproval finds many disguises, even passing itself off as
"feminism".
<p>
Legalizing sex work does not have to mean deregulating it.
Trafficking and enslavement are a problem in sex work as well as in
various other fields.  Proper regulations can interfere with
trafficking.


feed_id: 6614f6c731f07bbfcba0227e22c444ed
title: Adam Smith
uri: Adam-Smith
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Adam_Smith%29
content:
<p>
239 Years Ago,
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/03/239-years-ago-adam-smith-predicted-anger-seattle-business-ceo-pays-workers-well/">
Adam Smith Predicted Fury of Seattle Business at CEO
Who Pays Workers Well</a>.
But perhaps "reported on" would be more accurate than "predicted".
<p>
The best part of the article is the list of quotations from Adam Smith
that plutocratists would not like.


feed_id: 60021b98f34af5e3bf724984eec4ac73
title: Imposed filters
uri: Imposed-filters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Imposed_filters%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/03/india-blocks-more-than-800-sites-in-web-porn-crackdown">
India's government has imposed filters</a> blocking access to hundreds of
"indecent" web sites.


feed_id: d6e897c613c050ba7ea56c008c279ac8
title: Unsafe dams
uri: Unsafe-dams
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Unsafe_dams%29
content:
<p>
Many dams in the US are
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/03/buckeye-lake-dam-accident-waiting-to-happen">
unsafe and need maintenance</a> to prevent
disasters.


feed_id: f8f4428172560647dd4aba676c413038
title: US bombing campaign
uri: US-bombing-campaign
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28US_bombing_campaign%29
content:
<p>
The US bombing campaign against PISSI has
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/03/us-led-air-strikes-on-isis-targets-killed-more-than-450-civilians-report">
killed at least 459
civilians</a>.
The US dishonors itself by denying this.
<p>
It is impossible to have a war without killing and wounding some
civilians.  The enemy, PISSI, has intentionally murdered thousands of
civilians.  Compared with that, the unintended civilian casualties of
US bombing are few.
<p>
Nonetheless, Sunnis living under PISSI's control may well feel safe
from
PISSI, and consider the US bombing the principal present danger.
Thus, the US needs to reduce these casualties by not attacking cities.


feed_id: eafe3fe0774b1f1349b6efe9c0ce3f2f
title: Slavery Problems
uri: Slavery-Problems
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Slavery_Problems%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/03/political-staff-overruled-purists-state-department-tallied-countries-slavery-problems/">
Political Staff Overruled</a> "Purists" at State Department Who Tallied
Slavery Problems.
<p>
14 countries were given grades they don't deserve, including China and
India.


feed_id: 14093d592b33cdb61f5c7c5c75fb7b13
title: 8-year-old boy
uri: 8-year-old-boy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%288-year-old_boy%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/03/kentucky-sheriffs-department-sued-over-handcuffing-of-eight-year-old-boy">
US thugs handcuffed</a> an 8-year-old boy.
  It could have been worse — at least they didn't go on to club
  him.
<p>
20 children have been killed by thugs that handcuffed them or tied
them up.


feed_id: b56cfa87610a7c6121fcb577a09e9f41
title: Funding for Planned Parenthood
uri: Funding-for-Planned-Parenthood
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_August_2015_%28Funding_for_Planned_Parenthood%29
content:
<p>
SCROTUS <a href="#scrotus">(*)</a>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/03/planned-parenthood-defunding-fails-senate">
failed in the attempt to eliminate funding</a> for Planned
Parenthood.
<p id="scrotus">
* SCROTUS: Sleazy Congressional Republicans Of The United States.
</p>


feed_id: 50d20a2eeb07b0b9073458165b391835
title: Staff of US Senate cafeteria
uri: Staff-of-US-Senate-cafeteria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Staff_of_US_Senate_cafeteria%29
content:
<p>The staff at the (privatized) US Senate cafeteria <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/05/us-senate-worker-shouldnt-have-dance-strip-clubs">do not make a living wage.</a>
<p> They find themselves with no income whenever the Senate is not in session.</p>
<p>It is natural for companies to "trim the fat" in ways that cause great
hardship for their employees or those they serve.  Democratic
government was invented to stop them.  Our democratic government is
failing to do its job.</p>
<p>There are other lessons to be learned here.  For instance, people like
the writer's mother should not have children.</p>


feed_id: 3a9a6bb1febbc05ad3ed28dfe0296f33
title: ID Cards In Argentina
uri: ID-Cards-In-Argentina
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Argentina_ids%29
content:
<p></p>
The system of national ID registration in Argentina <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/12/argentina-lack-of-id-leaves-hundreds-of-thousands-living-in-the-shadows">creates an underclass of around 2% of citizens who don't have ID cards.</a><p></p>
The shallow conclusion is that it should be easier and cheaper to get an ID card.<p></p>
I think this shows the injustice of requiring people to have a national ID card.
</p>


feed_id: 8c75196668b561df0e0d4ade57aeedba
title: Assad's Forces Napalm
uri: Assad-s-Forces-Napalm
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Assad%27s_forces__accused_of_dropping_napalm.%29

content:
<p></p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/syrian-opposition-accuses-assad-napalm-attack-near-damascus">Assad's forces are accused of dropping napalm.</a><p></p>
PISSI's massacres, although carried out with weapons that kill only       
one person at a time, are equally deadly and equally barbaric.
</p>


feed_id: 42234d03e7a17374d385271fe22ed9ee
title: Misleading Statement
uri: Misleading-Statement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Misleading_Obama_Statement%29
content:
<p>Obama said he would "close Guantanamo prison", <a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/12/democrats-continue-lie-obamas-failed-guantanamo-vow/">but he wasn't referring to the injustice of imprisonment without trial,</a></p>
<p></p> only the prison's physical location in Guantanamo Bay.</p>


feed_id: 37951c3bddd6b52f2a37987303d347f2
title: Agricultural runoff
uri: Agricultural-runoff
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Agricultural_runoff%29
content:
<p>Agricultural runoff <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2015/08/giant-toxic-algae-bloom-haunts-toledo">threatens safe drinking water in various parts of the US.</a>


feed_id: 62088deea4d681a4e0251ea1df34f895
title: Surveillance of Black Lives Matter
uri: Surveillance-of-Black-Lives-Matter
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Surveillance_of_Black_Lives_Matter%29

content:
<p>Government surveillance of peaceful Black Lives Matter protests <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/05/government-watching-blacklivesmatter-and-its-not-okay">carries on a decades-old bad tradition.</a></p>


feed_id: 804e7ad552dcda0d987157c0c8de62e9
title: Armed thugs in the US
uri: Armed-thugs-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Armed_thugs_in_the_US%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/05/gun-police-public-more-aggressive-psychology-weapons-effect">Seeing a gun makes people more aggressive,</a> and this includes thugs.</p>
<p>The fact that US thugs generally carry guns may psychologically
promote brutality at various levels (not just use of the guns
themselves).</p>
<p>UK thugs mostly do not carry guns, but what about thugs of other
European countries that kill less often?  Can someone tell me?</p>


feed_id: 924b888bd73d42530d01e3c92a2524a8
title: Public shooting in the US
uri: Public-shooting-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Public_shooting_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>Public incidents of multiple shooting <a href="media/09b75893.R44126.pdf" data-original-source="http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44126.pdf">are little more frequent in the US today than in 1990.</a></p>
<p>In other words, people's perception that the danger has greatly
increased is misinformation.</p>
<p>Furthermore, 30 or so deaths per year in a country as big as the US do
not amount to a danger worth worrying about.  By contrast, car
accidents <a href="http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx">kill around 40,000 people per year in the US.</a>  This is also
a tiny fraction of the total number of people killed with guns.</p>
<p>I conclude it is harmful to traumatize millions of schoolchildren with
drills about what to do in that exceedingly unlikely situation.</p>
<p>It is an exaggeration to refer to these incidents as "mass shooting":
we should limit the term "mass murder" and its variants to cases where
hundreds or thousands of people are killed.</p>


feed_id: 626cfebf1f5673093dbb4ee31a48b546
title: Porn filtering in India
uri: Porn-filtering-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Porn_filtering_in_India%29
content:
<p>India's government <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/aug/05/india-lifts-ban-on-internet-pornography-after-criticisms">has retracted the filtering order against porn web sites.</a></p>


feed_id: f4e25c770916e54b49f84d9c80b31aec
title: MDs asking patients about guns
uri: MDs-asking-patients-about-guns
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28MDs_asking_patients_about_guns%29
content:
<p>MDs are suing <a href="http://www.salon.com/2015/07/22/why_the_gun_lobby_is_trying_to_silence_your_doctor_partner/">to overturn a Florida law</a> that prohibits them from asking patients whether they have guns, and whether children can get at them.</p>


feed_id: d3c9fffd748c100752b7598d1bf0be4e
title: Teaching about obesity
uri: Teaching-about-obesity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Teaching_about_obesity%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/05/obesity-awareness-may-be-causing-overeating-finds-international-study">Teaching people to worry about obesity leads to overeating.</a></p>


feed_id: 5dd778a39b3c1fb468ceaf861bb61c80
title: Greek debt
uri: 2015-08-13-Greek-debt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Greek_debt%29
content:
<p>There are two ways Greece could have coped successfully with the recession
in 2008: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/aug/04/after-greece-debt-crisis-new-deal">either through deficit spending, or through a national bankruptcy system that would allow it to reduce the debt it had to pay.</a></p>


feed_id: 71c8e38041964623bb776b5f59d7372f
title: Birth control pills
uri: Birth-control-pills
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Birth_control_pills%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/aug/05/regularly-taking-pill-helps-prevent-two-forms-cancer-decades-after-use">Birth control pills permanently help prevent certain forms of cancer,</a> even decades after a woman stops using them.</p>


feed_id: 1cf7e6dce240bdc7d23c938d54c2b9c2
title: US nuclear arsenal
uri: US-nuclear-arsenal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28US_nuclear_arsenal%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/32073-the-us-should-eliminate-its-nuclear-arsenal-not-modernize-it">The US Should Eliminate Its Nuclear Arsenal — Not "Modernize" It.</a></p>


feed_id: 30529d1b146ad0631383262b8d2541c9
title: Chesapeake Bay sinking
uri: Chesapeake-Bay-sinking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Chesapeake_Bay_sinking%29
content:
<p>Land around Chesapeake Bay (including Washington DC) <a href="http://phys.org/news/2015-07-washington-dc-fast-adding-threat.html
">is sinking half a foot per century from natural causes.</a>  Adding this to the sea level rise caused by global heating means that inundations will come sooner.</p>


feed_id: 23a90c1e29a5a5cde62b9516f9edc86c
title: Marine Corps audit
uri: Marine-Corps-audit
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Marine_Corps_audit%29
content:
<p>Wonder of wonders, the Marine Corps held an audit — <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-03/marine-corps-audit-praised-as-heroic-draws-criticism-from-gao-icwbenol">but it wasn't careful enough to do the job.</a></p>


feed_id: a5dea80dd8e8658c70e0423207a5be67
title: Keystone XL permit renewal
uri: Keystone-XL-permit-renewal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Keystone_XL_permit_renewal%29
content:
<p>South Dakota's permit for the Keystone XL pipeline expired, and the renewal
hearing <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2015/07/28/evidence-released-transcanada-s-keystone-xl-permit-renewal-hearing-sheds-light-serious-pipeline-risks">is bringing its local dangers into focus.</a></p>


feed_id: b4b524554c70356fa598cf2c3da14f89
title: Guaranteed annual income
uri: Guaranteed-annual-income
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Guaranteed_annual_income%29
content:
<p>
Proposing a 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/04/time-guaranteed-annual-income-might-finally-have-come">guaranteed
annual income for Canada</a>.


feed_id: 225029d5aaf43281e4e7e2a2484857df
title: Wild plant growth in lieu of lawns
uri: Wild-plant-growth-in-lieu-of-lawns
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Wild_plant_growth_in_lieu_of_lawns%29

content:
<p>
The US must recognize 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/04/my-township-calls-my-lawn-nuisance-i-still-refuse-mow-it">the
right to let plants grow wild</a> rather than maintaining a lawn at
cost to the environment.


feed_id: 5c34cb603d4de55abcc7d2fb55749f4d
title: Detroit thugs
uri: Detroit-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Detroit_thugs%29
content:
<p>
Thugs in Detroit seem to have been 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/04/teen-sues-alleged-snowball-throw-police-juvenile-detention">out
to get Dominique Rondeau</a>.


feed_id: 0f0bdf29986ec716a4ba052b1ea5fc18
title: Delivery by drone for prisoners
uri: Delivery-by-drone-for-prisoners
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Delivery_by_drone_for_prisoners%29

content:
<p>
Delivery by drone is now in 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/04/drone-drug-delivery-ohio-prison-fight-heroin-marijuana-tobacco">service
for prisoners</a>.


feed_id: ee8cfce0342cf75b5c8dabee9c63f231
title: Corruption in India
uri: Corruption-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Corruption_in_India%29
content:
<p>
In India, the ruling BJP is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/04/bjp-ban-porn-sites-mock-india-democratic-rights">scapegoating
porn</a> to distract attention from corruption.


feed_id: 77ae1b06e1b17cbf169fbc0e239b3860
title: Public campaign funding
uri: Public-campaign-funding
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Public_campaign_funding%29
content:
<p>
Sanders advocates public campaign funding to 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/03/topple-us-oligarchy-sanders-calls-publicly-financed-elections">take
election power away from the oligarchy</a>.
<p>
The US has public funding for presidential campaigns, but the amounts
are small; plutocrats can give a lot more.  Thus, plutocrat-supported
candidates reject the public funding in order to accept the larger
funds from plutocrats.
<p>
However, the government could provide so much funds, controlled by
success in getting small donations from many people, that the
plutocrats could not compete.


feed_id: 6318e990e71b1ac115863dd57be941a1
title: Thugs
uri: 2015-08-13-Thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Thugs%29
content:
<p>
A thug in Alabama was recorded proposing to murder a "nigger", and was
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/04/alabama-police-officer-murder-black-man-self-defense">not
even fired</a>.
<p>
The US applies "zero tolerance" to students but bends over backwards
to be forgiving to thugs.


feed_id: cf0adc37f02dad097d8b64234ae7de18
title: Fossil fuel subsidies
uri: 2015-08-13-Fossil-fuel-subsidies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Fossil_fuel_subsidies%29
content:
<p>
G20 Countries Pay 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/04/g20-countries-pay-over-1000-per-citizen-in-fossil-fuel-subsidies-say-imf">Over
$1,000 Per Citizen</a> in Fossil Fuel Subsidies.


feed_id: a2470851055eb0794483d13aa46242be
title: UK to have unofficial national ID card
uri: UK-to-have-unofficial-national-ID-card
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28UK_to_have_unoffical_national_ID_card%29

content:
<p>
The UK plans to make life 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/03/illegal-immigrants-face-eviction-without-court-order-under-plans-to-discourage-migrants">intolerable
for refugees denied asylum</a>.  Landlords will be imprisoned for
renting to them.
<p>
UK citizens are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/03/british-citizens-without-passports-being-turned-away-by-landlords">already
being denied housing</a> in a pilot project.
<p>
In effect, this means the UK will have an unofficial national ID card.


feed_id: e9b565f6c83182781e1b1b8686bb1d82
title: Prison guards terrify prisoner
uri: Prison-guards-terrify-prisoner
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Prison_guards_terrify_prisoner%29
content:
<p>
Prison guards in Alabama terrified a prisoner 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/31/1407529/-This-Alabama-jail-really-did-torture-an-inmate-with-a-Burmese-python">with
a snake</a>.  One was fired, but got another such job nearby.


feed_id: 2dd76a4e21ff4af5e0f6d1705e927f7d
title: Attempt to kill human rights defender
uri: Attempt-to-kill-human-rights-defender
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Attempt_to_kill_human_rights_defender%29

content:
<p>
People tried to kill a 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/04/assassination-attempt-burundi-human-rights-activists-pierre-claver-mbonimpa">leading
Burundian human rights defender</a>.
<p>
Presumably they are working for the "president" who recently 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#01_August_2015_(Bogus_Burundi_election)">seized
continued power</a>.


feed_id: 356bc4f045a33a71c19a6381a6d102e8
title: Food insecurity in Australia
uri: Food-insecurity-in-Australia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Food_insecurity_in_Australia%29
content:
<p>
10% of Australians 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/04/food-insecurity-and-hunger-a-hidden-crisis-in-australia-says-foodbank-ceo">can't
afford to buy food</a>.


feed_id: 3a751cf156bc8776dfeb93f7a616540a
title: Taliban splits into factions
uri: Taliban-splits-into-factions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Taliban_splits_into_factions%29
content:
<p>
The Taliban have 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/04/taliban-resignation-divisions-leadership-qatar-mullah-omar">split
into factions</a> over how to replace Mullah Omar.


feed_id: 9f2272f96d046abeb94c830c326d72be
title: Parts of Egypt out of water
uri: Parts-of-Egypt-out-of-water
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Parts_of_Egypt_out_of_water%29
content:
<p>
Parts of Egypt have run 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/04/egypt-water-crisis-intensifies-scarcity">out
of water</a>.  In a few more years, it will be a catastrophe.
<p>
Egypt's population is growing, but the growth will inevitably stop
— either due to disease and premature death, or through
prevention of birth.


feed_id: a481192382b44500b47b93dc9a198089
title: US civil rights leaders
uri: US-civil-rights-leaders
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28US_civil_rights_leaders%29
content:
<p>
Great US civil rights leaders also 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/04/w-e-b-du-bois-malcolm-x-untold-history-movement-ban-bomb">campaigned
to abolish nuclear weapons and against imperialism</a>.


feed_id: e8ea01f2fb3b2abf4a38788f2e4e178b
title: Ocean acidifaction
uri: Ocean-acidifaction
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Ocean_acidifaction%29
content:
<p>
Massively removing CO<sub>2</sub> from the air 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/03/stop-burning-fossil-fuels-now-no-co2-technofix-climate-change-oceans">would
not save the oceans</a>.  It would take millennia for the acidity and
heat of the oceans to subside.
<p>
Thus, we need to stop increasing the CO<sub>2</sub> level, and soon.


feed_id: 86e59076931574b518f3c07658203120
title: Higher education in the UK
uri: Higher-education-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Higher_education_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
The 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/04/chances-young-people-not-there-deprived-backgrounds-education">end
of government support for higher education</a> has returned the UK to
a class-based society.


feed_id: c6ad293e458378d6db89544309e4c034
title: Heat wave in the Middle East
uri: Heat-wave-in-the-Middle-East
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Heat_wave_in_the_Middle_East%29
content:
<p>
A 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/04/middle-east-swelters-in-heatwave-as-temperatures-top-50c">heat
wave in the Middle East</a> carries temperatures as high as 51 C
(124F).
<p>
At that temperature, 37% humidity is deadly.


feed_id: b777da7c0547c79dbaed7d002eff9317
title: Melting glaciers
uri: 2015-08-13-Melting-glaciers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Melting_glaciers%29
content:
<p>
Glaciers are melting and retreating 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/04/speed-glacier-retreat-worldwide-historically-unprecedented-climate-change">twice
as fast now as 10 years ago</a>.


feed_id: 31df93f9c289e1201bcdfa684f55813d
title: Avoiding climate disaster
uri: Avoiding-climate-disaster
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Avoiding_climate_disaster%29
content:
<p>
The EPA has proposed 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/03/obamas-clean-power-plan-hailed-as-strongest-ever-climate-action-by-a-us-president">regulations</a>
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
<p>
It's 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/04/obama-clean-power-plan-welcomed-but-wont-avoid-dangerous-warming">not
enough to do the US's share</a> of avoiding climate disaster.


feed_id: b469c215cc9dd03ae8862c0b7549a77b
title: Weakened UK unions
uri: Weakened-UK-unions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Weakened_UK_unions%29
content:
<p>The UK right-wing government has weakened unions to the point where it <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/aug/06/public-sector-workers-stopped-automatically-union-subscriptions-pay-cheques">feels safe attacking their funding from their members.</a></p>


feed_id: 7aed2686a241aa8ca6e4c5f28e9c7643
title: Fossil fool propaganda
uri: Fossil-fool-propaganda
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Fossil_fool_propaganda%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2015/aug/06/how-australians-were-ready-to-act-on-climate-science-25-years-ago-and-what-happened-next">Australia was prepared 25 years ago to act to curb global heating,</a>
until the fossil fool lobby confused people with funded propaganda.</p>


feed_id: 04992de585eb6a6e57183ee97e114144
title: Access to phone location records
uri: Access-to-phone-location-records
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Access_to_phone_location_records%29

content:
<p>One US appeals court has ruled that <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/05/court-search-warrant-cellphone-location-records">a warrant is required for state access to phone location records.</a></p>
<p>That is a step forward, but merely making and keeping these records
already goes too far.</p>


feed_id: 12ec9a3e8361767b4748a77996013b98
title: Tony B'liar prosecution
uri: Tony-B-liar-prosecution
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Tony_B%27liar_prosecution%29
content:
<p>The possible new leader of the Labour Party <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/05/anti-austerity-candidate-corbyn-tony-blair-could-face-war-crimes">refuses to rule out prosecution of Tony B'liar for starting a war of aggression.</a></p>
<p>Dubya is clearly guilty of this crime, and should be prosecuted too.</p>


feed_id: dae8bbb1445c8f03164712c8a19a0211
title: Why DHS opposes CISA
uri: Why-DHS-opposes-CISA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Why_DHS_opposes_CISA%29
content:
<p>Want To Know Why DHS Is Opposing CISA? <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150804/11491231848/want-to-know-why-dhs-is-opposing-cisa-because-all-surveillance-turf-war.shtml">Because It's All A Surveillance Turf War.</a></p>


feed_id: 10a618d992c3948af9fb9dd7742d2d4e
title: Texas voter ID
uri: Texas-voter-ID
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Texas_voter_ID%29
content:
<p>The Texas voter ID law <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/05/texas-court-strikes-down-voter-id-law">lost one stage in a legal battle.</a></p>
<p>It could take months or years to have a final result.</p>


feed_id: e8803df32bbefffbe4212ced93607104
title: The Dodd/Frank provision
uri: The-Dodd-Frank-provision
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28The_Dodd%252FFrank_provision%29
content:
<p>The SEC has finally implemented the Dodd/Frank provision that
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/05/companies-disclosure-ceo-workforce-pay-gap">companies must publish how CEO pay relates to employee pay.</a></p>


feed_id: b3e7d94523e5671eb7b036217e2ff05d
title: Feeding our planet
uri: Feeding-our-planet
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Feeding_our_planet%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/05/feeding-people-our-stressed-planet-will-require-revolution">Feeding People on Our Stressed Planet Will Require a 'Revolution'.</a></p>
<p>I think we had better make sure not to make so many people to feed.</p>


feed_id: d97f08a9c3d851b4850b7e55a7d66666
title: Puerto Rico drought
uri: Puerto-Rico-drought
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Puerto_Rico_drought%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/05/puerto-rico-extends-water-rationing-drought">Puerto Rico's drought is extreme; 400,000 do not receive water normally.</a></p>


feed_id: f4f87d9a03b4b6e93e268f4cd1814a34
title: Homan Square interrogations
uri: Homan-Square-interrogations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Homan_Square_interrogations%29
content:
<p>Chicago thugs <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/05/homan-square-chicago-thousands-detained">continue secretly interrogating people in the Homan Square torture facility.</a></p>
<p>Most of the 3500 people who have been interrogated there were black.</p>


feed_id: a68fc2165b3ea0b4eb68837a53f1a960
title: Rio's shanty towns
uri: Rio-s-shanty-towns
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Rio%27s_shanty_towns%29
content:
<p>Inhabitants of Rio's shanty towns say say that <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/05/rio-olympics-view-from-the-favelas-the-games-have-made-things-worse">"security" for the Olympic Games seems like military occupation to them.</a></p>


feed_id: 67acde335829f9e8b58a350e6ccfdb8e
title: Urgent: protect the Great Barrier Reef
uri: Urgent-protect-the-Great-Barrier-Reef
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_protect_the_Great_Barrier_Reef%29

content:
<p>Everyone: <a href="https://secure.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=7DE4080CE979626FBEE43D5893D6870B.app207a?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=16288">call on Australia to cancel the Carmichael coal mine and
protect the Great Barrier Reef.</a></p>


feed_id: 0647a70e9fffa7ecc2f4ab4eb8c42b60
title: Urgent: stop Starbucks "clopens"
uri: Urgent-stop-Starbucks-clopens
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_stop_Starbucks_clopens%29

content:
<p>Everyone: <a href="http://act.commongoodaction.org/page/s/tell-starbucks-end-clopens-now">tell Starbucks to stop making workers do "clopens".</a></p>
<p>This means an evening shift and a morning shift, with insufficient time
between them to sleep.</p>


feed_id: e54a3cfe29ed4f366767240409fda039
title: Urgent: sponsor the CARERS Act.
uri: Urgent-sponsor-the-CARERS-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_sponsor_the_CARERS_Act.%29

content:
<p>US citizens: <a href="https://secure2.convio.net/dpa/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=AB4144492FD2820BD749949C9E14B150.app251a?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1323&autologin=true&s_src=2A2_CARERSCosponsor">call on your senators to cosponsor the CARERS Act.</a></p>
<p>The Capitol Switchboard numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641 and 888-355-3588.</p>


feed_id: c09cf6384804c862625f3709f9f89fb3
title: Natural gas leaks
uri: Natural-gas-leaks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Natural_gas_leaks%29
content:
<p>Methane leaks from natural gas wells <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/04/bombshell-study-reveals-methane-emissions-hugely-underestimated">might be 3 to 5 times what was previously measured.</a></p>


feed_id: 63342a194c331018d6b6766198bc4a37
title: Cuts in welfare benefits
uri: Cuts-in-welfare-benefits
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Cuts_in_welfare_benefits%29
content:
<p>The UK government has claimed that very few of the unemployed were
punished with cuts in their welfare benefits, while covering up
the real figure — <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/05/jobseekers-dole-guardian-research-government-welfare">1/6 of them have been punished.</a></p>


feed_id: b4cd94506f53eb4a351fdc78bd82e3ad
title: Solitary confinement
uri: 2015-08-14-Solitary-confinement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Solitary_confinement%29
content:
<p>Interviews with people who have been in solitary confinement for many years
show <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/04/health/solitary-confinement-mental-illness.html?_r=2">lasting psychological damage.</a></p>


feed_id: 6c14242a84ff8d505f9eeee38233ee0e
title: Prosecution of banksters
uri: Prosecution-of-banksters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28Prosecution_of_banksters%29
content:
<p>With so many criminal banksters, <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/04/despite-epic-crash-world-economy-white-collar-prosecutions-20-year-low">prosecutions in the US are at a 20-year low.</a>


feed_id: 950d3a01bd9c6cfe4e389936cc452b21
title: PACs pretending independence
uri: PACs-pretending-independence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28PACs_pretending_independence%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/08/04/new-study-presidential-fundraising-shifts-shadow-campaigns">The biggest PACs benefit legally from pretending to be independent of the candidate's campaign,</a> then attract money by saying they are not independent.</p>


feed_id: 51036642f4a4e05d70117393d21dbdde
title: China "security" offices
uri: China-security-offices
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#13_August_2015_%28China_security_offices%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/05/china-security-offices-internet-firms-stop-illegal-behaviour">China will set up "security" offices in internet companies to stop "illegal behavior"</a> (such as criticism of the government).</p>


feed_id: f47bdd577a3a9adfa402c4ae6123e060
title: Urgent: Shell drilling permit
uri: Urgent-Shell-drilling-permit
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Shell_drilling_permit%29

content:
<p>US citizens: call on Obama <a href="https://secure3.convio.net/gpeace/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=DC1A876EA67FA159A75191B2A1354842.app311a?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1843">not to grant Shell the last permit for drilling in Arctic waters.</a></p>


feed_id: d5c11e84e217feec2cd3c3ed67b090b6
title: Urgent: support nuclear deal with Iran
uri: Urgent-support-nuclear-deal-with-Iran
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_support_nuclear_deal_with_Iran%29

content:
<p>US citizens: call on Senator Schumer <a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/schumer_iran/?nosig=1&t=1001&akid=15232.1183552.X_RNhR">to support the nuclear deal with Iran.</a></p>
<p>


feed_id: c4785974cebe2800a84d921ec2ed8b5d
title: Urgent: compensate workers in India
uri: Urgent-compensate-workers-in-India
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_compensate_workers_in_India%29

content:
<p>Everyone: <a href="https://community.sumofus.org/petitions/the-maker-of-dove-soap-and-lipton-tea-spilled-toxic-mercury-killing-workers-and-poisoning-hundreds/">call on Unilever to compensate its poisoned ex-workers in India.</a></p>


feed_id: a1e98d8f8932b963f7946b5288fe332b
title: Truce with al Nusra
uri: Truce-with-al-Nusra
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Truce_with_al_Nusra%29
content:
<p>Division 30, the US-supported Syrian rebel group, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/06/syrian-rebels-nusra-front-al-qaida-kidnapping">declared a truce with al Nusra (a branch of al Qa'ida)</a> after facing hard attacks from that group.</p>
<p>It is bizarre to refer to capturing an enemy soldier as "kidnapping".
It is called "taking a prisoner".  Al Nusra ought to treat these
captives according to the laws of war, but I don't have much
confidence in its ethical principles.</p>
<p>Division 30 was effectively compelled to do this, because it is too
weak to do otherwise.  The US has only managed to train around 50
rebels, and success would require thousands.  I take this as further
confirmation that this approach is simply futile.</p>
<p>A few years ago, I said that <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-mar-jun.html#23_June_2013_(Doubts_about_evidence_of_chemical_weapons_use_in_Syria)">there was no effective way to intervene
in Syria that would make things any better.</a>  All the sides were bad.</p>
<p>The situation has changed since then.  PISSI (<a href="#PISSI"><sup>*</sup></a>) is worse than Assad,
and we can support the revolutionary Kurds of Syria without shame (we
need not suppose they are flawless).  They welcome non-Kurds that
accept their secular and egalitarian society.</p>
<p>The US should support the revolutionary Kurds of Syria vigorously.</p>

<p id="PISSI">
<sup>*</sup> The Pseudo-Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
</p>


feed_id: 11fd7de150d2ed6e16f787fc091b4b5f
title: US medical privacy laws
uri: US-medical-privacy-laws
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28US_medical_privacy_laws%29
content:
<p>Laws about privacy of medical records in the US <a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/06/how-medical-privacy-laws-leave-patient-data-exposed/">are thoroughly inadequate.</a></p>
<p>It is a shame that the article uses the word "hacker" to mean "security breaker".  To avoid giving us <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/on-hacking.html">hackers</a> a bad name, please use the word "cracker" when you mean "security breaker".</p>
<p>I think the central registers of drug prescriptions are a violation of
patients' rights.</p>
<p>Data collected by medical devices should belong to the patient that
uses them, and the devices should be designed to facilitate access
via published APIs and <em>not</em> to send them to the manufacturer.</p>
<p>The software in the devices should be free, of course.</p>


feed_id: 3cc0e4347a6232962f89dafc2c6a218b
title: Children with ADHD
uri: Children-with-ADHD
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Children_with_ADHD%29
content:
<p>Children with ADHD often face harsh discipline in school, from teachers that don't understand their problem.  <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/06/adhd-children-parents-kentucky-handcuffing">Being handcuffed is not so unusual.</a></p>

The FCC authorized phone companies <a href="http://arstechnica.com/business/2015/08/fcc-urges-carriers-to-turn-off-copper-networks-upgrade-to-fiber/">to replace copper wires with fiberoptics.</a></p>
<p>The backup power systems offered, which customers have to pay for
specifically, would last only a limited time.</p>
<p>It is not clear to me whether those backup power systems would be located
in the subscriber's premises.  If they are, it might be easy to replace
the batteries in them yourself.</p>


feed_id: ab3c9e0511742749055293eca99e53e0
title: Greek tax revenues
uri: Greek-tax-revenues
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Greek_tax_revenues%29
content:
<p>Greek tax revenues <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/06/greece-tax-revenues-collapse-debt-crisis-continues-euro">have fallen drastically.</a></p>
<p>This will make a mockery of any proposed bailout for Greece's creditor banksters.</p>


feed_id: 89b2d68f7afa478801f027e78d07c051
title: Writing about GCHQ
uri: Writing-about-GCHQ
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Writing_about_GCHQ%29
content:
<p>British journalist Duncan Campbell writes about <a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/03/life-unmasking-british-eavesdroppers/">being prosecuted for espionage for trying to write about GCHQ.</a></p>


feed_id: be5c7751ed9693ac39fb2db2efd8bae9
title: Clinton's email account
uri: Clinton-s-email-account
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Clinton%27s_email_account%29
content:
<p>If Clinton sent sensitive government information from her private
email account, that was, at the very least, <a href="http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2015/08/03/what-everyone-with-a-top-secret-security-clearance-knows-or-should-know/">reckless disregard of the rules.</a></p>


feed_id: 0f79ff7f9f547c937d85e0f24d21687c
title: Ted Rall told the truth
uri: Ted-Rall-told-the-truth
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Ted_Rall_told_the_truth%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-rall-lapd-crosswalk-tickets-20150511-story.html">After Ted Rall wrote about how thugs attacked him,</a> the LA Times fired him, repeating the thugs' claims that Rall lied.</p>
<p>But the thugs' own audio recording, when cleaned up, <a href="http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=33e4ec877eed6a43863a4a92e&id=e5b4414127&e=8283eff9b8">showed that Rall was telling the truth.</a></p>


feed_id: 3d42d99a468ae70a6156fe7d9f435d89
title: London Underground strike
uri: London-Underground-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28London_Underground_strike%29
content:
<p>Explaining why <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/06/tube-strike-faq-myths-busted-and-questions-answered">the staff of the London Underground are on strike.</a></p>
<p>If trains and buses and taxis were driverless, that would solve the
problem of driver strikes.  But how would you propose to deal with
the problem of massive unemployment?</p>


feed_id: 4927ce775afbeede9d883107a4ac978a
title: US trade treaties
uri: US-trade-treaties
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28US_trade_treaties%29
content:
<p>Joseph Stiglitz: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/aug/06/joseph-stiglitz-america-wrong-side-of-history">US trade treaties would block developing countries from making offered outside investment benefit their people.</a></p>


feed_id: 2a2f6fa87764f22c6d0a64fcfb815c59
title: BART's "suspicious" activity app
uri: BART-s-suspicious-activity-app
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28BART%27s_suspicious_activity_app%29

content:
<p><a href="http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/BART-Watch-App-Promotes-Racial-Profiling-Critics-Say-320834651.html">BART has published an app for reporting "suspicious" activity.</a>  It has the effect of focusing the (perhaps unconscious) racism of passengers.</p>
<p>In addition, the app is surely nonfree software, thus directly unjust.</p>


feed_id: a77cd3caa9a9f9eb6f8fe3626bc7184e
title: TPP's unjust copyright provisions
uri: TPP-s-unjust-copyright-provisions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28TPP%27s_unjust_copyright_provisions%29

content:
<p>A recent leak shows that <a href="http://www.michaelgeist.ca/2015/08/the-tpp-copyright-chapter-leaks-canada-may-face-website-blocking-new-criminal-provisions-term-extension/">the TPP still has many unjust copyright provisions</a> that would deny rights to the people of countries that sign.</p>
<p>Most of these provisions would not affect the US, which already has
the unjust laws in question.  But the TPP would be one more obstacle
to changing those unjust laws, which we must do.  So we must not adopt
the TPP.</p>
<p>I urge people to avoid the mistake of using the term "digital locks"
to refer to DRM.</p>
<p>See <a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">http://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html.</a></p>


feed_id: 6500abedcca5fc06dddb61025cba8ac5
title: MPAA seeks extreme court orders
uri: MPAA-seeks-extreme-court-orders
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28MPAA_seeks_extreme_court_orders%29

content:
<p>Movie companies (acting through the MPAA) are asking for extremely
broad court orders <a href="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/08/memo-to-mpaa-congress-didnt-pass-sopa/">cutting off sites from most forms of internet activity in the US.</a></p>


feed_id: d57ed04b0710188b55da92505c58da27
title: Telemarketers
uri: Telemarketers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Telemarketers%29
content:
<p>Every "thing" in the "internet of things" <a href="http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/rinesi20150806">will be a telemarketer,</a>
if we tolerate nonfree software in our "things".</p>


feed_id: 6c282b9b12c12fa010f987131e2f4c06
title: US nuclear disarmament
uri: US-nuclear-disarmament
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28US_nuclear_disarmament%29
content:
<p>A series of protests last weekend called for the US <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/08/06/major-protests-us-warhead-facilities-across-nation-unite-decry-trillion-dollar">to support nuclear disarmament instead of rearmament.</a></p>


feed_id: f8516180e390525dbed6e0bae2a193be
title: UK government closes charity
uri: UK-government-closes-charity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28UK_government_closes_charity%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/06/kids-company-closure-government-knew-3m-grant-pay-staff">The UK government is forcing the charity Kids Company to close,</a> using an apparently false accusation of financial wrongdoing.</p>
<p>It started when the founder criticized government policies that hurt
poor children.</p>


feed_id: d1850d05456dc94ad364cc874ceac98b
title: Minimum wage poverty
uri: Minimum-wage-poverty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Minimum_wage_poverty%29
content:
<p>In the US today, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/06/america-rich-write-about-poverty">only successful professionals can afford to write about minimum wage poverty.</a></p>


feed_id: bd7884a96fb3dc11fed27ee2ddbe4c92
title: Nuclear weapons
uri: 2015-08-14-Nuclear-weapons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Nuclear_weapons%29
content:
<p>Deterrence does not guarantee safety from nuclear weapons.  <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/06/nuclear-weapons-70-years-bombing-hiroshima-war">They may still be set off.</a></p>


feed_id: ab0140e93fce15550f3d5d06d9aa0510
title: China's repression of universities
uri: China-s-repression-of-universities
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28China%27s_repression_of_universities%29

content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/06/china-xi-jinping-crackdown-liberal-academics-minor-cultural-revolution">China's increased repression is hitting universities.</a></p>


feed_id: 0e11130a4da5fc4b4c52688d07d96213
title: German massive surveillance
uri: German-massive-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28German_massive_surveillance%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/world/article/German-prosecutor-accuses-gov-t-of-meddling-in-6423563.php">Germany's chief prosecutor faces dismissal</a> for trying to prosecute journalists for publishing about the German government's massive surveillance.</p>


feed_id: eec81ad5a006e763073d42bbdeafb229
title: Gay rights
uri: Gay-rights
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Gay_rights%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/06/picture-dorian-gray-hypocrisy-ravage-lives">"Gay rights were the low-hanging fruits of anti-discrimination."</a></p>


feed_id: 6db910d2976df7ffad1c19589c02e737
title: TPP could undermine medical care
uri: TPP-could-undermine-medical-care
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28TPP_could_undermine_medical_care%29

content:
<p>The TPP could undermine medical care <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/06/trans-pacific-partnership-could-pose-risk-to-public-healthcare-leaked-draft-shows">by extending a form of monopoly that impedes generic drugs.</a></p>


feed_id: 2b061c76a15d9ad4a682ecfcde320642
title: Shell's Arctic drilling
uri: 2015-08-14-Shell-s-Arctic-drilling
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Shell%27s_Arctic_drilling%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/aug/06/greenpeace-why-we-are-targeting-staff-working-for-shell">Greenpeace is playing music near Shell HQ</a> to draw the staff's attention to the harm that Shell's Arctic drilling will do.</p>


feed_id: 58801040a5a2e1cdad3d9510d1640905
title: Sex bias for authors
uri: Sex-bias-for-authors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Sex_bias_for_authors%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/aug/06/catherine-nichols-female-author-male-pseudonym">Proof of sex bias in judging fiction:</a> the same manuscript, with the same cover letter, got a much better response when the author gave a male name than with a female name.</p>


feed_id: 0226322c137bc602e13534fbf2c9ded1
title: Imprisoned immigrants enslaved
uri: Imprisoned-immigrants-enslaved
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Imprisoned_immigrants_enslaved%29
content:
<p>Imprisoned unauthorized immigrants <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/immigration/la-na-detention-immigration-workers-20150803-story.html#page=2">are made to work for a pittance, effectively as slaves.</a></p>
<p>It is wrong to rent out convicts for work other than running the prison, as that <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-may-aug.html#25_May_2013_(Free_US_workers_losing_jobs_to_prisoners)">drives down wages for people not accused of crimes.</a></p>


feed_id: 75b1eed45796672565f9979cddd98e37
title: Internet freedom is dying
uri: Internet-freedom-is-dying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Internet_freedom_is_dying%29
content:
<p>Civil liberties attorney Jennifer Granick warns that <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/06/dream-internet-freedom-dying-warns-top-civil-liberties-attorney">"the dream of internet freedom is dying".</a></p>


feed_id: 8f9eef2520d3878e6c063472140fbb4a
title: Pro-abortion-rights
uri: Pro-abortion-rights
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Pro-abortion-rights%29
content:
<p><p>Supporters of abortion rights <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/06/amid-planned-parenthood-hubbub-rallying-cry-pro-choice-majority">should stop talking about abortions as if they were terribly unfortunate events.</a></p>
<p>I suggest dropping the term "pro-choice".  I'm pro-abortion-rights.</p>


feed_id: b5859722a2a2da49740722d99b1decc4
title: Jury nullification
uri: 2015-08-15-Jury-nullification
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Jury_nullification%29
content:
<p>Activist Mark Iannicelli <a href="http://fija.org/2015/07/28/man-sharing-jury-nullification-information-arrested-in-denver/">was charged with a felony for handing out information about jury nullification</a> on the street near a Denver court house.</p>


feed_id: 5bc6d1afdf60666101317fd3092a6047
title: Hypothetical sexual abuse
uri: Hypothetical-sexual-abuse
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Hypothetical_sexual_abuse%29
content:
<p>Due to paranoia about hypothetical sexual abuse, teachers in New
Zealand (and elsewhere) <a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/00002431.htm">are pressured <em>never</em> to touch a
student.</a>  Even a pat on the back is considered dangerous.</p>


feed_id: f01b537423338a1a14a47e0c782982ba
title: Bangladeshi secularist assassinated
uri: Bangladeshi-secularist-assassinated
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Bangladeshi_secularist_assassinated%29

content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/07/machete-gang-kills-secular-bangladeshi-blogger-niloy-chakrabarti">Another Bangladeshi secularist has been assassinated.</a></p>
<p>This is definitely terrorism.</p>


feed_id: 20704af405a2dd60483b20b7f06817fb
title: Undercover thug in festival
uri: Undercover-thug-in-festival
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Undercover_thug_in_festival%29
content:
<p>The right-wing UK government shut down an environmentalist festival in
2009 by using thugs to harass the management.  Now it appears that <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/undercover-with-paul-lewis-and-rob-evans/2015/aug/07/questions-over-role-of-police-spy-in-closure-of-music-festival">an undercover thug infiltrator worked as a volunteer for the festival on previous years.</a></p>


feed_id: d4670d6c9bd0c717e85a9a2de58e166d
title: English-speaking refugees
uri: English-speaking-refugees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28English-speaking_refugees%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/07/britain-refugee-magnet-sudanese-channel-tunnel">A small fraction of refugees that flee to Europe want to go to Britain,</a> and it is typically because they speak English.</p>


feed_id: f177982322ae91f5ddedcdb0c73c52cf
title: Syrian civilians disappeared
uri: Syrian-civilians-disappeared
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Syrian_civilians_disappeared%29
content:
<p>PISSI captured a town in Syria, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/07/islamic-state-gunmen-kidnap-scores-of-christians-in-syrian-town">then disappeared 200 civilians.</a></p>


feed_id: 3282e16458773f9ea46cbebeb61659b9
title: Guber phantom cars
uri: 2015-08-15-Guber-phantom-cars
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Guber_phantom_cars%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/07/have-ubers-phantom-cars-disappeared">Guber appears to have stopped displaying phantom cars,</a> without admitting they existed.</p>


feed_id: d05e6141eafc660e360d10bd03e15e2d
title: Jeremy Corbyn
uri: Jeremy-Corbyn
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Jeremy_Corbyn%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2015/aug/07/jeremy-corbyn-hope-housing-crisis-labour">Jeremy Corbyn</a> shows how to get young people interested in politics: champion the changes people need and want.</p>
<p>Like Bernie Sanders in the US, Corbyn is criticized as "too radical
to be elected".  What's the use of getting elected if you won't even try
to correct the major injustices?  And what's the use of the Labour Party
if it is "Tory lite"?</p>
<p>His views are not as radical as is really needed.  For instance, he
wants to keep energy prices down, when what is needed is to raise the
price of fossil fuel.</p>


feed_id: 3489bbfcb718b316fcb8ea01e77dcb44
title: New coal mines
uri: New-coal-mines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28New_coal_mines%29
content:
<p>Abbott will grasp at any excuse to claim the world needs big new coal
mines.  <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/07/coal-is-not-the-answer-to-indias-energy-poverty-whatever-tony-abbott-says">Here's why those mines will not help poor and rural people in India get electricity.</a></p>
<p>I predict the next Abbott excuse: burning enough coal will end racism because the dust will give all of us dark skin.</p>


feed_id: 9ac7d2619d6c7b3ce03480dc5eea4a76
title: Science of global heating
uri: Science-of-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Science_of_global_heating%29
content:
<p>Maybe Charles Koch <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2015/aug/07/maybe-koch-isnt-worried-about-climate-change-because-he-doesnt-get-the
-science">doesn't understand the science on which predictions of global heating are based on.</a></p>
<p>However, it is also possible that he's cynically playing a delaying game, abandoning one line of denial and taking up the next.</p>


feed_id: 04cb0c389080305ce63a83b7cfde65fc
title: Virginia thugs
uri: Virginia-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#14_August_2015_%28Virginia_thugs%29
content:
<p>Martese Johnson, who was <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/14/martese-johnson-university-of-virginia-sue-officers-bloody-arrest">violently arrested by Virginia thugs</a> belonging to</p><p></p>
<p>the Alcohol Beverage Control agency, will sue them.</p>
<p>


feed_id: 281c518aca2f200f14a0b94f43ec2284
title: Criticize thugs
uri: Criticize-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Criticize_thugs%29
content:
<p>A year after Michael Brown was killed by a thug, society is more ready to criticize thugs, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/07/ferguson-one-year-on-michael-brown
">but Ferguson is not at peace.</a></p>


feed_id: 17523558c323134ecc4928b1d0f7ecca
title: Robin Hood Foundation
uri: Robin-Hood-Foundation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Robin_Hood_Foundation%29
content:
<p>The "Robin Hood Foundation" is run by a bunch of hedge fund managers
and billionaires.  They lobby to continue an absurd tax break, and give
to the charity <a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/meet-hedge-funders-and-billionaires-who-pillage-under-shield-philanthropy">about 2% of what they get from that tax break.</a></p>


feed_id: cdd3ebd9caf9d0b2541cedf14da90730
title: Texas voter ID law blocked voters
uri: Texas-voter-ID-law-blocked-voters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Texas_voter_ID_law_blocked_voters%29

content:
<p>The Texas voter ID law was very effective: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/07/texas-voter-id-rules-discouraged-hispanic-voters">it blocked 9% of the voters in a Hispanic-majority district.</a></p>


feed_id: a8525823523b6a6280d2d2de1acc5deb
title: US TPP proposals
uri: US-TPP-proposals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28US_TPP_proposals%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/06/new-tpp-leaks-reveal-us-pandering-big-drug-companies-threatening-innovators">Several destructive proposals the US</a> are pushing in the TPP, some in copyright and some in patents.</p>
<p>While all these proposals are bad, they have nothing in common aside
from that.  Copyright law and patent law are totally different and
ought to be treated as separate issues.</p>
<p>The term <a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">"intellectual property"</a> is harmful because it encourages combining those two issues;  I wish the TPP's critics knew better than to repeat the framing
that supports the TPP's unjust aims.</p>


feed_id: 46852f2d0d2d2c90e817f8b92d52897b
title: Seed without neonicotinoids
uri: Seed-without-neonicotinoids
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Seed_without_neonicotinoids%29
content:
<p>Due to the concentration of the seed market, for some plants it is hard for farmers to find <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/07/pollinators-and-rigged-neonic-seed-market
">seed without neonicotinoids.</a></p>


feed_id: 28c809961d57a98493a0f468ed96d7fe
title: Syrian broadcast stations
uri: Syrian-broadcast-stations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Syrian_broadcast_stations%29
content:
<p>The Syrian Kurds <a href="http://cpj.org/2015/08/outlets-banned-in-bahrain-and-syria-over-allegatio.php">closed two broadcast stations for not supporting their official position about events.</a></p>
<p>This is disappointing, but given what the other powers in Syria are like,
it still makes sense to support them.</p>


feed_id: 1cada2ae65ed5c469491a3e94c16888f
title: Politician dishonesty
uri: Politician-dishonesty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Politician_dishonesty%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/07/michigan-tea-party-lawmaker-affair">The dishonesty of right-wing pols accused of sex knows no bounds.</a></p>


feed_id: 6f9d6becaded5fbf350fd56cd55d1b47
title: Human trafficking in Malaysia
uri: Human-trafficking-in-Malaysia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Human_trafficking_in_Malaysia%29
content:
<p>Congresscritters want explanations of how <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/07/obama-administration-accused-giving-human-trafficking-status-upgrade-further">Malaysia's human trafficking status got updated.</a></p>
<p>They are following up accusations that Obama falsified this evaluation
to clear the way for the TPP.</p>


feed_id: 4e3161e2d725e212179770d8ce339b17
title: Ferguson court clerk
uri: Ferguson-court-clerk
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Ferguson_court_clerk%29
content:
<p>Ms Twitty, the court clerk who was fired by Ferguson for making racist
emails, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/07/white-ferguson-court-clerk-fired-racist-emails-new-job">got a similar job in another nearby town.</a></p>
<p>There are many jobs she could have, where her racism would not
threaten injustice to the public as they do in this official position.</p>


feed_id: 32771917db6eb62e0db4fed04fc6685e
title: Nuclear missiles
uri: Nuclear-missiles
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Nuclear_missiles%29
content:
<p>US or Russian nuclear missiles could be launched <a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/ucs-publications/hair-trigger-safeguards">when neither country wants to attack.</a></p>


feed_id: c2afffbde34f348f90529dedcdfaae1d
title: Sanders' views on foreign policy
uri: Sanders-views-on-foreign-policy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Sanders%27_views_on_foreign_policy%29

content:
<p>Bernie Sanders should start expressing his views on <a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/8/bernie-sanders-should-stop-ducking-foreign-policy.html">foreign policy issues.</a></p>


feed_id: 0ee5297de0f86c26f2a0ee423fe24ef0
title: Lie detectors
uri: Lie-detectors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Lie_detectors%29
content:
<p>The principal anti-lie-detector activist in the US <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-doug-williams-war-on-lie-detector/">has been convicted of helping someone prepare to lie to the US government.</a></p>
<p>If we had an effective lie detector, would officials allow it to be
used on them as they make statements about policies?</p>


feed_id: 7714783584c11b79dab933faef35db22
title: Urgent: support deal with Iran
uri: Urgent-support-deal-with-Iran
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_support_deal_with_Iran%29

content:
<p>US citizens: <a href="https://60daystostopawar.com/">participate in events</a> to convince legislators to support the deal with Iran.</p>
<p>Entering of the zip code to find events fails if you have disabled
Javascript (which I hope you do), but I think you can find the events
<a href="https://60daystostopawar.com/events/">here.</a></p>


feed_id: 233dd019bf39b201cd0d8dc3742c46fd
title: Urgent: curb greenhouse gas emissions
uri: Urgent-curb-greenhouse-gas-emissions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_curb_greenhouse_gas_emissions%29

content:
<p>US citizens: call on the EPA <a href="https://stallman.org/petitions/petition-airplane/">to curb greenhouse gas emissions from airplanes.</a></p>


feed_id: 5210284f5a98c1291a76d11e7fd3f622
title: Urgent: funding for school meals
uri: Urgent-funding-for-school-meals
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#15_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_funding_for_school_meals%29

content:
<p>US citizens: call on Congress <a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/school_lunch?nosig=1&t=1002&akid=15230.1183552.q4a-Iy">to protect funding for school meals.</a></p>


feed_id: 2f0e90cf80312d0083f48e4c2d9e97ab
title: Urgent: prosecute Officer Encinia
uri: Urgent-prosecute-Officer-Encinia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_prosecute_Officer_Encinia%29

content:
<p>Everyone: <a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/prosecute-brian-encinia/?t=1008&akid=4645.1242918.D61bdt">call for prosecution of Officer Encinia who arrested Sandra Bland.</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#09_August_2015_(Sheriff_culpable_for_Sandra_Blands_death)">Firing is too good for him.</a></p>


feed_id: ce3474df48a3a33a752ce82be6560fb3
title: Urgent: oppose fracking in Big Cypress
uri: Urgent-oppose-fracking-in-Big-Cypress
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_oppose_fracking_in_Big_Cypress%29

content:
<p>US citizens: <a href="https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=BA455170D35D51AFC49725713D8B0E01.app322a?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3811">oppose fracking in Big Cypress National Preserve,</a> which can poison water for the Everglades.</p>


feed_id: 6d6d28f5402ab6d533f139d66a887ea1
title: Urgent: support the Clean Power Plan
uri: 2015-08-16-Urgent-support-the-Clean-Power-Plan
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_support_the_Clean_Power_Plan%29

content:
<p>US citizens: call on your senators <a href="https://secure.earthjustice.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=04947DC2DB1F302355C85B8C9177439D.app330b?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1759&utm_source=crm&utm_content=PlainLink1">to support the Clean Power Plan.</a></p>


feed_id: c0715a45005a711eed3bbf85dfbdf44e
title: Urgent: Malaysian Airlines carries shark fin
uri: Urgent-Malaysian-Airlines-carries-shark-fin
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Malaysian_Airlines_carries_shark_fin%29

content:
<p>Everyone: Call on Malaysian Airlines <a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/malaysia-airlines-stop?source=mo.mp&id=127784-2794606-SUHFHgx&t=32">to stop carrying shark fin.</a></p>


feed_id: de841115e569ff1649dfa94099ad43c6
title: Urgent: protect Social Security
uri: Urgent-protect-Social-Security
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_protect_Social_Security%29

content:
<p>US citizens: <a href="http://signforgood.com/Happy80thSocialSecurity/?code=PFAW">call for protecting Social Security</a> from the artificial problem it faces.</p>


feed_id: 19d9a3574f4253ce907ec86d06c979c4
title: Urgent: Charges against Ferguson journalists
uri: Urgent-Charges-against-Ferguson-journalists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Charges_against_Ferguson_journalists%29

content:
<p>Everyone: call for <a href="http://act.freepress.net/sign/journ_ferguson_arrests/">dropping charges against Ferguson journalists.</a></p>


feed_id: 25586f87343b935f275a08e015ffb1b7
title: Medical care for poor people
uri: Medical-care-for-poor-people
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Medical_care_for_poor_people%29
content:
<p>Poor people in the US lose medical care <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/08/the-transportation-barrier/399728/">because they can't get to the doctor's office.</a></p>


feed_id: f23252642a953818d952e1ef8b8fc9b8
title: San Francisco's Proposition E
uri: San-Francisco-s-Proposition-E
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28San_Francisco%27s_Proposition_E%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/08/lets-pull-public-comment-21st-century-san-franciscos-prop-e">San Francisco's Proposition E</a> would require internet streaming of all public city government meetings, and other technical advances.</p>
<p>I agree completely with what this initiative <em>says</em>, but it is
silent about a crucial detail for protection for the public's freedom.
The city tech staff would choose the streaming system with no
requirement that it allow viewing without nonfree software.  They
would probably choose some popular commercial video streaming service
which requires nonfree software to view the stream.</p>
<p>The issue may arise also for remote video testimony, maybe even for
advance video testimony.</p>
<p>If this passes, another campaign will be needed to steer the city
towards freedom-respecting video streaming and commenting.  If you
live in San Francisco and you want to start this campaign, please
contact me — don't wait for election day.</p>


feed_id: a9fa8f1c16677b3c8441b56e7e3c5bf0
title: Broad site-blocking order
uri: Broad-site-blocking-order
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Broad_site-blocking_order%29
content:
<p>Movie Studios Seek SOPA Power Through <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/08/movie-studios-seek-sopapower-through-broad-site-blocking-order">Broad Site-Blocking Order.</a></p>


feed_id: ffa63547a4419e4f1189456755e1e73a
title: Expulsion of Dominicans
uri: Expulsion-of-Dominicans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Expulsion_of_Dominicans%29
content:
<p>The US must cease its assistance to the Dominican Republic government,
and especially to agencies carrying out <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/10/hundreds-peace-corps-vets-demand-us-stop-funding-ethnic-cleansing">expulsion of Dominicans of Haitian descent.</a></p>


feed_id: d780aa1865a29bac064deec993775ecd
title: Halliburton and fracking
uri: Halliburton-and-fracking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Halliburton_and_fracking%29
content:
<p>Ten Years Later, <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/10/ten-years-later-halliburton-loophole-and-americas-dirty-fracking-boom">the "Halliburton Loophole" and America's dirty fracking boom.</a></p>  


feed_id: 72da1848a8842a62c374e648bac28340
title: Gov. Walker was John Doe
uri: Gov-Walker-was-John-Doe
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Gov._Walker_was_John_Doe%29
content:
<p>It's now established fact that the target of the "John Doe" investigation,
which Governor Walker ordered shut down, <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/07/1409808/-Now-We-Know-Scott-Walker-Was-John-Doe?detail=email">was Governor Walker.</a></p>


feed_id: b6e58ebd073080b27a018e05542623da
title: Asylum seekers
uri: Asylum-seekers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Asylum_seekers%29
content:
<p>The UK deports asylum seekers whose cases are not finished, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/10/nationalities-targeted-deportation-charter-planes-home-office">to fill the seats in a chartered airplane.</a></p>
<p>It is easy to say that government agencies should do more to supervise
companies that government functions have been outsourced to.  However,
it's a hopeless cause, because the companies seek ways to profit from
doing the job wrong or cutting corners.  We must consider privatization
as a path to reduced government accountability.</p>


feed_id: e5fb5bfe06278ac571ce130c019a3d30
title: False accusation by thugs
uri: False-accusation-by-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28False_accusation_by_thugs%29
content:
<p>Two UK thugs face charges <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/aug/10/police-officers-gross-misconduct-hearings-plebgate-meeting-andrew-mitchell">for making a false accusation.</a></p>
<p>Alas, they are the exception, not the rule.  They happened
to pick a target who was an important politician.  Would that all
thugs that visibly make false accusations were prosecuted.</p>


feed_id: e1d49d6c91bd1184a9171fd2120e0b23
title: Al Qa'ida-PISSI truce
uri: Al-Qa-ida-PISSI-truce
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Al_Qa%27ida-PISSI_truce%29
content:
<p>Al Qa'ida has declared <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/10/al-qaida-affiliate-nusra-front-ceases-fighting-isis-syria">a sort of truce with PISSI in Syria.</a></p>


feed_id: 9328543739d7d6470a74448e2e0c5235
title: Reagan and the unions
uri: Reagan-and-the-unions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Reagan_and_the_unions%29
content:
<p>How Ronald Reagan dishonestly won the support of some unions, <ahref="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/09/1107835/-Remembering-Reagan-s-Sweet-Little-Lie-to-the-Air-Traffic-Controllers?detail=emailclassic">which he later crushed.</a></p>
<p>Unions should know better than to support anyone that isn't progressive.</p>


feed_id: d94fac8e0bb9065116bea04cf8cf47a7
title: Prisoners banned from smoking
uri: Prisoners-banned-from-smoking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Prisoners_banned_from_smoking%29
content:
<p>Prisoners in Australia <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/10/nsw-prison-staff-on-standby-in-case-of-rioting-as-smoking-ban-comes-into-force">have been banned from smoking tobacco.</a></p>
<p>They will be forced to withdraw cold-turkey from a drug that is harder to quit than heroin.</p>
<p>Tobacco is a deadly addiction, and it would be good to offer prisoners
help in quitting, but forcing them (or anyone) to quit is cruel.  Why
not estabish a smoking room for those prisoners who don't want to quit?</p>


feed_id: e813ee523bee81d0f79dfff51c49dc21
title: Curbing global heating
uri: Curbing-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Curbing_global_heating%29
content:
<p>The Australian government commissioned a study to forecast the cost of curbing global heating.  It gave them the disappointing news that <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/10/coalitions-secret-emissions-modelling-shows-large-cuts-wont-impact-economy"big reductions would cost little more than small reductions.</a></p>


feed_id: 02571d24cbd0eb0953058e2353d92730
title: Chinese human rights lawyer disappeared
uri: Chinese-human-rights-lawyer-disappeared
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Chinese_human_rights_lawyer_disappeared%29

content:
<p>Chinese human rights lawyer Li Heping <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/10/the-desperate-hunt-for-li-heping-chinas-missing-human-rights-warrior">was disappeared a month ago</a> and remains impossible to find.</p>
<p>A TV presenter faces punishment <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/10/top-chinese-tv-presenter-to-face-severe-punishment-for-mao-insult">for a video that insulted Mao Zi Dong.</a></p>
<p>Similar disrespect for freedom of speech can be found in countries such as Thailand, Turkey and Spain.</p>


feed_id: ba296b9ad261c9063202545901f89f0b
title: Investing in renewable energy
uri: Investing-in-renewable-energy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Investing_in_renewable_energy%29
content:
<p>The World Bank calls for <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/aug/07/world-bank-clean-energy-is-the-solution-to-poverty-not-coal">shifting investment to renewable energy.</a></p>
<p>This voice will have some influence against the fossil fool interests,
but <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#25_April_2015_(Fossil_Fuel_Financing)">the World Bank needs to make its actions match its words.</a></p>


feed_id: 3af6291eec276947d7a00aa8fc256595
title: Taliban factions
uri: Taliban-factions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Taliban_factions%29
content:
<p>The factionalization of the Taliban <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/10/isis-stands-to-gain-from-taliban-crisis">offers an opening for PISSI.</a></p>


feed_id: 2b7708f42439a60c405b980769492a0d
title: Muslim family law
uri: Muslim-family-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Muslim_family_law%29
content:
<p>India subjects Muslim citizens to Muslim family law, which is interpreted there as <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/10/india-muslim-women-fight-triple-talaq-law-instant-divorce">allowing men to divorce women instantly.</a></p>
<p>This is one among many ways that Islamic law tramples the human rights
of women (and also men, to a lesser extent).  It may have been a step up
in the 7th century, but now we recognize that women should have equal rights.</p>


feed_id: 4371f1f88c83351ec5e0a177303b4508
title: Interrogation of prisoners
uri: Interrogation-of-prisoners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Interrogation_of_prisoners%29
content:
<p>The American Psychological Association voted to <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/08/first-step-reform-apa-votes-bar-psychologists-colluding-torture">prohibit its members from participating in interrogation of prisoners of military or intelligence agencies,</a> or consult about how to do so.</p>


feed_id: c8a343c7ef4d8b3dfe9c1f2cf6200685
title: Deforestation-based palm oil
uri: Deforestation-based-palm-oil
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Deforestation-based_palm_oil%29
content:
<p>Ending deforestation-based palm oil <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/aug/10/india-palm-oil-sustainability-deforestation-unilever-greenpeace">depends on India above all.</a></p>


feed_id: 39a3a87e779afa3ef8ba77a29cce5bfc
title: Eliminate HIV by 2030
uri: Eliminate-HIV-by-2030
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Eliminate_HIV_by_2030%29
content:
<p>It would be feasible <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/08/eliminate-hiv-by-2030-regular-testing">to eliminate HIV by 2030, with a global effort of testing and treatment.</a></p>


feed_id: 3b61b862979569328a15965cef2e60a6
title: Republican misogyny
uri: Republican-misogyny
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Republican_misogyny%29
content:
<p>Donald Trump's insults against women arise from <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/10/donald-trump-misogyny-republican-candidates">the sea of misogyny that Republican policies crawl out of.</a></p>


feed_id: c2a7ebbc6badad0918eed80ac320df27
title: Black Lives Matter rally
uri: Black-Lives-Matter-rally
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Black_Lives_Matter_rally%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/09/ferguson-one-year-later-justice-no-more-death">The Black Lives Matter movement rallied in Ferguson,</a> a year after the killing of Michael Brown launched it.</p>
<p>Another pattern in which US thugs endanger black lives: <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/09/black-women-and-black-lives-matter-fighting-police-misconduct-domestic-violence-and">failing to investigate
domestic violence and rape when the victim is black, or punish the victims.</a></p>


feed_id: 63c4ab117bae12f8d824e5c425e08403
title: Vandalizing cars
uri: Vandalizing-cars
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Vandalizing_cars%29
content:
<p>A Texas thug <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/09/texas-police-officer-shot-unarmed-teen-dealership">shot and killed</a> a black youth who was vandalizing cars that were waiting to be sold.</a></p>
<p>Vandalizing cars is bad, but it's not a reason to kill someone.</p>


feed_id: 28057913ff7d2c6d59c7a48966ce9c1e
title: Fingerprint readers
uri: Fingerprint-readers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Fingerprint_readers%29
content:
<p>HTC phone fingerprint readers store the fingerprint image <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/10/htc-fingerprints-world-readable-unencrypted-folder">in files that any malicious app can get at.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://gnu.org/proprietary/proprietary-surveillance.html">Spying is normal practice</a> for nonfree apps.</p>


feed_id: d57e6a01f234c633610f591f77e7654f
title: Murder of Mexican journalists
uri: Murder-of-Mexican-journalists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Murder_of_Mexican_journalists%29
content:
<p>Corrupt politicians in Mexico <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/07/journalists-mexico-hunted-down-speaking-out">murder journalists with impunity.</a></p>


feed_id: 4d0cf01f6643a89e03ad140f1358ada2
title: Extreme repression in Thailand
uri: Extreme-repression-in-Thailand
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Extream_repression_in_Thailand%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/07/man-jailed-for-30-years-in-thailand-for-insulting-the-monarchy-on-facebook">a man has been sentenced to 30 years
in prison for insulting or criticizing the king.</a><p></p>
<p>
It is impossible to find the details as his "crime" is a secret.
</p>


feed_id: 60c18576fbaf32c645b601a9791f619a
title: Justice for Sandra Bland
uri: Justice-for-Sandra-Bland
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Justice_for_Sandra_Bland%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/07/what-would-justice-sandra-bland-actually-look">What
Would Justice for Sandra Bland Actually Look Like?</a>


feed_id: 23997381cfb8cf6a2557b57300e44574
title: Defense of abortion rights
uri: Defense-of-abortion-rights
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Defense_of_abortion_rights%29
content:
<p>
Effective defense of abortion rights 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/07/why-were-losing-planned-parenthood-debate-and-how-we-can-win">must
reject the right-wing premise that abortions are regrettable</a>.  Too
many supporters of abortion rights accept that premise, which hands a
victory to the anti-abortion campaign.
<p>
The term "pro-choice" is an example of that weakness.  I say I am for
abortion rights.


feed_id: 35c086e594e848f2392be9085186ba20
title: US militarism
uri: US-militarism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28US_militarism%29
content:
<p>
10 concrete policies for 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/07/10-steps-wean-us-foreign-policy-militarism">reducing
US militarism</a>.


feed_id: 2f7203078b67f59e1cd1cd066d0c7dc7
title: Republican candidates
uri: Republican-candidates
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Republican_candidates%29
content:
<p>
The Republican candidates, in their debate, aimed to win the support
of 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/07/gop-debate-what-oligarchy-looks">billionaires,
not of the public</a>.


feed_id: 6ae4c2d57ce80a3eaded412737286ca0
title: Japan's nuclear reactors
uri: Japan-s-nuclear-reactors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Japans_nuclear_reactors%29
content:
<p>
Japan's government wants to restart nuclear reactors despite 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/09/japan-split-restart-first-nuclear-reactor-since-fukushima-disaster">opposition
by the majority of the public</a>.
<p>
Nuclear power plants have grave accidents because they are so
complicated that many things can go wrong.  The same can occur in
chemical plants, but chemical plant accidents don't spread lasting
pollution across distances of 50 miles.


feed_id: d5ee14ea19e4c992acc196a4f6fecf91
title: Amazon deforestation
uri: Amazon-deforestation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Amazon_deforestation%29
content:
<p>
It looked like Brazil had saved the Amazon rain forest from
deforestation, but now the problem is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/09/has-the-amazon-rainforest-been-saved">getting
worse</a>.
<p>
It is vital to limit Brazil's population, and in the human population
in general.  Its growth will have to stop, soon enough; let's stop
earlier, and leave some wild places in existence.


feed_id: dfcca157081f35e6aeb822b29aac06a5
title: Black Lives Matter protesters
uri: Black-Lives-Matter-protesters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Black_Lives_Matter_protesters%29
content:
<p>
Black Lives Matter protesters took the podium from Bernie Sanders,
who gave them a chance to speak, but then they 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/09/bernie-sanders-sidelined-in-seattle-as-black-lives-matter-activists-invade-stage">blocked
him from speaking</a> and insulted the Sanders supporters waiting for
his address.
<p>
It is valid to call on Sanders to propose more specific actions to
stop thugs from attacking blacks (and occasionally whites) for no good
reason and make false accusations against their victims.  However,
attacking the progressives that want to do this is self-defeating.


feed_id: 4a900cf84a1cbd839023dff26107277c
title: Google service conglomerate
uri: Google-service-conglomerate
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Google_service_conglomerate%29
content:
<p>
Google search is the locus of a 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/09/battle-free-speech-france-google-right-to-be-forgotten">conflict
between French law and US human rights</a>.
<p>
This problem appears for Google because it is a service conglomerate
operating in many countries.  Duck Duck Go does not have to worry
about French law.
<p>
Perhaps the ideal outcome would be to disaggregate companies such as
Google.  Some of the service could be replaced by separate services
communicating through published interfaces.  Others are 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.html">SaaSS</a>
and should be replaced by running free software on your own computer.
Some systems for communication should be replaced by distributed
computing on various users' computers.


feed_id: 81920fbe1b0b217a44ec975c392212ee
title: Nader's advice to Sanders
uri: Nader-s-advice-to-Sanders
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Naders_advice_to_Sanders%29
content:
<p>
Ralph Nader's 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/08/open-letter-presidential-candidate-bernie-sanders">advice</a>
to Bernie Sanders.


feed_id: 00bff7eeab3288bdcc56ffd7f5b3e059
title: Militarized thugs
uri: Militarized-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Militarized_thugs%29
content:
<p>
Thug departments seeking military weapons and equipment 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/08/new-documents-reveal-fearmongering-local-cops-use-score-military-gear-pentagon">stoke
public fear about extremely unlikely terrorist attacks</a>.  In
private, they say they will use the equipment frequently in other
situations that are far less grave.
<p>
They also use this equipment to suppress protests, which is one reason
it is a high priority to take it out of their hands.


feed_id: 94ae687a4377b00a2a0be18c2cd6ec97
title: Wearable technology
uri: Wearable-technology
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Wearable_technology%29
content:
<p>
Wearable technology threatens to 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/09/wearable-technology-sports-athletes-personal-lives">control
every moment of the lives of professional athletes</a>.
<p>
Being a professional athletes is a fate that anyone can avoid.  But
the threat is not limited to them.  It applies to nearly everyone, if
insurance companies are allowed to offer discounts for using them that
most people can't afford to refuse, or if employers are allowed to
require their use.


feed_id: 1f5bdefc1bcf6b1cdde837d5b99bceae
title: Zachary Hammond shooting
uri: 2015-08-16-Zachary-Hammond-shooting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Zachary_Hammond_shooting%29
content:
<p>
An autopsy shows that the thug who shot Zachary Hammond 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/05/zachary-hammond-autopsy-police-killing-south-carolina">lied
about the circumstances</a>.
<p>
Isn't it a crime to tell such lies?


feed_id: 627557a88b78dc7ad04e39aad9e4f440
title: Dementia
uri: Dementia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Dementia%29
content:
<p>
Dementia is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/07/modern-life-dementia-40s-neurological-disease">occurring
at lower ages than before</a>, surely due to some kind of pollution
though it is impossible to determine what.


feed_id: 66b1808bb5c45152b5d8d4c3fa8d6483
title: The TPP
uri: 2015-08-16-The-TPP
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28The_TPP%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/08/tpp-leaks-reveal-blows-creative-freedom-says-filmmaker">Canadian
Filmmaker Fears for Creative Freedom Under the TPP</a>.
<p>
There is a deep danger in focusing on how 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/misinterpreting-copyright.html">copyright</a>
can restrict authors and artists: it implicitly endorses the idea that
they are more important than the rest of us.  That is flat-out wrong.
<p>
Even if copyright laws were carefully designed so that they never
interfered with making new and appreciatable works, that would not
excuse 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/copyright-vs-community.html">forbidding
people to share copies</a>.


feed_id: 298904f20c282a11f227a051343dde51
title: Anti-"piracy" harassment
uri: Anti-piracy-harassment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Anti-piracy_harassment%29
content:
<p>
An anti-"piracy" harassment group is 
<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/anti-piracy-group-hits-indie-creators-for-using-the-word-pixels-150808/">attacking
everyone that has published a video with "pixels" in the title</a>.
<p>
While these excesses are risible, let us not be distracted from the
wrong of attacking people who share.  "Piracy", for sharing, is a
propaganda term of the enemy and we should not use it.


feed_id: 75377b3e1fbffc043efb7686e5948d7e
title: Shell stops funding ALEC
uri: Shell-stops-funding-ALEC
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Shell_stops_funding_ALEC%29
content:
<p>
Shell has yielded to public pressure and 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/aug/07/royal-dutch-shell-alec-climate-change-denial">stopped
funding ALEC</a>.


feed_id: 9c8721ce5f5fdf2e74c6a89504197abe
title: Consumer capitalism
uri: Consumer-capitalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Consumer_capitalism%29
content:
<p>
A large part of consumer capitalism is based on 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/aug/07/exploiting-gullible-people-modern-mining">exploiting
foolishness</a>.
<p>
It would be a mistake to try to divide all transactions into "fool" or
"not fool".  If you want a TV and you spend $1000 when a $600 model
would have been good enough, maybe that was 40% fool and 60% non-fool.
<p>
On the other hand, if that TV 
<a href="http://gnu.org/proprietary/proprietary-surveillance.html">snoops
on you</a>, it was 100% fool.


feed_id: 43ed642f2bf122f5647e37ebd82ab187
title: School-to-prison pipeline
uri: 2015-08-16-School-to-prison-pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28School-to-prison_pipeline%29
content:
<p>
The 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/06/1409342/-Study-confirms-that-white-students-who-misbehave-get-medicine-therapy-black-kids-arrested-suspended">entrance</a>
to the school-to-prison pipeline: black children that misbehave get
punished, while comparable white children get therapy.
<p>
Partly it's because black children are segregated and go to schools
that can't afford therapy.  Partly it's due to racism (perhaps
unconscious).


feed_id: 3ce61a58734bbf98952ecfb41645d42a
title: Sex education
uri: 2015-08-16-Sex-education
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Sex_education%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/aug/07/sex-in-class-review-goedele-liekens">Proper
sex education</a> helps teenagers start thinking about sex in a deeper
way than porn suggests.


feed_id: 788da84d9724b43a12cd4257e7be4882
title: Indigenous Australians
uri: Indigenous-Australians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Indigenous_Australians%29
content:
<p>
An indigenous activist has 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/postcolonial-blog/2015/aug/08/indigenous-activist-murrumu-has-fought-the-law-this-week-but-who-will-win">rejected
Australian citizenship</a> and everything that goes with it.  He is in
jail for driving without an Australian driver's license, and refused
to acknowledge his former Australian name to get bail.
<p>
The original wrong here was by the British colonizers, who declared
that Australian land was nobody's property so they could simply take
it all.  The indigenous have a valid claim for compensation and some
sort of agreement to recognize their rights.  However, letting them
drive without taking driver's tests is not the solution, just as
kicking out the Australians is not.


feed_id: 7484bf4ba4f42e99ecbeaaa428a27bb7
title: Media influence on politics
uri: Media-influence-on-politics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Media_influence_on_politics%29
content:
<p>
Right-wing media have had a 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/aug/07/problem-with-liberal-media-jon-stewart">substantial
right-wing influence</a> on politics, but liberal or progressive
media, even when popular, do not have an effect.


feed_id: fd0d193d64f4b645d76027b2590c806a
title: Republican debate
uri: Republican-debate
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Republican_debate%29
content:
<p>
The Fox Noise debate between Republican candidates turned interesting
as the moderator pushed them hard on 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/06/donald-trump-misogyny-republican-debate-megyn-kelly">women's
rights issues</a>.
<p>
Donald Trump says he can and does 
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/07/donald-trump-buy/">buy
politicians</a>.


feed_id: 1480fb7210d0b41faf94ebb965c080e8
title: Volunteer
uri: 2015-08-17-Volunteer
url: https://stallman.org/index.html#volunteerListAnc
content:
<p>I am looking for people to experiment to find good ways to attach
     fruits to a <a href="http://stallman.org/grav-mass.html">Grav-mass tree</a>.</p>


feed_id: dfc4f5cbb2bd6436c4bc269401cab608
title: Ferguson Humvees
uri: Ferguson-Humvees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Ferguson_Humvees%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/11/ferguson-protests-police-militarization-humvees">Obama is taking back two Humvees from Ferguson.</a></p>
<p>Good first step — but this must be extended nationwide.  Most US
states should have only one SWAT team.  A few large, populous states
may need a handful.</p>


feed_id: d3806f32d1155e5a3d9233d79f46fb89
title: Inconvenient results
uri: Inconvenient-results
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Inconvenient_results%29
content:
<p>Scott Walker of Wisconsin plans to fire University of Wisconsin scientists <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/11/scott-walker-wants-fire-academics-disagrees-politically">that produce results he finds inconvenient.</a></p>


feed_id: 58044cc0ead19345fa5828d99ed5fabb
title: Humanity vs polio
uri: Humanity-vs-polio
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Humanity_vs_polio%29
content:
<p>Humanity vs polio: superstition and Islamic extremism protect the virus <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/11/africa-year-free-polio-giant-step-towards-eradication">but they are losing.</a></p>


feed_id: b3f63e0d4d85c107e7706d87d3318ad6
title: Windows 10 spying on you
uri: Windows-10-spying-on-you
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Windows_10_spying_on_you%29
content:
<p>Windows 10 can be spying on you <a href="http://boingboing.net/2015/08/10/windows-10.html">to your relatives,</a> as well as to Microsoft.</p>


feed_id: 59999a606d3b75b35f17132f76aae9dd
title: Kansas voting machines
uri: Kansas-voting-machines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Kansas_voting_machines%29
content:
<p>Kansas is using <a href="http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article27951310.html">suspect digital voting machines</a> and fighting tooth-and-nail to block investigation of whether they cheat.</p>


feed_id: dbc853cd083a1efc0533ae75e7cbb980
title: Legalize noncommercial sharing
uri: Legalize-noncommercial-sharing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Legalize_noncommercial_sharing%29
content:
<p>In the UK: oppose the plan to <a href="https://www.openrightsgroup.org/campaigns/copyright-enforcement-consultation">harshly punish people that noncommercially share files through the internet.</a></p>
<p>I think that the suggested responses are too weak, because they accept
as legitimate the overall framework of the war on sharing; they oppose
only this proposed escalation.  If I were a Briton, I would say that
they should go in the opposite direction and legalize noncommercial
sharing of all published works.</p>
<p>The proposed law comes from the UK's "intellectual property" office,
and is typical of the twisted ideas that the term "intellectual
property" tends to encourage.  That's why <a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">I refuse to use that term.</a></p>
<p>You can reject it too.</p>


feed_id: bf504403d18b57f7aaf688ac1ef63c51
title: India's War on Greenpeace
uri: India-s-War-on-Greenpeace
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28India%27s_War_on_Greenpeace%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/11/indias-war-on-greenpeace">India's War on Greenpeace.</a></p>


feed_id: 75592e37c9a8a94c7f8b55dfdded00f7
title: Provoking PKK
uri: Provoking-PKK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Provoking_PKK%29
content:
<p>Kurds in Turkey believe Erdo&gbreve;an is <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/11/turkish-kurds-who-want-peace-but-not-at-any-price">provoking a fight with the PKK</a> so that he can reduce the vote for the Kurdish-associated human-rights-supporting HD Party in new elections.</p>


feed_id: da84525f7ea5b0af1bb9942c6db6584a
title: Protection of Israeli thug
uri: Protection-of-Israeli-thug
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Protection_of_Israeli_thug%29
content:
<p>Humanitarian Palestinians protected an Israeli thug from being shot at by Israelis — <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/further/2015/08/08/life-person-important">because she is a person.</a></p>


feed_id: 10ce531b34461b89d8f1287da98155ca
title: Moving mining to India
uri: Moving-mining-to-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Moving_mining_to_India%29
content:
<p>A giant new mine in Australia <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/11/carmichael-mines-new-hurdle-analysts-predict-indias-coal-imports-zero-by-2021">may have no market</a> because India plans to mine coal domestically instead.</p>
<p>Moving mining from Australia to India will remove one local threat to
the Great Barrier Reef, but won't reduce the CO2 emissions that are
going to kill all coral over time.</p>


feed_id: 4c59fa3610d0c71a07c34a65027cfc8c
title: Imprisoned for insulting the king
uri: Imprisoned-for-insulting-the-king
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Imprisoned_for_insulting_the_king%29

content:
<p>Pongsak Sriboonpeng has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/08/thailand-facebook-post-30-years-prison-mocking-king ">saying something negative about the king of Thailand.</a>  The state refuses to tell us anything about what he said, so we should not suppose it was really harsh.</p>
<p>Not that it would be justified to imprison a person for a mere insult
even if it were harsh.</p>
<p>I decided a couple of years ago not to go to Thailand ever again,
mainly because I don't know whether I'd be imprisoned for this web
site.</p>


feed_id: 2d2bddfefcb36f3c1972ca560e6e2774
title: Workers sabotage robots
uri: Workers-sabotage-robots
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Workers_sabotage_robots%29
content:
<p>Workers in the US <a href="http://www.technologyreview.com/view/539986/robo-sabotage-is-surprisingly-common/">sabotage robots</a> that, they fear, will eliminate jobs.</p>
<p>I say Bravo!, although I agree that physical robots are a small threat
to jobs compared with (for instance) sales terminals.  Having robots
do all the work would be great, if a sustainable human population all
shared in what they produce.  But robots as an excuse for spreading
poverty ought to be destroyed.</p>


feed_id: dcd533beec0e9cce904e1f0691b96075
title: Curbing global heating
uri: 2015-08-17-Curbing-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Curbing_global_heating%29
content:
<p>The Australian government commissioned a study to forecast the cost of curbing global heating.  It gave them the disappointing news that <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/10/coalitions-secret-emissions-modelling-shows-large-cuts-wont-impact-economy">big reductions would cost little more than small reductions.</a></p>


feed_id: 34c0e8fb4515714e0dcffd51eb5683f1
title: Urgent: Financial Services Conflict of Interest Act
uri: Urgent-Financial-Services-Conflict-of-Interest-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Financial_Services_Conflict_of_Interest_Act%29

content:
<p>US citizens: <a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/Baldwin_Cummings_RevolvingDoor">call on Congress to pass the Financial Services Conflict of Interest Act.</a></p>


feed_id: 864f50781442a4bf455612eb0820a606
title: Urgent: bitcoin license bill
uri: Urgent-bitcoin-license-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_bitcoin_license_bill%29
content:
<p>California's proposed bitcoin license bill <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/08/license-kill-innovation-why-ab-1326-californias-bitcoin-license-bad-business">is full of bad decisions.</a></p>


feed_id: 3bf4bbd670210b1ed6204b73d38eccde
title: Urgent: Exxon and ALEC
uri: Urgent-Exxon-and-ALEC
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Exxon_and_ALEC%29
content:
<p>Everyone: <a href="http://act.climatetruth.org/sign/exxon_drop_alec/">Call on Exxon to quit ALEC.</a></p>


feed_id: 37dd10b15e12af58bbfcb4a7ddcd9400
title: Fossil fuel interests
uri: Fossil-fuel-interests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Fossil_fuel_interests%29
content:
<p>Republican presidential candidates have got <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/12/republican-candidates-fossil-fuels-donors-super-pacs">62 million dollars</a> from fossil fool interests — companies and billionaires.</p>


feed_id: 6d305f7afd8d3d9daab3933d50afe15d
title: Karim Hamdy tortured to death
uri: Karim-Hamdy-tortured-to-death
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Karim_Hamdy_tortured_to_death%29
content:
<p>Egyptian thugs arrested lawyer Karim Hamdy and <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/human-rights-groups-fear-rule-law-egypt-karim-hamdy-dies-police-custody">tortured him to death.</a></p>
<p> There is an apparent motive for this crime: he had defended people tortured by the police.</p>


feed_id: ec92f3f6a012ab7229ebd8a2ddb9eabd
title: Non-coerced sex work
uri: Non-coerced-sex-work
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Non-coerced_sex_work%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/11/celebrity-activists-get-it-wrong-amnesty-internationals-sex-work-policy">Criminalizing any aspect of non-coerced sex work</a> makes sex workers more vulnerable to violence, harassment and stigma.</p>


feed_id: 424221b765cb5129377842be471298a1
title: Video of thugs
uri: Video-of-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Video_of_thugs%29
content:
<p>Thugs argued in California court that a video of their misbehavior
should be inadmissible evidence because <a href="http://www.loweringthebar.net/2015/08/cops-expectation-of-privacy.html
">they thought they had destroyed all the surveillance cameras that were set up in the store.</a></p>
<p>We need a law authorizing anyone to record thugs that are on duty, in
uniform, or exercising any official power.</p>


feed_id: 62b65a84ddbac1298642c88c0370e4fa
title: Twisted moral standards
uri: Twisted-moral-standards
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Twisted_moral_standards%29
content:
<p>
<p>On the <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/11/1410892/-A-year-after-being-arrested-in-Ferguson-for-not-leaving-McDonalds-fast-enough-two-reporters-charged?detail=email">two reporters</a> charged with the crime of not double-timing out
of a Macdonalds while covering the riot of uniformd thugs in Ferguson a year ago.</p>
<p>Disgusting as these charges are, many Americans serving on juries are
willing to convict people of them, applying twisted moral standards
when judges tell them they are supposed to.  Peter Watts was convicted
of <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2009-sep-dec.html#15%20December%202009%20%28How%20the%20law%20really%20works%29">"not obeying instantly";</a> the thug who beat him up was not even prosecuted.</p>
<p>Which is why every American needs to read about <a href="http://fija.org">jury nullification.</a></p>


feed_id: 4294b6e1b6d48c9621811e13ea8d6c84
title: Punishing the obese
uri: Punishing-the-obese
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Punishing_the_obese%29
content:
<p>Obesity Is an Incurable Disease.  <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/11/obesity-incurable-disease-cameron-punishing-sufferers">So Why Is the [UK] Government Intent on Punishing Sufferers?</a></p>
<p>It's an opportunity to demonize the weak, of course.</p>


feed_id: 71b489b402e6cdbb26f4507a77129204
title: Ferguson video
uri: Ferguson-video
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Ferguson_video%29
content:
<p>Video suggests that the youth shot by thugs in Ferguson this week <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/12/ferguson-tyrone-harris-shown-drawing-gun-in-video-before-shooting">was pulling a gun on them.</a></p>
<p>If that was really the situation, I can't fault the thugs for shooting him.
However, since it is standard practice for thugs to make that claim falsely,
we must treat it with the utmost skepticism.</p>


feed_id: f34f5072f1413e5df0677a49506b032d
title: Internet censorship in Argentina.
uri: Internet-censorship-in-Argentina
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Internet_censorship_in_Argentina.%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/08/no-internet-censorship-argentina">No to Internet Censorship in Argentina.</a></p>


feed_id: d12a0dd7d5b44cfa4021cadb81964b2d
title: War games
uri: War-games
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28War_games%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/russia-and-nato-war-games-increase-risk-of-real-clash-reports-says">The war games of NATO and Russia</a> create sparks that could set off a real war.</p>


feed_id: c445f047f42ad7c7469bdf4d4c0c287f
title: Justice for Christian Taylor
uri: Justice-for-Christian-Taylor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Justice_for_Christian_Taylor%29
content:
<p>The Texas thug that shot Christian Taylor <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/11/police-chief-fires-officer-christian-taylor">has been fired.</a></p>
<p>This is a good first step, but not enough to do justice.</p>


feed_id: eac737cd753b9a755b9115ee656cbf89
title: Journalists as combatants
uri: Journalists-as-combatants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Journalists_as_combatants%29
content:
<p>The Obama regime threatens <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/aug/11/pentagon-war-reporters-unprivileged-belligerents-spies">to treat journalists as combatants.</a></p>


feed_id: 946f81566c76754bbbc2fe7aa6e9cf8b
title: Sexual assault
uri: Sexual-assault
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Sexual_assault%29
content:
<p>Charnesia Corley <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/11/texas-woman-accuses-police-sexual-assault-body-cavity-strip-search">accuses Texas thugs of sexual assault</a> for their search of her vagina without a warrant.</p>


feed_id: 8288b0b663cc6209ebef6ff285e1300a
title: Emergency in Ferguson
uri: Emergency-in-Ferguson
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Emergency_in_Ferguson%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/08/11/national-lawyers-guild-provides-critical-support-demonstrators-ferguson-condemns">Thugs declared an emergency in Ferguson and the surrounding county,</a> and have arrested many peaceful protesters, as well as attacking them with chemicals.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/11/oath-keepers-ferguson-automatic-rifles">White militiamen roam Ferguson with rifles while black men falsely arrested.</a></p>


feed_id: 57d96b57a302f21fe45693a94d7026bd
title: PISSI propaganda
uri: PISSI-propaganda
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28PISSI_propaganda%29
content:
<p>PISSI is aiming its <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/11/taliban-condemns-brutal-isis-video-afghan-prisoners-murdered">boasting-of-savagery propaganda</a> at the Taliban.</p>


feed_id: dc720f9c2f8860b3f764174967bed76c
title: Charges against journalists
uri: Charges-against-journalists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Charges_against_journalists%29
content:
<p>Charges Against Journalists Raise Troubling Questions About <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/11/charges-against-journalists-raise-troubling-questions-about-press-freedom-ferguson">Press Freedom in Ferguson.</a></p>


feed_id: 908558e66509733454022d1436ecc15d
title: Decriminalizing sex work
uri: Decriminalizing-sex-work
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Decriminalizing_sex_work%29
content:
<p>Amnesty International <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/11/amnesty-approves-policy-to-decriminalise-sex-trade">approved a position for decriminalizing sex work.</a></p>
<p>This is the right policy.  Yes, many people are forced into sex work as slaves,
but many people are enslaved and forced into other kinds of work.  We need
solutions to the problem of enslavement that apply to many fields.</p>
<p>See the <a href="https://stallman.org/enslaved-workers.html">enslaved workers</a> page.</p>


feed_id: 50b00ace5ec03cc1a27e8921487a41b4
title: Life of poverty
uri: Life-of-poverty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Life_of_poverty%29
content:
<p>Around 10% of children in the UK can't afford a bicycle.  And if by
luck they get accepted to a university, they will get out with
crushing debt, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/aug/11/students-a-levels-clearing-university-education-poverty">US-style.</a></p>
<p>If they don't go to a university, they will be doomed to a life of
poverty, as there are no good jobs for those without a degree.  But
good jobs are hardly guaranteed for those with a degree.  But those
who borrow the money to attend may face a life of poverty together
with crushing debt.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/11/tory-britain-young-people-future-stolen-sixth-form">the state is cutting back on secondary education,</a> to reduce their chances of qualifying for university or graduating from one.</p>
<p>You can predict most policies of the UK government by assuming that
its real goal consists of dooH niboR plus burning fossil fuels, but
that it cannot admit this.</p>


feed_id: d98a3632155a456a1ae7904c79ae9dc1
title: Tar sands
uri: Tar-sands
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Tar_sands%29
content:
<p>Canadian candidate Linda McQuaig dared to say that <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/10/canadian-candidate-states-basic-scientific-fact-about-tar-sands-all-hell-breaks">tar sands must be left in the ground,</a> and was attacked by candidates on all sides who won't dare admit this basic fact.</p>
<p>Canada spent <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/true-north/2015/aug/11/canadian-government-spent-millions-on-secret-tar-sands-advocacy">30 million dollars</a> on PR and lobbying for export of tar sands oil.</p>


feed_id: eae44c899e667970131021c3614b277e
title: Zachary Hammond
uri: Zachary-Hammond
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Zachary_Hammond%29
content:
<p><a href="http://reason.com/blog/2015/08/10/police-shooting-of-unarmed-19-year-old-h">The killing of Zachary Hammond,</a> by a thug who then apparently lied to create an excuse, is an example of one kind of evil of the War on Drugs.</p>
<p>However, the War on Drugs <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#08_May_2015_(End_war_on_drugs!)">harms people and undermines social institutions in many other ways too.</a></p>


feed_id: f809e8532313f30b48213b4c3523f0f6
title: US antiwar movement
uri: US-antiwar-movement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28US_antiwar_movement%29
content:
<p>Now that the US fights its wars without ground combat, <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/11/where-did-antiwar-movement-go">it no longer faces an antiwar movement.</a>  It can deny civilian casualties and exaggerate enemy casualties with almost no checks.</p>


feed_id: cffbd78908cdb10ac50f12ee82fafb52
title: Scotland banned GMO farming
uri: Scotland-banned-GMO-farming
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Scotland_banned_GMO_farming%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/10/taking-firm-stance-scotland-pushes-gmo-ban">Scotland has banned GMO farming.</a></p>


feed_id: 94ffc07a8ceaa4d9d7e029e6d0cbc6fc
title: Coca Cola-funded scientists
uri: Coca-Cola-funded-scientists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Coca_Cola-funded_scientists%29
content:
<p>Nutritionists Slam Coca-Cola Funded Scientists <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/11/nutritionists-slam-coca-cola-funded-scientists-over-deceptive-soda-message">Over Deceptive Soda Message.</a></p>
<p>It is spreading denial through a front group, the "Global Energy Balance Network", following the tobacco industry model.</p>


feed_id: bfb810a69cd1183b070f325d5bddcb6e
title: Children's health and education
uri: Children-s-health-and-education
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Children%27s_health_and_education%29

content:
<p>The US states with the most children also make it hardest for children <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/08/youth-population-growth-poor-outcomes/400751/">to have good health and education.</a></p>
<p>This is partly because poverty causes more births.</p>


feed_id: db685febbfd7da4d56a7c833ea496a08
title: Greenhouse emissions in Australia
uri: Greenhouse-emissions-in-Australia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Greenhouse_emissions_in_Australia%29

content:
<p>Australia could reduce greenhouse emissions by 35% instead of 26% (for 2030)
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/11/australia-could-meet-tougher-emissions-target-with-no-extra-economic-pain">with a little more money.</a></p>
<p>In any case, the costs are small.</p>
<p>My memory is not the best, but isn't 35% by 2030 still too little, too
late?  All the pledges for the Paris conference are too little.
Global heating disaster will have its own costs, tremendous costs in
subsequent decades.</p>
<p>If "international permits" means what I think it does, that is likely
to make the entire scheme ineffective.  It is too easy for someone in
another country to fake a future "reduction" and sell it.</p>


feed_id: 21077952a7e3772d4827fce16767f965
title: Abandoned US mines
uri: Abandoned-US-mines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Abandoned_US_mines%29
content:
<p>500,000 abandoned US mines <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/14/animas-river-pollution-spill-colorado-mine">pose a threat of poisoning rivers.</a></p>
<p>Mines produce large bulk of toxic wastes, and current law does not
require the mine operator to dispose of the waste safely.</p>


feed_id: 05b71efd25b04881564009338a2ee2dc
title: Ballot selfies
uri: Ballot-selfies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Ballot_selfies%29
content:
<p>New Hampshire's law banning taking photos of your ballot <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150812/06270631920/new-hampshire-law-banning-ballot-selfies-struck-down-as-unconstitutional.shtml">has been declared unconstitutional.</a></p>
<p>There may be few cases so far where vote-buyers have demanded to see
ballot selfies.  But if people can vote over the internet, I expect
many bosses to require their employees to vote while the boss watches.</p>
<p>The article uses, gratuitously, the confusing term "intellectual property".
If you think that term refers to something coherent, <a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">it has already led you astray.</a></p>


feed_id: fa8167f3f2459c64b36117bdd50da191
title: Jeb Bush endorses torture
uri: Jeb-Bush-endorses-torture
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Jeb_Bush_endorses_torture%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/14/jeb-bush-refuses-to-rule-out-use-of-torture-if-he-becomes-us-president">Jeb Bush endorses use of torture,</a> along with the myth that it could be "necessary" as well as the myth that it could be justified.</p>
<p>He does not seem to understand that torture is most "effective" <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#27_April_2015_(Chicago:_30_years_of_Torture)">for obtaining <em>false</em> confessions.</a></p>


feed_id: 3a7c33547f645b55d848bb2384eb8b2b
title: UK ban on smoking
uri: UK-ban-on-smoking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28UK_ban_on_smoking%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/aug/13/england-stillbirths-dropped-since-smoking-ban">The ban on smoking in public places in the UK</a> has substantially reduced the rate of stillbirths and the rate of deaths of newborns.</p>
<p>This joins <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#7_April_2015_(Indoor_smoking_bans)">other health benefits.</a></p>


feed_id: 40367f8df9dd1270477425bfb99b352b
title: Prison guard company
uri: Prison-guard-company
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Prison_guard_company%29
content:
<p>The hired private prison guard company that handles "security" for
imprisoned refugees that Nauru holds on Australia's behalf followed a
visiting Australian Green senator who was investigating prison
conditions.  <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/14/greens-call-for-wilson-security-ban-at-nauru-amid-claims-of-spying-on-senator">Now the Greens demand that company's contract not be renewed.</a></p>
<p>This situation is one injustice piled on another.</p>


feed_id: b6da1a85715e77fb4b6eb18ff488438e
title: Lenovo BIOS
uri: Lenovo-BIOS
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Lenovo_BIOS%29
content:
<p>Lenovo's BIOS <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/14/lenovo-service-engine-pre-installed-security-superfish">reinstalls malware</a> (with a back door) into Windows if it
is no longer present (for instance, of the user has reinstalled a
"clean" Windows).</p>
<p>Of course, a "clean" Windows installation is not really clean,
since it contains Microsoft's <a href="http://gnu.org/proprietary/malware-microsoft.html">spying, DRM, backdoors and censorship.</a></p>
<p>It appears Lenovo's method <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150812/11395231925/lenovo-busted-stealthily-installing-crapware-via-bios-fresh-windows-installs.shtml">will not affect GNU/Linux.</a></p>


feed_id: b5f58307212c275124d5c01ade1fa475
title: flying under a false name
uri: flying-under-a-false-name
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28flying_under_a_false_name%29
content:
<p>An Australian man, jailed for flying under a false name, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/14/preacher-junaid-thorne-jailed-under-highest-security-classification">has been put in inaccessible solitary confinement.</a></p>
<p>He should not be in jail at all.  People should not have to give their
names for domestic travel.</p>
<p>He seems to be an Islamist and has connections with groups
accused of having connections with PISSI.  Those views are
despicable, but <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-mar-jun.html#19_June_2015_(US_subpoenas_Reason_magazine)"freedom of speech applies to them.</a></p>

The Thor project is developing a <a href="http://blogs.cisco.com/collaboration/world-meet-thor-a-project-to-hammer-out-a-royalty-free-video-codec">patent-safe free software video codec.</a></p>
<p>It is disappointing that the project cites the term "open source"
which avoids issues of freedom.  But the code they release is free
software, so the project's work will be a good contribution to freedom.</p>
<p>Most of the time, a large software project should be copylefted.
However, this is one of the exceptions.  <a href="http://gnu.org/licenses/license-recommendations.html">We want nonfree programs
to support this format.</a></p>
<p>The article says they ask people to "contribute their own
'intellectual property rights'" — which is gobbledygook.</p>
<p>I suppose they are asking for programmers to work on the code, and (as
a separate matter) asking companies to provide patent licenses for the
algorithms and techniques.  They could say so, it would be clear and
logical.  Alas, they are committed to the incoherent concept of
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">"intellectual property",</a> which leads them to generalize about unrelated things to create a false appearance of unification.</p>


feed_id: aa2355455166db8bbf8f29e4f2044945
title: Moving Guantanamo prison
uri: Moving-Guantanamo-prison
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Moving_Guantanamo_prison%29
content:
<p>Obama is trying once again to "close Guantanamo prison" by <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/13/no-thanks-obama-and-mccain-continuing-indefinite-detention-isnt-closing-guantanamo">moving the prison somewhere else.</a></p>


feed_id: 29a4a83685514a734c5a76dbe0299ebc
title: The Internet of Things
uri: 2015-08-18-The-Internet-of-Things
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28The_Internet_of_Things%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/14/internet-of-things-winners-and-losers-privacy-autonomy-capitalism
">The Internet of Things — Who Wins, Who Loses?</a></p>


feed_id: 786bbeaaab86ffc601cdc0a5d2d53621
title: Research in Australia
uri: Research-in-Australia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Research_in_Australia%29
content:
<p>Australia has made it a crime for researchers in the physical sciences
<a href="http://defencereport.com/australias-defence-trade-control-act-clamps-down-on-researchers/">to discuss their research with foreigners, or publish it, without approval.</a></p>


feed_id: 06b61ad9ebdd1448ec57662d014b9f18
title: Air pollution in China
uri: 2015-08-18-Air-pollution-in-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Air_pollution_in_China%29
content:
<p>In China, over 1.5 million people die each year <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/14/air-pollution-in-china-is-killing-4000-people-every-day-a-new-study-finds">from air pollution.</a></p>
<p>That must be roughly 10% of the deaths that occur in China.</p>


feed_id: ad8a7aac53e786101f5c2cc82de3a1da
title: Thai government
uri: Thai-government
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Thai_government%29
content:
<p>Arguing that <a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/andrew-macgregor-marshall/thailands-saddest-secret/566797063339637">Thailand's current king accidentally shot his brother, the previous king.</a></p>
<p>I don't have enough other knowledge about the incident to assert that
this is true, but I mention it because the Thai government doesn't
like it to be discussed.</p>


feed_id: b075ef280b95b8b2b31af20e0de2414b
title: Pinochet officers
uri: Pinochet-officers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Pinochet_officers%29
content:
<p>Former officers of Pinochet's dictatorship <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/13/former-chilean-general-hernan-ramirez-rurange-dies-apparent-suicide">were conviced of murdering a dissident.</a></p>


feed_id: ea34cef126436d203c959437c9cb5b08
title: Robots are artifacts
uri: Robots-are-artifacts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Robots_are_artifacts%29
content:
<p>Proposed principle: <a href="https://freedom-to-tinker.com/blog/jbryson/robots-dont-threaten-but-may-be-useful-threats/">'Robots are artifacts;</a> they should not be designed
to exploit vulnerable users by evoking an emotional response or
dependency. It should always be possible to tell a robot from a
human.'</p>


feed_id: 282fe0972a8b80c07fcd19ee298f1a45
title: Tianjin explosion
uri: Tianjin-explosion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Tianjin_explosion%29
content:
<p>Part of China's economic advantage in production comes from a range of
policies that don't value people's lives enough.  <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/14/tianjin-explosions-china-orders-checks-chemicals">The fatal explosion in Tianjin</a> is an example of what that can do.</p>
<p>Corruption plays a role, too, in that regulations are not followed.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2012-nov-feb.html#24_February_2013_(EPA_delays_regulations_on_hexavalent_chromium)">That happens in the US as well.</p>


feed_id: 6e87550bce02f79202f88eda52fb1f9f
title: UK public housing
uri: 2015-08-18-UK-public-housing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28UK_public_housing%29
content:
<p>The Tories' "right to buy" public housing has produced <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/14/right-to-buy-scheme-disaster-housing">the exact opposite</a> of its ostensible purpose: a smaller fraction of Britons now
own homes, and most of the homes purchased under "right to buy" are
now private rentals charging a lot more than when they were public
rentals.</p>


feed_id: 39dfc32ee9152746516e9a2115b8dfe6
title: Hunger striker in a coma
uri: Hunger-striker-in-a-coma
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Hunger_striker_in_a_coma%29
content:
<p>Palestinian lawyer Mohammed Allan, who has been on hunger strike to protest imprisonment without trial by Israel, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/14/palestinian-lawyer-mohammed-allan-hunger-strike-coma-israeli-administrative-detention">is now in a coma.</a></p>
<p>Israel says he is a member of Islamic Jihad.  Islamic Jihad is a
violent and terrorist organization, but if Israel accuses him of
involvement in violence, it should put him on trial and prove that.</p>


feed_id: 18e76e224f9a370af3ef9e7534b90099
title: Bailout for banksters
uri: Bailout-for-banksters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Bailout_for_banksters%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/13/greeks-taste-bailout-rules">The bailout for the banksters that Greece owes money to</a> abolishes rules that help local small businesses resist multinational chains.</p>
<p>It requires Greece <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/aug/14/germanys-hypocrisy-over-greece-water-privatisation">to privatize water supply.</a></p>
<p>That will result in long-term hardship — it does, everywhere.</p>


feed_id: 42d7cf38b32316f2cd5fd81c0462a1fd
title: Alberta tar sands
uri: Alberta-tar-sands
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Alberta_tar_sands%29
content:
<p>Three cheers for <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/12/our-politics-telling-truth-gets-you-trouble">Linda McQuaig,</a> the candidate who dares tell the truth about the effects of extracting and then burning Alberta tar sands.</p>


feed_id: ddd37d3f91b60fffb6a68491e5e1a68a
title: Investigation of CIA torture
uri: 2015-08-18-Investigation-of-CIA-torture
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Investigation_of_CIA_torture%29
content:
<p>How CIA officials <a href="https://news.vice.com/article/the-google-search-that-made-the-cia-spy-on-the-us-senate">tried to thwart the Senate's investigation of CIA torture,</a> even going to the point of trying to get senate investigators prosecuted, and denying the conclusions their own internal investigation had established.</p>
<p>These officials are still at it — vile torturers!</p>


feed_id: f97fd9807c2f91a7a572f615ed375fbd
title: Frack wells in New Mexico
uri: Frack-wells-in-New-Mexico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Frack_wells_in_New_Mexico%29
content:
<p>Frack wells in New Mexico <a href=">http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/14/new-mexicos-gas-wells-fracking-air-pollution">are spreading local air pollution</a> that harms the health of the people who live there.</p>


feed_id: 85a5ac4c5210e5d95d616a22a26ac396
title: Planned Parenthood videos
uri: Planned-Parenthood-videos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Planned_Parenthood_videos%29
content:
<p>The covert videos of Planned Parenthood are nothing but hot air — <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/13/trojan-horse-argument-planned-parenthood-videos">they do not show anything wrong.</a></p>


feed_id: ec27b1f8855a951809cce7df263b80d8
title: Japan's medical experiments
uri: Japan-s-medical-experiments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Japan%27s_medical_experiments%29
content:
<p>Japan carried out <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/13/japan-revisits-its-darkest-moments-where-american-pows-became-human-experiments">murderous medical experiments</a> on Americans, Chinese and Koreans.</p>
<p>Compare with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_syphilis_experiment">Tuskegee syphilis experiment.</a></p>
<p>At least the US has apologized for that.  Japan should start apologizing wholeheartedly for its atrocities. </p>
<p>However, Abe <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/14/shinzo-abe-japan-no-new-apology-second-world-war-anniversary-speech">explicitly stopped short of saying "apology"</a> when he spoke on the anniversary of the end of World War II.</p>


feed_id: 4f6a99f2f52a37e15babd7fc58727723
title: Trusting robots
uri: Trusting-robots
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Dangers_Of_trusting_robots%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150812-how-to-tell-a-good-robot-from-the-bad">Some of the possible dangers of trusting robots.</a><p></p></p>
<p>We had better make sure the code in the robot is controlled by people that have the users' interests at heart — that is to say, the users.</p><p></p>
<p><a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">http://gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html</a></p>


feed_id: d66f8839d1fe29cd7b516db29929b90f
title: Chelsea Manning
uri: 2015-08-18-Chelsea-Manning
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Chelsea%20Manning%29
content:
<p>To railroad Chelsea Manning into indefinite solitary confinement over having an "expired" tube of toothpaste,<p></p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/16/chelsea-manning-prison-legal-library-hearing">the prison guards have blocked her access to the prison library.</a></p>


feed_id: ca43257485502ad91390475198b51e14
title: Amazon's management technique
uri: Amazon-s-management-technique
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Amazon_Management_technique%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/17/amazon-management-fad-rank-yank-jeff-bezos">Amazon's management technique is vicious; secondarily, it often backfires.</a></p><p></p>
<p>That is actually a good thing, since it may help limit the use of this approach.</p>


feed_id: 48dfa94dd804ea28ea8b8036cd82dc51
title: Obama
uri: 2015-08-18-Obama
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Obama%29
content:
<p>Obama blames Congress for blocking release of Guantanamo prisoners,
so 
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/13/hunger-striking-detainee-tests-obamas-will-close-guantanamo/">
why did he oppose</a>
 Tariq Ba-Odah's habias corpus petition?
</p>


feed_id: 67a585d0baedfb4990b767d8b1d0ef8e
title: Food aid cuts
uri: Food-aid-cuts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Food_aid_cuts%29
content:
<p>Food Aid Cuts '
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/13/food-aid-cuts-making-refugees-targets-for-isis-recruitment">
Making Refugees Targets for Isis Recruitment</a>
'.
</p>


feed_id: c66bfe044d3ddfbbc8818dfb8ee2e9ff
title: Old oil pipeline
uri: Old-oil-pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Old_oil_pipeline%29
content:
<p>An oil pipeline between Canada and the US, under Mackinac Strait, 
<a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-aging-oil-pipelines-below-the-great-lakes">
is
now 62 years old</a>
 and operated by a company we can't rely on much.
</p>


feed_id: 0f108bd70bc6cbde060c50b9a434162d
title: Glasses against facial recognition
uri: Glasses-against-facial-recognition
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Glasses_against_facial_recognition%29

content:
<p>Glasses That Confuse Facial Recognition Systems 
<a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/glasses-that-confuse-facial-recognition-systems-are-coming-to-japan">
Are Coming</a>
 to Japan.
</p>


feed_id: 535112ca4a7895c74136780b75c936ed
title: California
uri: 2015-08-18-California
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28California%29
content:
<p>California's new water-saving showers 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/12/california-showerhead-water-conservation-toilet-lawn-rebates">
will save</a>
 a little water,
but the way to save a lot of water is to stop fracking.</p>


feed_id: afd43cdad51265c3923ffa3f25ce1239
title: Prostitution of minors
uri: Prostitution-of-minors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Prostitution_of_minors%29
content:
<p>Coerced prostitution of minors in the US exists, but the victims

<a href="http://www.villagevoice.com/news/real-men-get-their-facts-straight-6431644">
appear to number in the hundreds</a>
, not the hundreds of thousands
as
sometimes claimed.
</p>


feed_id: 9e72d249b65cbe43f6a94188eb44bd9b
title: US Civil War
uri: US-Civil-War
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28US_Civil_War%29
content:
<p>The US Civil War 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/11/1411087/-Head-of-Dept-of-History-at-West-Point-destroys-argument-that-Civil-War-wasn-t-fought-over-slavery?detail=email">
was</a>
 about whether to end slavery.  Everything else
followed from that issue.
</p>


feed_id: 0b513fa9fe0b7753042c5d91762654ea
title: SWAT
uri: 2015-08-18-SWAT
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28SWAT%29
content:
<p>One SWAT team 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/11/1411026/-Judge-rules-SWAT-doesn-t-get-immunity-in-raid-of-wrong-68-year-old-woman-s-home-with-flash-bangs?detail=email">
has been denied immunity</a>
 for carelessly raiding some
innocent people's home with less-lethal grenades.
</p>
<p>Good, but if the victims win their lawsuit, it will be the city that
pays.</p>
<p>Making cities pay damages for misconduct by thugs has proved
insufficient to deter thugs from careless or bestial cruelty.
We need to punish the individual thugs.
</p>


feed_id: 0c57beee8dc4b651f22750563830b050
title: Stores in airports
uri: Stores-in-airports
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Stores_in_airports%29
content:
<p>Bizarrely, a concern about prices 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/12/the-guardian-view-on-the-airport-vat-rip-off-theyve-got-it-tail-about-nose">
has motivated</a>
 UK air travellers to refuse
to let airport stores scan their boarding passes.
</p>
<p>I almost never buy anything in an airport except take-out food,
because the stores in an airport are expensive.  The exceptions are
when something is hard to find in the US: I've bought chocolate,
cheese, nama yatsuhashi, and occasionally a book.  For my privacy's
sake, I have refused to let any store scan my boarding pass.  When the
clerk insisted on that, I said "no sale."</p>
<p>Then one day it occurred to me to ask, "What do you do when a boarding
pass fails to scan properly?"  The clerk answered that they can
manually enter the flight number in that case.  Since then, I've offered
this a couple of times, and the clerk accepted it instead of scanning my
pass.</p>
<p>As for the question of how this affects the prices, I expect an
airport store to be expensive, but there is no use fussing about that.
I simply don't buy anything there that I could get elsewhere.</p>


feed_id: 13dd56e44008af73876747ee6aa866e7
title: Ferguson's thugs
uri: Ferguson-s-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Ferguson%27s_thugs%29
content:
<p>Ferguson's thugs 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/08/pentagon-forces-ferguson-return-two-humvees-police-militarization-program">
had to surrender</a>
 two Humvees, but not because of any
plan to demilitarization US thugs.
</p>


feed_id: 81e4ec2e1c567d082ae97b3fbc6cfa07
title: Prison thugs
uri: Prison-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Prison_thugs%29
content:
<p>Prison thugs in New York 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/12/new-york-prisoners-beatings-escape">
beat up prisoners</a>
, trying to extract whatever
they knew about two prisoners who had escaped.
</p>


feed_id: f536dc65fe44ff17717fe3363253e69d
title: Abortion rights
uri: Abortion-rights
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Abortion_rights%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2015/aug/12/five-main-anti-abortion-arguments-examined">
Refuting</a>
 the main "rational" arguments against abortion rights.
</p>
<p>There remains only the argument from religion, which attempts to prove
that a fertilized ovum must already have a "soul".  
<a href="https://stallman.org/articles/quantum-abortion.html">
I've refuted</a>
 that one.
</p>


feed_id: e747ad5d0e98c428134641c3f90fd353
title: Scott Walker
uri: 2015-08-18-Scott-Walker
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Scott_Walker%29
content:
<p>The investigation of Scott Walker 
<a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2015/08/12906/scott-walker-saved-john-doe-secrecy-order">
was not</a>
 a fishing expedition.  It
was based on real evidence of a specific felony.
</p>


feed_id: 36a961108d5d0e75d1d9f4d8fec0cffe
title: Clinton
uri: 2015-08-18-Clinton
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Clinton%29
content:
<p>Obama has harshly punished government employees for "mishandling
secret information", and Clinton hypocritically endorsed the harsh
punishment of others for this, while 
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/12/hillary-clinton-sanctity-protecting-classified-information/">
she herself was doing it</a>
 with her
email server.
</p>
<p>Note that Chelsea (then Bradley) Manning was not irresponsible in
handling secrets; she heroically told the American public about US
government wrongs.  But Clinton had no such justification.  She was
irresponsible.</p>


feed_id: 8ecd2266e1b78be684a944bf51beb6af
title: No Fly List
uri: 2015-08-18-No-Fly-List
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28No_Fly_List%29
content:
<p>A US court
 <a href="http://reason.com/blog/2015/08/11/we-can-tell-you-that-you-cant-fly-we-can">
ordered</a>
 the Theater of Security Agency to set up an appeals
process to get off the No Fly List.  But this is effectively useless
since
the TSA refuses to tell people why they were put on the list.
</p>
<p>This list 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/10/us-no-fly-list-predictive-assessments">
is based</a>
 on vague suspicions, not on the punished person's
actual conduct.
</p>
<p>Banning someone from flying is a denial of rights, and should not be
done without due process of law, based on real acts.</p>
<p>Surely any danger that these people might conceivably pose could be
avoided
by special searches.</p>


feed_id: 46076b22b307a0129bb10cc0dca4be74
title: Bahareh Hedayat
uri: Bahareh-Hedayat
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Bahareh_Hedayat%29
content:
<p>Iranian political prisoner Bahareh Hedayat 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/iran-refuses-free-student-activist-bahareh-hedayat-six-years-prison">
has not been freed</a>
 even though
her sentence calls for her to be released now.
</p>


feed_id: 86bc306ce6551ca9bd34bfb494d59ac7
title: Secrecy in correspondence
uri: Secrecy-in-correspondence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Secrecy_in_correspondence%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/12/where-did-the-principle-of-secrecy-in-correspondence-go">
Where Did the Principle of Secrecy in Correspondence Go</a>
?
</p>


feed_id: 7ae7e5bedc6d4c5503fa0e2ec4526ed8
title: Jews of Ukraine
uri: Jews-of-Ukraine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Jews_of_Ukraine%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/ukraine-holocaust-history-project">
Unburying</a>
 the history of genocide against the Jews of Ukraine.
</p>


feed_id: e8d9b3ce7eaf635d05c702767a4c0551
title: Smile for photographs
uri: Smile-for-photographs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Smile_for_photographs%29
content:
<p>People in old times 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/12/why-dont-people-smile-old-photographs-google-answer">
did not smile</a>
 for photographs; the idea would have
struck them as daft.
</p>
<p>I noticed this myself, several years ago, and decided to follow their
example.  Occasionally I have a contented expression, but I avoid
the artificial smile that most people produce.</p>


feed_id: 0040b9ef7b9efc15e19911f2f57b6f36
title: EU air pollution
uri: EU-air-pollution
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28EU_air_pollution%29
content:
<p>The UK 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/12/uk-lobbying-for-even-weaker-eu-air-pollution-laws-leaked-papers-show">
is trying to weaken</a>
 EU air pollution limits, for the sake of
coal mining.
</p>


feed_id: 90d8182b7eed209f28f32f082776dd87
title: Australian thugs
uri: 2015-08-18-Australian-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Australian_thugs%29
content:
<p>Australia (specifically Northern Territories) 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/12/death-in-custody-nt-paperless-arrests-will-lead-to-more-fatalies-inquest-hears">
allows</a>
 thugs to arrest people
pre-emptively over <em>possible</em> minor crimes.
</p>


feed_id: 7fd3d6a809fddbdde0d208a58bbaefbb
title: Thugs
uri: 2015-08-18-Thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Thugs%29
content:
<p>Thugs cite bad science 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/08/why-do-police-departments-delay-interviewing-officers-involved-shootings">
to justify</a>
 a delay before they report what happened
when they shot someone.
</p>
<p>The delay helps them "clarify" their stories, I'm sure.</p>


feed_id: 8ed5e7398a65ab421b01cb8aa0300b92
title: Hack cars
uri: Hack-cars
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Hack_cars%29
content:
<p>The surveillance modules that insurance companies put in cars

<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/12/hack-car-brakes-sms-text">
can be used</a>
 by crackers to kill the driver.
</p>


feed_id: c07f68ef5ed89ea021d26d6a2a560e86
title: Urgent: Chelsea Manning
uri: Urgent-Chelsea-Manning
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Chelsea_Manning%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/us-government-chelsea-manning-charges/">call
for dropping the bizarre accusations</a> against Chelsea Manning (and
not putting her in solitary confinement).


feed_id: 1460612177b8cc4b208132320313ec59
title: Urgent: End prisoner phone call gouging
uri: Urgent-End-prisoner-phone-call-gouging
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_End_prisoner_phone_call_gouging%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/endprisonphonerates/">call
on the FCC</a> to end gouging on prisoners' phone calls.


feed_id: 143741f8a4e88eaf1562c61d346b1ff5
title: Kerry calls for "genuine democracy"
uri: Kerry-calls-for-genuine-democracy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Kerry_calls_for_genuine_democracy%29

content:
<p>
Kerry, visited Cuba, called for 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/15/cuba-havana-john-kerry-us-embassy-democracy">"genuine
democracy"</a>.
<p>
That would be nice to have in the US.  One useful step is to vote for
Sanders for president.


feed_id: 499fccd0efd71f09704544df402328a9
title: Suburban sprawl and segregation
uri: Suburban-sprawl-and-segregation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Suburban_sprawl_and_segregation%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://grist.org/cities/how-suburban-sprawl-causes-segregation-and-isolates-the-poor/">How
Suburban Sprawl Causes Segregation And Isolates the Poor</a>.


feed_id: 35df4a72f1d0976449f557c6bb8bf054
title: Germany profits from oppression of Greece
uri: Germany-profits-from-oppression-of-Greece
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Germany_profits_from_oppression_of_Greece%29

content:
<p>
Germany 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/15/germany-profits-greeks-hardships">profits
handsomely</a> from the economic oppression of Greece.


feed_id: 35601a3cd078d825650982ab8b7e743d
title: Euro zone emergency escape currency
uri: Euro-zone-emergency-escape-currency
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Euro_zone_emergency_escape_currency%29

content:
<p>
Countries in the euro zone should set up an 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/economics-blog/2015/aug/13/greece-crisis-proves-the-need-for-a-currency-plan-b">alternative
emergency escape currency</a> before they need it.


feed_id: 4c9f33e4094adb08cc361b8536fe1280
title: US fights release of hunger striker
uri: US-fights-release-of-hunger-striker
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28US_fights_release_of_hunger_striker%29

content:
<p>
Tariq Ba Odah is badly ill after years of hunger striking.  The US
government has already decided there is no reason to keep him in
prison; but it 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/15/us-launches-secret-bid-to-stop-release-of-hunger-striking-guantanamo-detainee">opposes
his court motion to be freed</a>, out of sheer perverse orneriness.
The US defines hunger striking as a form of war, and the prisoner's
release as a defeat.
<p>
I have a hunch that the US military defines Guantanamo prisoners'
habias corpus motions as a kind of war, too.  And any other human
rights, when they get in the military's way.


feed_id: 7990095969027919c41e45088a86edc9
title: Opposition to stricter copyright
uri: Opposition-to-stricter-copyright
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Opposition_to_stricter_copyright%29

content:
<p>
It is noteworthy that, in Japan, even 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/08/japan-and-us-align-tpp-provisions-harm-japanese-creators">artists'
and authors' associations</a> oppose the stricter copyright that the
TPP would impose.
<p>
This is noteworthy, but it's not crucial.  It is a 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/misinterpreting-copyright.html">fundamental
mistake</a> to think that the views or interests of an artist should
carry more weight in copyright issues that the views or interests of
anyone else!
<p>
The purpose of copyright is to benefit the public, by influencing
artists to make more works.  But copyright also restricts and thus
harms the public.  It is up to the public to decide how much copyright
price is worth paying to get more works.


feed_id: 368d13c904be587d88c17b1fe2e15cda
title: Prosecution of Bush regime officials
uri: Prosecution-of-Bush-regime-officials
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Prosecution_of_Bush_regime_officials%29

content:
<p>
In 2009, the question was whether Obama and Holder would prosecute the
Bush regime officials that 
<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2009/05/05/how-many-were-tortured-to-death.html">tortured
around 100 prisoners to death</a>.
<p>
Now we know the answer: no, they wouldn't.  These murders are still a
blot on the honor of the United States, and will remain so until those
guilty (from Bush and Cheney on down) are punished.  If the US won't
do it, the UN should.


feed_id: 718bc75cb45758e8699c156df3d60d9a
title: Propietary software companies
uri: Propietary-software-companies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Propietary_software_companies%29
content:
<p>
Former employees of Kaspersky say that the company 
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/14/us-kaspersky-rivals-idUSKCN0QJ1CR20150814">sabotaged
competitors</a> by tricking them into recognizing normal files as
viruses.
<p>
All these companies were making proprietary software, which is
unethical in itself; I can't consider any of them an innocent victim.
Microsoft, in particular, commits 
<a href="http://gnu.org/proprietary/malware-microsoft.html">sabotage
against its users</a>.
<p>
That doesn't make it ok to do what Kaspersky is accused of doing.


feed_id: 2753bac3ae0ae721ac400574a0ba8fe8
title: US gov't investigations of journalists
uri: US-gov-t-investigations-of-journalists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28US_govt_investigations_of_journalists%29

content:
<p>
The US Government Investigated Journalists 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/14/us-government-justice-department-journalists">14
Times During 2014</a>.


feed_id: 601ca4c3a9f310a26eb22ba53870bb8e
title: Texas chemical plant explosion
uri: Texas-chemical-plant-explosion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Texas_chemical_plant_explosion%29
content:
<p>
A chemical plant in Texas exploded, and people who live nearby say the
gas from the fire 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/15/pollution-fears-following-explosions-at-texas-chemical-plant">made
their eyes burn</a>.
<p>
The risk of accidents can't be avoided, but many processes that use
toxic chemicals could be replaced by other processes without toxic
chemicals.


feed_id: 1d206ac663a83198f201f41c5d767711
title: Documenting US thugs' crimes
uri: Documenting-US-thugs-crimes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Documenting_US_thugs_crimes%29
content:
<p>
US thugs will go to any length to 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/15/filming-police-violence-walter-scott-michael-brown-shooting">block
people from documenting their crimes</a>, even accusing a fragile
woman in a wheelchair of "assaulting a thug" after knocking her down.
<p>
I think it must be made a felony for thugs to interfere with
documenting their actions, with a special agency to vigorously
prosecute them.


feed_id: d86dfe0c9f2342fe7cbfbac5774572ae
title: Global Mineral Boom
uri: Global-Mineral-Boom
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Global_Mineral_Boom%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/15/developing-countries-high-price-global-mineral-boom">How
Developing Countries Are Paying a High Price for the Global Mineral
Boom</a>.
<p>
I'm sure a wealthy minority in those countries are
profiting from it.


feed_id: 5236b71d5af19f7f47fdfab4f45d7de1
title: GMO mustard in India
uri: GMO-mustard-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28GMO_mustard_in_India%29
content:
<p>
The Indian government is trying to impose GMO mustard (used often for
greens and oil as well as for a condiment) with the "terminator" that
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/12/get-gmo-out-my-mustard">makes
seeds sterile</a>.  It will also spread patent pollution to other farms.
<p>
In the process it is disregarding Indian laws as well as treaties.


feed_id: 4f97f51412452f6cbd55d2cad56563bf
title: Pope against GMO monoculture plantations
uri: Pope-against-GMO-monoculture-plantations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Pope_against_GMO_monoculture_plantations%29

content:
<p>
Pope Francis 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/12/pope-francis-joins-battle-against-transgenic-crops">condemned
the use of GMOs to create monoculture plantations</a> as found in
Argentina and some other countries.


feed_id: 4ebb75fb190117c442190e4664c3f249
title: Extreme Republicans
uri: Extreme-Republicans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Extreme_Republicans%29
content:
<p>
The most extreme Republicans now 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/13/cuckservative-republicans-conservatives-jeb-bush">insult
anyone less extreme</a>.
<p>
A similar dynamic has been in place on the political left in some
places; for instance, during the French revolution, and in leftist
circles in the US in the 70s.
<p>
This dynamic can also be observed in Islamism, with 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-sep-dec.html#29_September_2014_(PISSI)">PISSI</a>
as its ultimate extreme.
<p>
At this point, the practice may cause Republicans to be so extreme
they are defeated.  However, the practice of opposing non-extreme
Republican candidates was very effective in shifting US legislatures
to the extreme right, and in making them cheat with voter suppression
and so on.


feed_id: e490834ec1a6da22781ba330580f38a6
title: Unregulated use of facial recognition
uri: Unregulated-use-of-facial-recognition
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Unregulated_use_of_facial_recognition%29

content:
<p>
Many companies are using facial recognition on their customers, and
there is 
<a href="https://news.vice.com/article/facial-recognition-technology-is-big-business-and-its-coming-for-you">no
regulation on it in the US</a>.
<p>
Even worse, 
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/13/us/facial-recognition-software-moves-from-overseas-wars-to-local-police.html">US
thugs are using facial recognition</a>.
<p>
I think thugs should be allowed to use facial recognition only on
people under arrest, or people identified by a special "search for
this face" warrant.
<p>
I think companies should be required to get permission to take photos
of customers or the public, with the exception of security camera
recordings that normally are erased within a certain time and are not
normally used in any other ways.
<p>
The argument about "Nordstroms", that customers will appreciate the
convenience of being recognized, and therefore companies should be
allowed to recognize people with no limits, is logically invalid.  The
correct conclusion from this scenario is that Nordstroms (or whichever
store it may be) can ask each customer, "Would you like us to
recognize you by your face and offer you convenient suggestions when
you return?", and customers can say yes or no.
<p>
The rule that companies can do surveillance of any sort when customers
"consent" is not in general acceptable.  It is too easy for companies
to pressure customers by saying, "Consent, or no service."
<p>
However, if the principal service is available without surveillance,
and only secondary "conveniences" require accepting surveillance, I
think that is safe.  We who value our privacy can easily do without
"convenient" suggestions when we go shopping.  Indeed, I think just
about everyone will decide to do without them.


feed_id: eb7709623ef8b5ed7fc3a2a4f010b83c
title: Parasitic commercial journal publishers
uri: Parasitic-commercial-journal-publishers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Parasitic_commercial_journal_publishers%29

content:
<p>
Australian academics want to fight the parasitic 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/aug/14/australian-academics-seek-to-challenge-web-of-avarice-in-scientific-publishing">commercial
journal publishers</a>.


feed_id: 927b64df8928e621164682a4b4dcbe9a
title: Clinton's email handling
uri: Clinton-s-email-handling
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Clintons_email_handling%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/14/top-secret-hillary-clinton-emails-us-drone-operation">Criticisms</a>
of Clinton's email handling focus on two messages which, depending on
details of the situation, might be security violations or might not.


feed_id: d6f6a27abd5f3266d2bdd86651a7fbef
title: Hawks using distorted "intelligence"
uri: Hawks-using-distorted-intelligence
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Hawks_using_distorted_intelligence%29

content:
<p>
Hawks are using 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/14/bad-intelligence-leading-us-war-again">distorted
"intelligence"</a> to argue for war with Iran.


feed_id: 30d6e3568fc75320c7971fce7de6dd80
title: Syriza Party split
uri: Syriza-Party-split
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Syriza_Party_split%29
content:
<p>
The Greek Parliament has acceded to the EU's demands, the
preconditions for bailing out Greece's bankster creditors.  In the
process, it split the Syriza Party, which 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/aug/14/alexis-tsipras-greece-bailout-vote-new-election">will
force new elections</a>.
<p>
We will see if Tsipras "has what it takes" … to be the EU's
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/14/alexis-tsipras-true-leader-greece-pragmatism">subordinate
in charge for Greece</a>.
<p>
Here's 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/memorandum-understanding-what-exactly-has-greece-signed-up-for">what
the plutocratic rulers will impose on Greece</a>.
<p>
Many of these items sound like changes for the better, and perhaps
some really will be improvements (though that depends on details).
Syriza's initial mandate included some of them.
<p>
However, reducing pensions by 1% of the GDP is an enormous cut in the
support for old people who are now barely getting by.  This will kill
thousands.
<p>
And changing labor law will probably mean letting companies mistreat
workers.


feed_id: d1c1586bc8f5948afd381866693f38c9
title: Deleted Reddit posting
uri: Deleted-Reddit-posting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Deleted_Reddit_posting%29
content:
<p>
Reddit deleted a posting because 
<a href="http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/13/reddit-responds-after-being-threatened-banned-and-unbanned-by-the-russian-government/">Russia
demanded it</a>, and Reddit's management says it is Reddit's policy to
do so.


feed_id: 4b4404fc71b3f1709e529218b58d79fd
title: Connecticut bans executions
uri: Connecticut-bans-executions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Connecticut_bans_executions%29
content:
<p>
Connecticut's Supreme Court ruled that executions 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/13/connecticut-abolishes-death-penalty-bans-further-executions">violate
the Connecticut constitution</a>.


feed_id: 93861af88fd003819d952b89f06afaf6
title: Arctic Ocean oil
uri: Arctic-Ocean-oil
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Arctic_Ocean_oil%29
content:
<p>
Making the case that Arctic Ocean oil 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/08/13/new-report-details-climate-case-against-drilling-arctic">must
be off limits</a>.
<p>
Shell's investment of billions of dollars in Arctic drilling can only
be profitable if it pumps lots of oil there — and that means
lots of global heating.


feed_id: a65d6aed52d677ec602e71b9634f96ef
title: Thug fired for false accusations
uri: Thug-fired-for-false-accusations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Thug_fired_for_false_accusations%29

content:
<p>
The thug that killed Christian Taylor has been fired because it became
clear he had made 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/12/1411277/-Officer-Brad-Miller-fired-after-it-was-determined-he-lied-about-murdering-teenager-Christian-Taylor">false
accusations</a> (standard thug practice) against Taylor to try to
justify the killing.
<p>
He should be prosecuted, indeed.  But making false accusations is a
vicious crime even when it isn't accompanied with killing.  All thugs
found to make false accusations should be prosecuted for perjury.


feed_id: 6bbb4558578f1edb87946a7a7c47dc52
title: Student expelled for "rape"
uri: Student-expelled-for-rape
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Student_expelled_for_rape%29
content:
<p>
A university expelled a student for "rape", but the court ruled that
the judgment was made in a way that 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2015/08/13/judge-stops-usc-from-expelling-football">didn't
respect his rights</a>.


feed_id: 36aec9623afd41743ff6ff07c270e199
title: Greece "bailout"
uri: Greece-bailout
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Greece_bailout%29
content:
<p>
The EU banksters recognize that the "bailout" will only increase
Greece's debt, but insist on doing this to Greece anyway.  However,
they will have trouble doing it 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2015/aug/13/european-union-backs-imf-view-over-greece-then-ignores-it">if
the IMF won't join in</a>.


feed_id: 4112ea76ea1ca436bccc29197d38a0f6
title: Dubya's torture policy
uri: Dubya-s-torture-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Dubyas_torture_policy%29
content:
<p>
Since Jeb Bush is proud of Dubya's torture policy, look at 
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/14/bland-monster-jeb-bush-proud-brothers-torture/">what
that included</a>.


feed_id: 1d6954430cf53b0ffb80dd2f57fc987f
title: Microaggressions
uri: Microaggressions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Microaggressions%29
content:
<p>
"Microaggressions" refers to ways of speaking that might be minor
insults.  Here's an offered list of 
<a href="media/8a0207c8.Tool_Recognizing_Microaggressions.pdf" data-original-source="http://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/seminars/Tool_Recognizing_Microaggressions.pdf">typical
ones</a>.
<p>
The author calls all of them blameworthy attacks, and many of them
really are such because they reflect derogatory stereotypes.  We
should learn not to think about people in those ways.
<p>
However, I disagree about some entries in the list.  A few of them
amount to saying "I'm not a racist"; that claim may not be true (it is
hard to avoid unconscious racism), but making the claim is not
insulting anyone.  Others of them say that "Society should not be
racist"; that's not a insult, it's right.
<p>
Some people have trouble learning and remembering unusual names.  It's
not their fault and reflects no ill will.
<p>
A friend with an unusual ethnic background told me she has often
experienced statements in the "Alien in One's Own Land" category, and
the people who say them are generally either impressed or simply
curious — not hostile at all.
<p>
Insulting someone must not be a crime.  Freedom of speech includes the
freedom to insult anyone, and not only in these indirect and minor
ways.  However, with a few exceptions where there is cause, it is
better to try not to insult people.


feed_id: 7d9064dd0ee6228cf6ca656d3b8edc49
title: Urgent: protect butterflies from pesticides
uri: Urgent-protect-butterflies-from-pesticides
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_protect_butterflies_from_pesticides%29

content:
<p>US citizens: call on the EPA <a href="https://secure3.convio.net/fww/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=BFE63BEEF5C36AA08633B30C130059C9.app334b?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=2265&autologin=true">to protect monarch butterflies from pesticides such as Roundup.</a></p>


feed_id: d5c1520bf100cdf3ebdca6ce4240b28c
title: Urgent: NPR's pro-fracking policy
uri: Urgent-NPR-s-pro-fracking-policy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_NPR%27s_pro-fracking_policy%29

content:
<p>In the US: call on local public radio stations <a href="http://environmental-action.webaction.org/p/dia/action3/common
">to push back against NPR's pro-fracking policy.</a></p>


feed_id: 08e356b013ede7c6151a93de33cef6f7
title: Urgent: harm done by militarism
uri: Urgent-harm-done-by-militarism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_harm_done_by_militarism%29

content:
<p>US citizens: ask Bernie Sanders <a href="https://stallman.org/petitions/petition-militarism/">to talk about the harm done by militarism.</a></p>


feed_id: efa1ee904e59e469dd3885f645bcbcca
title: Legalizing voluntary euthanasia
uri: Legalizing-voluntary-euthanasia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Legalizing_voluntary_euthanasia%29

content:
<p>Lifelong activist Bob Cole went to Switzerland so he could die
peacefully, rather than painfully from lung cancer.  With his last
words, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/14/bob-cole-cancer-dignitas-switzerland-sun-newspaper-political-last-stand">he called for legalizing voluntary euthanasia in the UK.</a></p>


feed_id: e4d1c9c09c6958606ea89e999ca31c29
title: Bogus trial in Azerbaijan
uri: Bogus-trial-in-Azerbaijan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Bogus_trial_in_Azerbaijan%29
content:
<p>People in Azerbaijan who advocated a boycott of the European Games
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global/2015/aug/13/azerbaijan-boycott-european-games-jail-sentences">have been jailed on spurious charges</a> after an obviously bogus trial.</p>


feed_id: dd171cca784214bc1d22f83b4d8d4975
title: War crimes
uri: War-crimes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28War_crimes%29
content:
<p>The father of a British soldier, killed by B'liar and Bush, <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/13/tony-blair-should-be-dragged-shackles-court-over-iraq-war-says-father-killed-soldier">calls for Tony B'liar to be tried for war crimes.</a></p>
<p>Hear, hear!</p>


feed_id: 9165e9ba277ac3b887753860f34fa2fe
title: Paternosters
uri: Paternosters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Paternosters%29
content:
<p>An attempt to ban paternosters in Germany <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/14/elevator-germans-loopy-revolving-lifts-paternosters">has been blocked.</a></p>
<p>I saw one for the first time in an English movie, and thought it was cute.
I saw a real one at the University of Cambridge, and was scared until its
safety systems were explained to me, but then it was fun.  It would be a shame
to lose them to absurd "safety requirements" aimed at a tiny danger.</p>
<p>Some of the small elevators of Paris are even smaller now, due to a
law that required new automatic inner doors.</p>


feed_id: 30fc8fe722993f6c8639fe422dbba3ef
title: Radazz Hearns
uri: Radazz-Hearns
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Radazz_Hearns%29
content:
<p>Thugs shot Radazz Hearns <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/13/new-jersey-teenager-radazz-hearns-shot-police">because he pulled his pants up as he ran away.</a></p>
<p>Even if he had pulled a gun from his waistband, he would have had to
turn around with it in order to threaten the thugs.  They would have
had time to shoot, then, so they had no need to shoot prematurely
based on a guess.</p>
<p>From the name "Radazz", I suspect that he is black and that possibly
unconscious racism played a role in the thugs' decision to shoot.</p>


feed_id: 0a9e782313f465c231314ce1a87aa8b5
title: Food production shocks
uri: Food-production-shocks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Food_production_shocks%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/14/food-production-shocks-will-happen-more-often-extreme-weather">Food Production Shocks 'Will Happen More Often Because of Extreme Weather'.</a></p>


feed_id: 41b51720377fa72563d7b8e7ac7555b3
title: Concessions from Iran
uri: Concessions-from-Iran
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Concessions_from_Iran%29
content:
<p>The US <a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/iran-hawks-think-we-can-impose-harsher-sanctions-on-iran/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Nation%20Daily%2020150812&utm_term=daily">is not in a position to impose stronger sanctions on Iran.</a></p>
<p>It cannot get more concessions from Iran that way.</p>


feed_id: a1e5183dbd31e9aec6a7a64a532ae3d1
title: Supposed benefits of TTIP
uri: Supposed-benefits-of-TTIP
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Supposed_benefits_of_TTIP%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/08/13/new-issue-brief-finds-even-projections-paltry-gains-ttip-are-greatly-overstated">The supposed "economic benefits" of the TTIP</a> would amount to just .4
dollars per day per person in the US, and .2 euro per day per person
in the EU.</p>
<p>Of course, it's not that every American or European will get that tiny
benefit.  Rather, nearly all the benefits will go to the rich, and
everyone else may actually lose.</p>
<p>But all this is secondary to the main effect of the TTIP: giving more
power to companies.  It is a corporate supremacy treaty, mislabeled
as a "trade agreement" as a distraction.</p>


feed_id: 7d72d2585d2d4e43f60f86b78a90d323
title: Release Shaker Aamer
uri: Release-Shaker-Aamer
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Release_Shaker_Aamer%29
content:
<p>Obama is permitting the US military to <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/13/pentagon-blocking-guantanamo-transfer-shaker-aamer">block the release of Shaker Aamer and other prisoners in Guantanamo.</a></p>
<p>Obama could change these rules, or replace the officers that get in the way,
if he were determined to end imprisonment without trial.</p>


feed_id: 83b4dd0b4ff343e66f47e0beed000efb
title: Life expectancy for black men
uri: Life-expectancy-for-black-men
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Life_expectancy_for_black_men%29
content:
<p>Black men in the US <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/14/black-lives-five-years-shorter-why-we-interrupt-you">have 5 years less life expectancy</a> than white men.</p>


feed_id: 358e2ae66b257241eeb7b018b0cc4668
title: Damage from global heating
uri: 2015-08-19-Damage-from-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Damage_from_global_heating%29
content:
<p>Several young Americans are <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2015/08/youth-sue-obama-administration-climate-change">suing the US government</a> for failing to prevent the predictable damage that global heating is going to cause them.</p>


feed_id: 9743235f0d596643882e74d3487b3e1d
title: Murder of Niloy Chakrabarti
uri: Murder-of-Niloy-Chakrabarti
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Murder_of_Niloy_Chakrabarti%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/14/two-suspected-islamists-arrested-over-killing-of-secular-bangladesh-blogger">Suspects have been arrested</a> in the murder of secularist blogger Niloy Chakrabarti.</p>


feed_id: 9f73c5f40e806d29b56c35cf6ae02e38
title: Prison guard company
uri: 2015-08-19-Prison-guard-company
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Prison_guard_company%29
content:
<p>The hired private prison guard company that handles "security" for
imprisoned refugees that Nauru holds on Australia's behalf followed a
visiting Australian Green senator who was investigating prison
conditions.  <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/14/greens-call-for-wilson-security-ban-at-nauru-amid-claims-of-spying-on-senator">Now the Greens demand that company's contract not be renewed.</a></p>
<p>This situation is one injustice piled on another.</p>
<p>Those guards seem to have been <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/14/nauru-detention-centre-guards-joked-about-shooting-detainees-before-riot">models of odious conduct.</a></p>


feed_id: cfcb13a35097bb69f9a052699bf626b6
title: flying under a false name
uri: 2015-08-19-flying-under-a-false-name
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28flying_under_a_false_name%29
content:
<p>An Australian man, jailed for flying under a false name, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/14/preacher-junaid-thorne-jailed-under-highest-security-classification">has been put in inaccessible solitary confinement.</a></p>
<p>He should not be in jail at all.  People should not have to give their
names for domestic travel.</p>
<p>He seems to be an Islamist and has connections with groups
accused of having connections with PISSI.  Those views are
despicable, but <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-mar-jun.html#19_June_2015_(US_subpoenas_Reason_magazine)">freedom of speech applies to them.</a></p>

The Thor project is developing a <a href="http://blogs.cisco.com/collaboration/world-meet-thor-a-project-to-hammer-out-a-royalty-free-video-codec">patent-safe free software video codec.</a></p>
<p>It is disappointing that the project cites the term "open source"
which avoids issues of freedom.  But the code they release is free
software, so the project's work will be a good contribution to freedom.</p>
<p>Most of the time, a large software project should be copylefted.
However, this is one of the exceptions.  <a href="http://gnu.org/licenses/license-recommendations.html">We want nonfree programs
to support this format.</a></p>
<p>The article says they ask people to "contribute their own
'intellectual property rights'" — which is gobbledygook.</p>
<p>I suppose they are asking for programmers to work on the code, and (as
a separate matter) asking companies to provide patent licenses for the
algorithms and techniques.  They could say so, it would be clear and
logical.  Alas, they are committed to the incoherent concept of
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">"intellectual property",</a> which leads them to generalize about unrelated things to create a false appearance of unification.</p>


feed_id: 4e42e238e44a44eff2a37e0569f230a2
title: Pinochet officers
uri: 2015-08-19-Pinochet-officers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Pinochet_officers%29
content:
<p>Former officers of Pinochet's dictatorship <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/13/former-chilean-general-hernan-ramirez-rurange-dies-apparent-suicide">were convicted of murdering a dissident.</a></p>


feed_id: a1258498274fcc3913b72444552073c8
title: Frack wells in New Mexico
uri: 2015-08-19-Frack-wells-in-New-Mexico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_%28Frack_wells_in_New_Mexico%29
content:
<p>Frack wells in New Mexico <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/14/new-mexicos-gas-wells-fracking-air-pollution">are spreading local air pollution</a> that harms the health of the people who live there.</p>


feed_id: 6614214287a8a85db4d444e402854dde
title: Twisted moral standards
uri: 2015-08-19-Twisted-moral-standards
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_%28Twisted_moral_standards%29
content:
<p>
<p>On the <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/11/1410892/-A-year-after-being-arrested-in-Ferguson-for-not-leaving-McDonalds-fast-enough-two-reporters-charged?detail=email">two reporters</a> charged with the crime of not double-timing out
of a Macdonalds while covering the riot of uniformed thugs in Ferguson a year ago.</p>
<p>Disgusting as these charges are, many Americans serving on juries are
willing to convict people of them, applying twisted moral standards
when judges tell them they are supposed to.  Peter Watts was convicted
of <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2009-sep-dec.html#15%20December%202009%20%28How%20the%20law%20really%20works%29">"not obeying instantly";</a> the thug who beat him up was not even prosecuted.</p>
<p>Which is why every American needs to read about <a href="http://fija.org">jury nullification.</a></p>


feed_id: 710e61afd1e0d2cb128128d182ef8e19
title: Prisoners banned from smoking
uri: 2015-08-19-Prisoners-banned-from-smoking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#16_August_2015_%28Prisoners_banned_from_smoking%29
content:
<p>Prisoners in Australia <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/10/nsw-prison-staff-on-standby-in-case-of-rioting-as-smoking-ban-comes-into-force">have been banned from smoking tobacco.</a></p>
<p>They will be forced to withdraw cold-turkey from a drug that is harder to quit than heroin.</p>
<p>Tobacco is a deadly addiction, and it would be good to offer prisoners
help in quitting, but forcing them (or anyone) to quit is cruel.  Why
not establish a smoking room for those prisoners who don't want to quit?</p>


feed_id: 5ce127f87b1a69dc916dc172dcca0366
title: Urgent: Goldman-Sachs
uri: Urgent-Goldman-Sachs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Goldman-Sachs%29
content:
<p>Everyone: call on Goldman Sachs to return the <a href="https://community.sumofus.org/petitions/goldman-made-450-million-euros-from-crashing-the-greek-economy-it-should-return-the-profits
/?akid=12751.881131.3FNZAe&rd=1&sub=fwd&t=1001">half-billion profit</a> it got from conspiring with the Greek government 15 years ago.</a></p>


feed_id: 3403424cd6c4ff9aef2060c3f537fdcb
title: Urgent: reject private prisons
uri: Urgent-reject-private-prisons
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_reject_private_prisons%29

content:
<p>US citizens: call on Clinton and the DNC <a href="http://act.presente.org/sign/hillaryprisons/?t=1003&akid=1338.439815.GCoozt">to reject private prisons and stop employing their PR representatives.</a></p>


feed_id: 0119e16f99aaff9ebcee89afe76ae6e7
title: Urgent: block Charter-Time Warner merger
uri: Urgent-block-Charter-Time-Warner-merger
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_block_Charter-Time_Warner_merger%29

content:
<p>US citizens: <a href="http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/fcc_charter_twc/?t=1001&akid=3530.96703.gOSEJ9">call on the FCC to block the merger between Charter and Time-Warner Cable.</a></p>


feed_id: cb5155e2764a067d7e6f0e250063ae33
title: Urgent: stop Arctic drilling
uri: Urgent-stop-Arctic-drilling
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_stop_Arctic_drilling%29
content:
<p>US citizens: call on Congress <a href="https://secure.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=16293&s_src=415HSRRHA2_NSRSR">to support the Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act.</a></p>


feed_id: 5cffe9aae38c0a2a6dbb5ff882797dd5
title: Urgent: privatization of Nigeria water
uri: Urgent-privatization-of-Nigeria-water
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_privatization_of_Nigeria_water%29

content:
<p>Everyone: call on the World Bank <a href="http://act.stopcorporateabuse.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18311">to stop promoting privatization of water supplies in Nigeria.</a></p>
<p>I added "or anywhere else" in my message.</p>


feed_id: a84e732e62b14dde6f5f512a8a824de0
title: Urgent: meat without antibiotics
uri: Urgent-meat-without-antibiotics
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_meat_without_antibiotics%29

content:
<p>Everyone: <a href="https://stallman.org/petitions/petition-subway/">call on Subway to use only meat grown without regular use of antibiotics.</a></p>


feed_id: 7bcf51c997c6dac01f68a7f662279f8a
title: Urgent: support deal with Iran
uri: 2015-08-19-Urgent-support-deal-with-Iran
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_support_deal_with_Iran%29

content:
<p>US citizens: join activities to convince legislators <a href="http://60DaysToStopAWar.com">to support the nuclear deal with Iran.</a></p>


feed_id: defd48685338a61130a4e02633738c56
title: Urgent: Stop surveillance of activist
uri: Urgent-Stop-surveillance-of-activist
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_surveillance_of_activist%29

content:
<p>Everyone: call on the Department of Homeland Suppression to <a href="https://action.aclu.org/secure/stop-surveillance-of-blm-activists">stop surveillance of Black Lives Matter activists.</a></p>


feed_id: a8ce5167fa29ce12d33c0020ef4faec8
title: Urgent: protect panthers
uri: Urgent-protect-panthers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_protect_panthers%29
content:
<p>Everyone: call on Florida <a href="http://sierra.force.com/actions/SierraRise?actionId=AR0018272&id=70131000001LWCvAAO&data=fd8f94e31cf95f47a6683df0d107f0a203ccec6107
6c4c4aa2edcb88a8c2bd03d949870596c87b36a6cdfa82f3633567&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sierraclub&utm_campaign=sierrarise">to protect panthers from fracking.</a></p>


feed_id: 0be816bbf4d09007c5028280a76c905d
title: Oligarchs and multinationals
uri: Oligarchs-and-multinationals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Oligarchs_and_multinationals%29
content:
<p>Varoufakis: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/aug/17/yanis-varoufakis-bailout-deal-greek-oligarchs-maintain-grip-eu-leaders-greece">the bailout for Greece's creditors</a> is designed to help
oligarchs solidify their power over what remains of the Greek economy,
while multinationals snap up assets.</p>


feed_id: 44921bee1221cd41a9eb31b77c573e8d
title: Absurd copyright
uri: Absurd-copyright
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Absurd_copyright%29
content:
<p>Germany has applied copyright, absurdly, <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150816/01043931970/germany-says-taking-photos-food-infringes-chefs-copyright.shtml">to the appearance of food on a plate.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/copyright-vs-community.html">Copyright is increasingly tyrannical and needs to be cut back.</a></p>


feed_id: 76f7fdf6a5ad9831fb10cef0f4f4af0a
title: Surveillance by private companies
uri: Surveillance-by-private-companies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Surveillance_by_private_companies%29

content:
<p>The NSA is trying to evade the constitution <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/08/was-nsa-trying-outsource-responsibilty-its-fourth-amendment-violations">by saying private companies are responsible for the surveillance;</a> but that is unconstitutional too.</p>


feed_id: 0070f847b55be778745ce46b235d7feb
title: Mass migration the new normal
uri: Mass-migration-the-new-normal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Mass_migration_the_new_normal%29
content:
<p>Mass Migration Is No 'crisis': <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/18/mass-migration-crisis-refugees-climate-change">It's the New Normal as the Climate Changes.</a></p>
<p>This article shows why the term "climate change", <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#24_April_2015_(Urgent:_Oppose_censorship_order)">which was foisted on us by Republican denialists,</a> fails to do justice to the facts of what
is happening.</p>


feed_id: d4dcffd34fa94bf583cf21ac51d0806b
title: Clinton's private email
uri: Clinton-s-private-email
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Clinton%27s_private_email%29
content:
<p>Clinton's scandal-provoking private email server <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/18/hillarys-real-problem-emails-are-symptom-not-issue">is a reflection of her general approach.</a></p>


feed_id: eb493fb506d4820c7893d58f66794941
title: Exploitative tech companies
uri: Exploitative-tech-companies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Exploitative_tech_companies%29
content:
<p>Being Edgy And Cool Doesn't Make Tech Companies <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/18/silicon-valley-tech-companies-blue-collar-workers-wage-gap-diversity">Any Less Exploitative.</a></p>


feed_id: c2e4963d64360683a2ab69fc32a331be
title: Hunger striker regained consciousness
uri: Hunger-striker-regained-consciousness
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Hunger_striker_regained_consciousness%29

content:
<p>Prisoner Mohammad Allan regained consciousness and says <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/18/palestinian-protester-vows-continue-hunger-strike-after-waking-coma">he will resume his hunger strike in 24 hours.</a></p>
<p>He says he will not even take water, which means he will die soon.</p>
<p>Maybe that is better than life in prison without trial.</p>


feed_id: b1df19b52759d0bf34b3cd9132a9de0f
title: Worker ownership of companies
uri: Worker-ownership-of-companies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Worker_ownership_of_companies%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/18/bernie-sanders-proposes-boost-worker-ownership-companies">Bernie Sanders Proposes To Boost Worker-Ownership Of Companies.</a></p>


feed_id: 52da53ec3a48100a0d7b60f4632842d4
title: Cyber-attacks
uri: Cyber-attacks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Cyber-attacks%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/18/worlds-nuclear-facilities-vulnerable-cyber-attacks">World's Nuclear Facilities Vulnerable to Cyber-Attacks.</a></p>


feed_id: ac8a0126aaaf9a32b0540668e2ad6b6a
title: Reduce methane emissions
uri: Reduce-methane-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Reduce_methane_emissions%29
content:
<p>The EPA proposes <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/18/epa-measures-reduce-methane-emissions">regulations</a> to reduce methane emissions.</p>
<p>This probably requires having fewer cattle.  Also, to really make reductions
we have to properly measure the current emissions, including <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#18_August_2015_(Frack_wells_in_New_Mexico)">leaks from frack wells.</a></p>


feed_id: ca92160dd11213689ed5ffd40271536b
title: Abbott's double standard
uri: Abbott-s-double-standard
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Abbott%27s_double_standard%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/18/abbott-government-war-on-green-saboteurs-is-laurel-and-hardy-slapstick">Abbott's laughable double standard:</a> using laws to block coal mines
is "green sabotage", but if there are no laws to block wind farms
he will rush to provide some.</p>


feed_id: 0216d140a913a6c15b888833385a3231
title: Eritrean dissidents in exile
uri: Eritrean-dissidents-in-exile
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Eritrean_dissidents_in_exile%29
content:
<p>Eritrea runs <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/18/eritrea-death-threats-tolls-united-nations-social-media">a campaign of harassment</a> against dissidents in exile.</p>


feed_id: 0768abc1f4a10cac57f2e9e37ec1fb66
title: San Francisco thugs
uri: San-Francisco-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28San_Francisco_thugs%29
content:
<p>How Many San Francisco <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/further/2015/08/17/how-many-san-francisco-cops-does-it-take-subdue-one-black-guy-prosthetic-leg-14">Thugs</a> Does It Take To Subdue One Black Guy
With A Prosthetic Leg? 14: Four To Assault Him, 10 To Block the View.</p>


feed_id: 37806c5aad4a06db03ed6bb079666052
title: Families in public housing
uri: Families-in-public-housing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Families_in_public_housing%29
content:
<p>A tiny fraction (one in 3000) of families in public housing have had
substantial increases in income since moving in, <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/08/report-003-families-public-housing-make-lot-money">but have not moved out.</a>  The Washington Post tried to make a big scandal about this.</p>
<p>What the many poor urban Americans need is a lot more public or
affordable housing in their cities — not the eviction of those
.03%.</p>


feed_id: 6b4853a3111258d61c897c9c355c8a00
title: Militants in Bangladesh
uri: Militants-in-Bangladesh
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Militants_in_Bangladesh%29
content:
<p>Militants in Bangladesh are accused of <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/18/briton-touhidur-rahman-arrested-in-bangladesh-over-murders-of-secular-bloggers">murdering two of the four assassinated secularist bloggers.</a></p>


feed_id: 38eaabbb80d38348f14bd2dbcade2f3d
title: Working for Amazon
uri: Working-for-Amazon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Working_for_Amazon%29
content:
<p>Working for Amazon makes staff <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/18/amazon-regime-making-british-staff-physically-and-mentally-ill-says-union">physically and mentally ill.</a></p>


feed_id: 5994165b860f31aed98e2ea1b3dd3d4c
title: Tracking headers
uri: Tracking-headers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Tracking_headers%29
content:
<p>Phone companies around the world <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/08/17/tracking_supercookies_spreading/">are inserting tracking headers</a> into unencrypted (http) browsing requests sent by mobile phones.</p>
<p>They can't insert these into https requests, only unencrypted http
requests.</p>
<p>All "smartphones" contain malicious nonfree software, which is part of
why I would not have one.  But if you insist on doing web browsing
from one, don't ever visit an unencrypted page with it.</p>


feed_id: b3ecbe88ad1cfec22d57e78b14033bb6
title: Shell oil spill
uri: Shell-oil-spill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Shell_oil_spill%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/17/final-stamp-approval-white-house-places-fate-arctic-shells-hands">Obama gave Shell full approval</a> to create oil spills in the Chukchi Sea
and convert it into the Upchukchi Sea.</p>
<p>They must figure that floating ice will cease to be a danger once they
have melted it all.


feed_id: fb6c9c6fb10fc11478914ae829f7a909
title: Modren Taylorism
uri: Modren-Taylorism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Modren_Taylorism%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/18/technology/data-crunching-is-coming-to-help-your-boss-manage-your-time.html">Computerized work tracking</a> is being applied to the modren workspace.
<p>When these practices were applied to factory work in the early 20th century,
a practice called "Taylorism", workers fought back … and unionized.</p>
<p>You will have to unionize too!</p>
<p>That means you must support candidates that will make it easier to
form a union and give unions more clout against employers.


feed_id: 362a4b4c90fc47f20f026bf04d0ea2b6
title: Marauders and plunderers
uri: Marauders-and-plunderers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Marauders_and_plunderers%29
content:
<p>The "marauders and plunderers" are not the refugees who flee
to Europe, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/12/seumas">it's the companies and governments that create
the crises that make them flee their homes.</a></p>
<p>Occasionally the common people play a partial role by having more
children than their lands can stably support.  However, it's not
always their fault; global heating is reducing the number many lands
can support — <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#08_March_2015_(Failure_of_agriculture_in_Syria)">in Syria, for instance.</a></p>


feed_id: 999708762d1e80f1dfcd93c0188123d9
title: Exaggerated crime reports
uri: Exaggerated-crime-reports
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Exaggerated_crime_reports%29
content:
<p>Officials acknowledge that <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/16/hurricane-katrina-new-orleans-looting-violence-misleading-reports">exaggerated reports of crime in New Orleans
just after hurricane Katrina</a> interfered with rescuing people, and led
to murders by thugs.</p>
<p>It also provided the excuse for thugs to prevent a large group of poor
and/or black people from <a href="http://sfsocialists.livejournal.com/3687.html">crossing a bridge</a> to get out of New Orleans.</p>


feed_id: ad6cd611fad5f45ae04b80446cd16a2f
title: Tropical diseases in the US
uri: Tropical-diseases-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Tropical_diseases_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>Spreading poverty in the US, together with the lack of a proper
medical system, <a href="http://mosaicscience.com/story/america-tropical-disease">is allowing "tropical" diseases to spread in the south of the US.</a></p>
<p>Global heating is probably contributing to the change too.</p>


feed_id: 103b0b28c823479a6735ce7751d63561
title: California farms
uri: California-farms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28California_farms%29
content:
<p>California farms 
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/opinion/sunday/how-california-is-winning-the-drought.html">
are investing heavily</a>
 in efficient use of water,
but the drought is so bad that this isn't enough.
</p>


feed_id: da5ec4b8c6e8f1ab7b92b9ab3ac14bd9
title: Curbing fossil fuels
uri: Curbing-fossil-fuels
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Curbing_fossil_fuels%29
content:
<p>Some Muslim leaders 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/18/islamic-leaders-issue-bold-call-rapid-phase-out-fossil-fuels">
have called</a>
 for curbing fossil fuels, as did Pope
Francis a short while ago.
</p>
<p>I don't need to cite religious authority for this, but it is good to
have their help.  The Catholic Church in the Philippines 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/aug/18/catholic-church-renewable-energy-philippines">
is opposing</a>

coal plant construction there.
</p>


feed_id: f461bb99374c4c848b41ca830488310a
title: Marijuana
uri: 2015-08-19-Marijuana
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Marijuana%29
content:
<p>Even where growing and dispensing marijuana is legal, in effect 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/08/steve-deangelo-harborside-marijuana-interview">
it's
legal only for whites</a>
.
</p>


feed_id: d88066e243d5b9fce72ea16ab147d563
title: Martin Luther King Jr.
uri: Martin-Luther-King-Jr
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Martin_Luther_King_Jr.%29
content:
<p>How Martin Luther King Jr. 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/14/1412113/-The-first-question-MLK-was-asked-on-Meet-the-Press-Aren-t-the-sit-ins-hurting-the-negro-cause?detail=email">
responded</a>
 when criticized for "going too far"
by holding sit-ins in segregated stores and other facilities.
</p>


feed_id: 9e23d79b97394b86a0cc8b2c677a815a
title: Hypersensitivity
uri: Hypersensitivity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Hypersensitivity%29
content:
<p>Hypersensitivity among US college students 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2015/08/17/how-helicoptered-kids-become-hypersensit">
may be due</a>
 to raising children
overprotectively.
</p>


feed_id: 43da41ae72e414162c118f4ff22f2127
title: Black jurors
uri: Black-jurors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Black_jurors%29
content:
<p>Lawyers 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/17/throughout-country-potential-black-jurors-face-high-rejection-rates">
meet with opposition</a>
 if they reject jurors "because they are
black", so they use a range of bizarre excuses, such as "because they
live in a low-income neighborhood" or "have bad posture".
</p>
<p>Black jurors might understand how the defendant is being railroaded or
had
no way out.</p>


feed_id: 6efaf41df3ff4d7cdb7af5a9f64f7d55
title: UN
uri: UN
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28UN%29
content:
<p>UN 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/17/un-att-nsa-spy-headquarters-privacy">
Deciding</a>
 "How Best to Respond" After AT&T Helped NSA Spy on [UN]
Headquarters.
</p>


feed_id: 04e031f5575880a4439f87a77778cd59
title: Congress of Racial Equality
uri: Congress-of-Racial-Equality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Congress_of_Racial_Equality%29
content:
<p>The Congress of Racial Equality, once pivotal in the civil rights
movement, 
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/17/core-went-leading-civil-rights-movement-protesting-support-police-exxonmobil/">
developed</a>
 in the 1970s into a tool for the Republican
Party.  Since 1990 or so, it has been an astroturf resource for hire.
</p>


feed_id: 46796dff4b343288627826c3176873d0
title: Eritrea
uri: 2015-08-19-Eritrea
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Eritrea%29
content:
<p>Repressive Eritrea 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/17/inside-eritrea-glimpse-africas-most-secretive-state-two-men">
is so poor</a>
 that even civil-war-torn South Sudan
seems like a step up.
</p>


feed_id: 6c47b4a3761e9fe8d367a04ed70901a3
title: Sodium cyanide
uri: Sodium-cyanide
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Sodium_cyanide%29
content:
<p>Large amounts of sodium cyanide 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/17/tianjin-explosions-fears-over-pollution-as-chinese-media-lambasts-officials">
were illegally stored</a>
 in the warehouse
that exploded at Tianjin.
</p>
<p>The Chinese rulers say they want to punish corruption, and I think
they really do; but they won't get very far while suppressing a free
press.</p>


feed_id: 575267e55a2e3a6838f7d09c4c3452ee
title: Coca Cola
uri: Coca-Cola
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Coca_Cola%29
content:
<p>"Coca Cola 
<a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/coca-cola-gave-to-scientists-who-dont-agree-soft-drinks-cause-obesity-2263376-Aug2015/?utm_source=shortlink">
gave $1.5 million</a>
 to scientists who say soft drinks don\u2019t
cause obesity".
</p>


feed_id: 52674cb7641f8806935475b51f7bc43b
title: Egyptian journalists
uri: 2015-08-19-Egyptian-journalists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Egyptian_journalists%29
content:
<p>Egyptian journalists 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/17/egyptian-president-ratifies-law-to-punish-false-reporting-of-terror-attacks">
will be punished</a>
 for "false" reporting.
That is, for reporting what the state doesn't agree to.</p>


feed_id: b0201890d30e75b467db038325fa0d9f
title: Migrants
uri: Migrants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Migrants%29
content:
<p>The British right-wing 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/17/exploitation-migrants-way-of-life-immigration-business-model">
promotes</a>
 business practices that depend on constant
fresh immigration of workers it can exploit, then scapegoats those
immigrants.
</p>


feed_id: 92152c3497310b67072e68efb19c3155
title: UK government
uri: UK-government
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28UK_government%29
content:
<p>The UK government 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/17/unemployed-young-people-work-boot-camp-tory-minister">
plans</a>
 to send unemployed young adults to a labor camp
where they will do makework of filing job applications.
</p>
<p>When there are not enough jobs, this is an exercise in futility.</p>


feed_id: 004a1667b4abdc592c46717ba7fa7335
title: Abbott is a climate change villain
uri: Abbott-is-a-climate-change-villain
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Abbott_is_a_climate_change_villain%29

content:
<p>Naomi Klein 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/17/tony-abbott-is-a-climate-change-villain-says-canadian-author-naomi-klein">
explains</a>
 how Abbott repeats the slogans of the US coal
mining companies, and relates global heating denialism to a "frontier
mentality".
</p>
<p>On the frontier, there is always more land to take from indigenous
peoples.</p>


feed_id: 73da2829aced97e57706bbbfe0c5c9be
title: Uganda
uri: Uganda
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Uganda%29
content:
<p>A Ugandan court 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/17/uganda-court-rules-against-refund-bride-price-divorce">
has ruled</a>
 men can't demand return of the bride price
when a woman wants a divorce.
</p>
<p>I don't like the way the arguments given by the judge still treat a
woman as property.</p>


feed_id: 7a662e233a466deb66ff8d419dacf689
title: Mass extinction
uri: 2015-08-19-Mass-extinction
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Mass_extinction%29
content:
<p>Rising production of beef 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2015/08/your-meat-eating-habit-killing-more-just-cows">
is a major factor</a>
 in the current mass extinction.
Perhaps even more than global heating.</p>
<p>However, the two are related, since cattle emit methane, and cutting
down forests to grow food for cattle releases the CO2 in the forest
vegetation.</p>


feed_id: 14cab85789f725125d45abaefd690fe0
title: Give poor people decent income
uri: Give-poor-people-decent-income
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Give_poor_people_decent_income%29
content:
<p>It is foolish to demand that the non-poor live as if they were poor.
What we need from them 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/12/wheres-the-socialism-that-involves-sharing-lifes-joys">
is to support</a>
 anti-plutocratic and
anti-trickle-down policies that will give everyone a decent life.
</p>
<p>I admire people who have a comfortable income and support politics to
give poor people a comfortable income too.  Rather than voting for
their own narrow interests, they are voting for what is right.</p>


feed_id: b96bd75ddbef8926bb097bc76d513574
title: Capitalism
uri: Capitalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Capitalism%29
content:
<p>Sanding Down the Rough Edges of Capitalism 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/12/sanding-down-rough-edges-capitalism-not-enough">
Is Not</a>
 Enough.
</p>


feed_id: 7b5d824c19e53cb92b4b4d11786d3b52
title: Pression on students
uri: Pression-on-students
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Pression_on_students%29
content:
<p>Too much competitive pressure on students in school 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2015/aug/16/i-am-16-and-the-education-system-is-destroying-my-health">
can break</a>
 them.
</p>
<p>The root of this problem is that only a small fraction of students can
win a decent life.</p>


feed_id: 34bf28b5299a5c9d7595ce92fc65954b
title: Pacific Partnership Trance
uri: Pacific-Partnership-Trance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Pacific_Partnership_Trance%29
content:
<p>The copyright 
<a href="https://act.eff.org/action/let-s-stop-the-tpp-copyright-trap">
trap</a>
 in the Pacific Partnership Trance.
</p>


feed_id: 7757f745b33e890ef9a0db9a61324632
title: National Parks
uri: National-Parks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28National_Parks%29
content:
<p>As the US cuts funds for national parks, they 
<a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/sold-national-parks-go-to-the-highest-corporate-bidder/">
become</a>
 marketing opportunities
for companies to brand them.
</p>
<p>It is wrong to let private individuals or organizations buy the naming
of any public facilities or the use of their names or images for
marketing but the facilities themselves.  While this does not directly
hurt people, it damages society by saying "In our city, or our country,
everything public is for sale."</p>


feed_id: 735e8b6dcdb8ffc4ecf6af686fb95309
title: Euro-imposed poverty
uri: Euro-imposed-poverty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Euro-imposed_poverty%29
content:
<p>A journalist 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/aug/16/news-at-ten-tom-bradby-witnesses-death-greece">
saw</a>
 a Greek pensioner commit suicide by driving a car
into the harbor, and complains that nobody tried to stop him.
</p>
<p>Experience in other countries suggests that thousands of Greeks will
commit suicide this year, because euro-imposed poverty has left them
destitute.  You may be able to thwart their suicide attempts, but that
won't save them.</p>


feed_id: db0724b759898bbac7c09e446a48819c
title: Assad
uri: Assad
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Assad%29
content:
<p>Assad's air force 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/16/syrian-government-air-strikes-market-kill-many-douma">
killed</a>
 over 80 civilians in a market.
</p>
<p>Human rights defenders say this was an intentional massacre.</p>


feed_id: 0ca7b517c945f9676d7bdc97bba3e95f
title: Mexico
uri: 2015-08-19-Mexico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Mexico%29
content:
<p></p>
<p>Mexico 
<a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/world/latin-america/article30614913.html#storylink=rss">
has given</a>
 away 10 million digital TVs.
This replaces the circuses that ancient Rome put on to amuse the
poor.</p>
<p>I wonder if those TVs have remote listening capability.</p>


feed_id: 91a618ba3521c5775b5ae5023388bcf2
title: Snowden
uri: 2015-08-19-Snowden
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Snowden%29
content:
<p>The Obama regime 
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/08/12/snowden_poll/">
is winning</a>
 the war for US public opinion
about Edward Snowden.
</p>
<p>We need to do more to express our admiration and support for
Snowden.</p>


feed_id: aa489cc3744b238ddde99e42ed95853e
title: Amazon
uri: Amazon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Amazon%29
content:
<p>Even outside the warehouse, Amazon 
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/technology/inside-amazon-wrestling-big-ideas-in-a-bruising-workplace.html?referrer=">
pushes</a>
 its employees to the breaking point.
</p>
<p>This what happens when workers don't have a union
and the boss is unscrupulous.</p>


feed_id: 1a38a81d7ecaa143cce0318e844648fe
title: Solitary confinement for children
uri: Solitary-confinement-for-children
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Solitary_confinement_for_children%29

content:
<p>The US 
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/us/citing-safety-adult-jails-put-youths-in-solitary-despite-risks.html?_r=1">
regularly puts</a>
 children accused of crimes into solitary confinement
because of a quirk in the law.
</p>


feed_id: b630c41b79f16abbfbaafabc89433937
title: NSA surveillance on Japan
uri: NSA-surveillance-on-Japan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28NSA_surveillance_on_Japan%29
content:
<p>The NSA 
<a href="https://wikileaks.org/nsa-japan/selectors.html">
did</a>
 commercial surveillance on Japan.
</p>


feed_id: ca230d156bf3bd6dbfd5f2de00637319
title: Hong Kong protester
uri: Hong-Kong-protester
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Hong_Kong_protester%29
content:
<p>A protester in Hong Kong 
<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/02/asia/hong-kong-breast-assault-protest/index.html">
was convicted</a>
 of assaulting a thug's hand
with her breast.  The judge, who apparently is bent, condemned her
for maligning the thug by accusing him of a sexual assault.
</p>
<p>In the US, the traditional charge made against a protester is bashing
the thug's stick with per head.</p>


feed_id: 6d1cd1170e20fa9c91bd8d472f48cdfe
title: Oracle
uri: Oracle
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Oracle%29
content:
<p>Oracle 
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/08/oracle-security-chief-to-customers-stop-checking-our-code-for-vulnerabilities/">
demanded</a>
 that its customers stop reverse engineering to look
for security flaws in the code they are running.
A day later, it got so embarrassed that deleted the threat.</p>
<p>Reverse engineering of software 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">
is a sign of injustice</a>
: nonfree software
that doesn't come with source code you can compile for yourself.
</p>


feed_id: a6c737c244a05039108dbbd3c438e03f
title: Corrupt scientists
uri: Corrupt-scientists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Corrupt_scientists%29
content:
<p>A company 
<a href="http://www.badscience.net/2015/08/so-this-company-cyagen-is-paying-authors-for-citations-in-academic-papers/">
pays</a>
 scientists to cite the company in their papers.
</p>
<p>This is a form of corruption.</p>


feed_id: 8d0ca3a98105d3ccad2ec01a2f4e74e5
title: Thugs
uri: 2015-08-19-Thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Thugs%29
content:
<p>US courts 
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/08/04/federal-appeals-court-drug-dog-thats-barely-more-accurate-than-a-coin-flip-is-good-enough/">
allow</a>
 thugs to use drug-sniffing dogs to create probable
cause for a search, which detect drugs whenever the handlers tell them
to.
</p>


feed_id: a11aa3f74f6de6b344a7756374e0516e
title: Sesame Street
uri: Sesame-Street
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Sesame_Street%29
content:
<p>Sesame Street, conceived to boost the education of children in poverty,

<a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/08/13/sesame_street_goes_to_hbo_practically_it_s_great_symbolically_not_so_much.html">
is now primarily available</a>
 on a cable channel that they can't
afford.
</p>


feed_id: a43d287be27f197be1cfe8511fd54468
title: China
uri: 2015-08-19-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28China%29
content:
<p>China 
<2>is pushing hard</a>
 to eliminate manufacturing jobs.
</p>
<p>Perhaps there will be plenty of employment for working-age Chinese
people taking care of retired and ill Chinese people.  If so,
it will work out well.</p>


feed_id: 8742b12c64c10ad1a29d9b6c4ddde399
title: Miami thug
uri: Miami-thug
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Miami_thug%29
content:
<p>A Miami thug 
<a href="http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/police-union-smears-woman-who-posted-video-of-police-beating-on-facebook-7823262">
tried to stop a woman</a>
 from making a video of a thug
attacking a handcuffed prisoner.  When she posted the video, the Miami
thug union tried to smear her name based on unrelated issues.
</p>
<p>They are very creative in repressing people who expose the violence
of other thugs, which is why they all (with a few rare exceptions)
deserve that name.</p>


feed_id: 63c73b8f89bc69597541bafec613e1cf
title: Fire season in Oregon
uri: Fire-season-in-Oregon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Fire_season_in_Oregon%29
content:
<p>The fire season in Oregon started months early, and 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/16/oregon-wildfire-evacuees-season-rages-on">
may continue</a>
 until
months late.
</p>
<p>The new higher level of fires seems to be the "new normal", but not for
long.
In 20 years it will be considerably drier and measurably hotter.</p>


feed_id: 6d18fe7c5c4130d42daa18ba8a69f67b
title: Spanish thugs
uri: Spanish-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Spanish_thugs%29
content:
<p>Two Spanish thugs, even more arrogant than the typical thug, 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/16/spanish-woman-fined-gagging-law-photographing-police">
got a
woman fined</a>
 for posting a photo of their car parked in handicaped
parking spot.
</p>
<p>Perhaps their reason for parking there was legitimate.  The fine
certainly was not.  The thugs are responsible for the fine, because
they reported her to officials that were likely to fine her.</p>
<p>Now imagine the effect of that law when thugs beat, rape or kill
citizens.</p>


feed_id: 497b19d0c65fee96dfc09a06d2433f23
title: Farming in Mexico
uri: Farming-in-Mexico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Farming_in_Mexico%29
content:
<p>Intensive and sustainable 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/15/four-ways-mexicos-indigenous-farmers-are-practicing-agriculture-future">
farming</a>
 in Mexico.
</p>


feed_id: da0186496d1bdf5b02e1a8c23baa4abf
title: AT&T
uri: AT-T
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28AT%26T%29
content:
<p>AT&T 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/15/att-nsa-internet-surveillance-new-york-times-propublic">
has been cooperating</a>
 with the NSA for decades.
</p>


feed_id: 10bbe50a4bbf3cd0efeb50924b45d9c9
title: Mass media don't cover Sanders
uri: Mass-media-don-t-cover-Sanders
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Mass_media_don%27t_cover_Sanders%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/13/1411843/-It-is-not-about-the-election-anymore-News-media-will-not-cover-revolution?detail=email">
Why</a>
 the mass media don't cover Bernie Sanders.
</p>


feed_id: 189a298a215e98f302a935e64ff863e0
title: Maazouzeh Allan
uri: Maazouzeh-Allan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Maazouzeh_Allan%29
content:
<p>Israeli doctors 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/14/rights-campaigners-and-doctors-face-israel-over-force-feeding">
are refusing to force-feed hunger</a>
 striking prisoner
Maazouzeh Allan.
</p>


feed_id: 693e80dc12aae8c322b350f098d14a78
title: IMF
uri: 2015-08-19-IMF
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28IMF%29
content:
<p>The IMF 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/15/greece-needs-more-debt-relief-imf-lagarde">
insists</a>
 that a bailout for Greece's creditors include
substantial debt relief for Greece.
</p>


feed_id: 195b381d20417137de73d6304821910d
title: Suburban sprawl and segregation
uri: 2015-08-19-Suburban-sprawl-and-segregation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Suburban_sprawl_and_segregation%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://grist.org/cities/how-suburban-sprawl-causes-segregation-and-isolates-the-poor/">How
Suburban Sprawl Causes Segregation And Isolates the Poor</a>.
<p><a href="http://apps.tcf.org/architecture-of-segregation">More info.</a>


feed_id: 36873326053e8a11d048b4886ba6da68
title: Privatizing Greece
uri: Privatizing-Greece
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Privatizing_Greece%29
content:
<p>The privatizations imposed on Greece 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/19/greece-sale-and-everything-must-go">
have nothing to do with repaying debt</a>.
  These profitable assets would support Greece more if it kept
them than if it sells them in a hurry for a low price.
</p>


feed_id: ba0877c99d31f1ab4ef5694b2651a267
title: Protesters confront thugs
uri: Protesters-confront-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Protesters_confront_thugs%29
content:
<p>Protesters 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/19/protesters-st-louis-police-suspect-shot-dead-home-search">
confronted thugs in St Louis</a>
 because they shot another man dead.
</p>
<p>If it is true that the deceased pointed a gun at the thugs, I can't fault them
for shooting him first.  However, you can't trust what thugs say about the
people they kill.  They have lied so many times; why should we suppose
they are not lying now?</p>


feed_id: 34f17257f74e297b3bd79e16a5613110
title: Black schools matter
uri: Black-schools-matter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Black_schools_matter%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/19/black-schools-matter-chicago-protestors-go-hunger-strike-save-their-last">
Chicago Protestors Go on Hunger Strike to Save Their Last Neighborhood
School.</a>
</p>
<p>The plutocrats consider most Americans disposable, so why bother
educating them?  Public education, for them, is just a cash cow.</p>


feed_id: 37e3e240bb6c9f0ed3a5a1e4c701d1fc
title: Absurd charges against Manning
uri: Absurd-charges-against-Manning
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Absurd_charges_against_Manning%29
content:
<p>The absurd charges against Chelsea Manning will provide 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/08/19/chelsea-manning-found-guilty-punished-expired-toothpaste-lgbtq-reading-material">
an excuse to keep her in a more strict prison</a>
 for years.
</p>


feed_id: 892cab12571103f5b92b4abe10032c40
title: California sinking
uri: California-sinking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28California_sinking%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/19/california-sinking-groundwater-pumped-drought">
Vast Areas of California Are Sinking as Groundwater Is Pumped in
Drought.</a>
</p>
<p>People's wells are going dry as 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/19/we-have-right-have-basic-thing-its-water">
corporations' farms pump tremendous amounts of water</a>.
</p>


feed_id: 2b1fdb002760020f1f3e5f596e6922cb
title: China's great achievement
uri: China-s-great-achievement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28China%27s_great_achievement%29
content:
<p>China's great achievement: it has 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/economics-blog/2015/aug/19/china-poverty-inequality-development-goals">
nearly eliminated urban poverty</a>.
</p>


feed_id: 4af54d11a6eb7e3625bce2d11b5d95c7
title: UK student debt
uri: UK-student-debt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28UK_student_debt%29
content:
<p>UK students are going to college to compete for the few good jobs, but
only a minority get them, and 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/aug/19/uk-failed-create-enough-high-skilled-jobs-graduates-student-debt-report">
the rest are stuck with horrible debts</a>.
</p>


feed_id: 50f06b7f42a65f33df83ccd941206445
title: Gas wells leak
uri: Gas-wells-leak
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Gas_wells_leak%29
content:
<p>Methane leaks from natural gas wells are 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/18/newly-exposed-methane-threat-trumps-latest-false-solution-emissions">
8 times what was previously thought</a>.
</p>
<p>These leaks are equivalent, over the next few decades, to dozens of
coal-fired
power plants, and falsify the claim that natural gas is safer than coal.
We need to aim for renewable energy, not for coal.</p>


feed_id: 6a1458b820ceb40f96a136805ed771cf
title: Future of work
uri: Future-of-work
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Future_of_work%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/amazons-247-hell-is-the-future-of-work">
Amazon's office hell</a>
 could be the future of work in general, if we do
not prevent it.
</p>
<p>While some may think of begging companies to be nice,
I think we need to force them — with laws, because that
is what democracy is for, and with unions, which requires laws
that make unions stronger.</p>
<p>We also need to eliminate the treaties that facilitate moving
production to countries that allow companies to get away with
oppression or even murder.</p>


feed_id: f194a1a024835b27ad5ed287c7d2a476
title: Broken military academies
uri: Broken-military-academies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Broken_military_academies%29
content:
<p>The 
<a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/how-americas-broken-service-academies-create-a-broken-military/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Nation%20Daily%2020150818&utm_term=daily">
US military academies produce careerists</a>
 that promote arms sales, never win a war, and fail to tell the president
when war is a bad idea.
</p>


feed_id: 2f75593a335d64f125a3f8c4a2022060
title: US wildfires
uri: US-wildfires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28US_wildfires%29
content:
<p>Fires in the US west have 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/19/washington-army-troops-wildfires-overwhelm-civilian-firefighters">
exceeded the fire-fighting capacity</a>;
 200 soldiers have been sent to help them.
</p>
<p>It will be much worse 20 years from now, if we don't stop heating up
the Earth's air and seas.  Will we learn our lesson now, and stop it?</p>


feed_id: 28ddf96cbf242a8a2addaf7de49cbf7a
title: PISSI myths
uri: PISSI-myths
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28PISSI_myths%29
content:
<p>We must not make the 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/19/isis-al-qaida-myths-terrorism-war-mistakes-9-11">
mistake of exaggerating</a>
 either the capacity or the actions of PISSI.
</p>


feed_id: e74f2dce379be0cfe828a86e5561db79
title: Tortured into confessing
uri: Tortured-into-confessing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Tortured_into_confessing%29
content:
<p>A Ukrainian who protested Putin's takeover of the Crimea is now being
tried
for imaginary crimes that he was 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/19/ukrainian-filmmaker-oleg-sentsov-russian-court-suffer-or-die-for-his-beliefs">
tortured into confessing to</a>.
</p>
<p>He says the trial is political and bogus.  I don't think Putin would
permit
an honest trial.</p>
<p>I wish that the US could condemn this with a straight face.  The US
must eliminate the Guantanamo 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2011-jan-apr.html#20%20March%202011%20(US%20Criticized%20by%20UN%20HRC)">
"military tribunals"</a>
 that were set up to deny defendants their legal rights.
</p>


feed_id: 3f1fa115b6233e15d78f59a8b107258b
title: Slave labor in Eritrea
uri: Slave-labor-in-Eritrea
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Slave_labor_in_Eritrea%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/19/eritrea-mining-nevsun-forced-labour">
Companies use slave labor</a>
 for their workforce in Eritrea, including a Canadian mining company.
The government may not give them any choice about this, but it is wrong
to operate in such a country.</p>


feed_id: a938f6c2da92e54fc193b07d991f0797
title: Martyr for history
uri: Martyr-for-history
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Martyr_for_history%29
content:
<p>PISSI 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/19/khaled-al-asaad-profile-syria-isis-howard-carter-palmyra-archaeology">
murdered one of the greats</a>
 of Syrian archeology.
</p>
<p>I read elsewhere that he had refused to tell his captors where to find
ancient artifacts that had been saved from them.  That makes him a martyr
for history.</p>


feed_id: 975c706767cd6b1ccfe58721a2b5a30c
title: Putin's antics
uri: Putin-s-antics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Putin%27s_antics%29
content:
<p>Putin's antics are risible, but they are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/19/vladimir-putin-bond-villain-russia-submarine">
very effective politically</a>.
</p>
<p>When he talks about "Russia's roots", he's talking about the Kievan Rus,
whose territory is known today as "Ukraine."  But accuracy is not
important to him.</p>
<p>The closest thing to him in the US is Donald Trump.</p>
<p>There is a 
<a href="http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/brin20150819#When:15:41:00Z">
real danger</a>
 of a wider war in Europe, between Russian
military provocations and strategic western threats such as proffered
treaties with Ukraine.
</p>


feed_id: cf4cea6ce0eb4a6e794d7a96d3299426
title: US federal social welfare programs
uri: US-federal-social-welfare-programs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28US_federal_social_welfare_programs%29

content:
<p>
US federal social welfare programs 
<a href="http://www.cbpp.org/commentary-war-on-poverty-large-positive-impact-but-more-work-remains">enable
40 million Americans to stay out of poverty</a>.
<p>
That was in 2012, after Reagan, Clinton and Dubya had undermined these
programs.  However, things have got 
<a href="
http://www.slate.com/blogs/schooled/2015/07/21/grim_new_data_on_child_wellbeing_the_poorer_the_child_the_less_proficient.html">worse
since the financial crisis</a>; SCROTUS (Sleazy Congressional
Republicans Of The United States) have been attacking our social
welfare programs steadily, and are attacking even harder now.
<p>
With public officials eager to end poverty, we could clearly achieve
much more.
<p>
The Earned Income Tax Credit is especially effective.  
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/07/americas-best-poverty-fighting-tool-may-be-even-better-we-thought">We
should increase it</a>.  However, not at the expense of cutting other
programs that support the poor.  Americans in general have become
poorer since 2007 and need more support, not less.
<p>
And it is no use encouraging poor people to look for jobs that don't
exist.  The rate of workforce participation in the US is
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#30_March_2015_(Graeber_on_bullshit_jobs)">much
lower than it used to be</a>, and millions of jobs are
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-nov-feb.html#29_January_2014_(Fastest-Growing_US_jobs_susceptible_to_automation)">likely
to be eliminated by automation</a> in the next decade.
<p>
Ultimately we need to enable the millions of never-to-be-employed
to have a decent life, while reducing the birth rate.


feed_id: 63a8a2023aa52fe53f2f0de5ff7cdf1c
title: Urgent: Oppose Trans-Pecos Pipeline
uri: Urgent-Oppose-Trans-Pecos-Pipeline
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_Trans-Pecos_Pipeline%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://secure3.convio.net/fww/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=2179&autologin=true">oppose</a>
the Trans-Pecos Pipeline.


feed_id: 73e621ea5dce50cd79898876026d9c32
title: Urgent: Clean Power Plan
uri: Urgent-Clean-Power-Plan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Clean_Power_Plan%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3819">call
on your state governor</a> to support the Clean Power Plan.
<p>
It's far from sufficient, but the fossil fools will fight it anyway,
and we need to overcome them.


feed_id: e68ade7eee6625dca20b1fe56c800ef4
title: Investigations of Planned Parenthood
uri: Investigations-of-Planned-Parenthood
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Investigations_of_Planned_Parenthood%29

content:
<p>
The attack videos against Planned Parenthood provided an excuse for
several Republican-ruled states to investigate.  These investigations
have found 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/19/planned-parenthood-video-investigations-wrongdoing">nothing
wrong</a>.
<p>
Although conclusive of nothing, the videos were quite useful in
mobilizing public support among the anti-sex prudes, who are free to
disregard the results of the investigations.  Several states have
already cut funding for Planned Parenthood to provide health care and
prenatal care.


feed_id: e1c3f5d862dc58ada102c76f73961d5b
title: Estonian arrested by Russian agents
uri: Estonian-arrested-by-Russian-agents
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Estonian_arrested_by_Russian_agents%29

content:
<p>
Russia said Eston Kohver was caught spying, but Estonia says Russian
agents 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/19/russia-jails-estonian-police-officer-allegedly-abducted-border-eston-kohver">kidnaped
him at gunpoint from a border crossing</a>.
<p>
The lack of a proper trial suggests that Russia is lying about the
facts.


feed_id: 1cfcd78001ee0557dc0edf2833a9a014
title: Toxic chemical storage in Tianjin
uri: Toxic-chemical-storage-in-Tianjin
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Toxic_chemical_storage_in_Tianjin%29

content:
<p>
More than one warehouse in Tianjin was 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/19/tianjin-blast-more-warehouses-accused-of-violating-rules-on-toxic-materials">illegally
storing toxic chemicals</a>.


feed_id: ecc7495627eb75d9c1c671fadf319da0
title: Eritrian journalists
uri: Eritrian-journalists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Eritrian_journalists%29
content:
<p>
Eritrian journalists were 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/19/eritrea-forgotten-journalists-jailed-pen-international-press-freedom">imprisoned
14 years ago and remain in prison</a>.


feed_id: 4cc6d483551a484906128f8ee5299415
title: Thugs snooping on protesters
uri: Thugs-snooping-on-protesters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Thugs_snooping_on_protesters%29
content:
<p>
Thugs regularly infiltrated Black Lives Matter protests in New York
City and
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/18/undercover-police-spied-on-ny-black-lives-matter/">snooped
on individual activists</a>.


feed_id: 3d0cb9ceb8d9e59e9841103d311bef05
title: Criminalization of homelessness
uri: 2015-08-20-Criminalization-of-homelessness
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Criminalization_of_homelessness%29

content:
<p>
The US government 
<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/08/18/3692251/homelessness-criminalization-doj-usich-hud/">may
start to resist</a> the criminalization of homelessness.  Let's hope
so.


feed_id: f880b415edf374c9537f08df9153eedf
title: Prison education
uri: Prison-education
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Prison_education%29
content:
<p>
Prison Education 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/17/prison-education-reduces-recidivism-over-40-percent-why-arent-we-funding-more-it">Reduces
Recidivism By Over 40 Percent</a>. Why Aren't We Funding More of It?


feed_id: 29954ff7fa61ae9311043f62d70c9f7f
title: Harmful overprotection of students
uri: Harmful-overprotection-of-students
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Harmful_overprotection_of_students%29

content:
<p>
Overprotecting students against ideas that may make them uncomfortable
is 
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/09/the-coddling-of-the-american-mind/399356/">harmful
to them</a>, and turns unjust when it develops into "vindictive
protectiveness".
<p>
I agree with most of the article's points, so I will mention the few
that I disagree with.

<ul>
<li>
Some forms of
"<a href='https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_(Microaggressions)'>microaggression</a>"
stem from derogatory stereotypes.  In these, insult is objectively
present.  If we don't think in terms of those stereotypes, we won't
say such things.
<p>
However, that applies to only <em>some</em> of the "microaggressions"
that are being condemned; others are not objectively insulting, so the
article's points are valid for them.  We must not condemn people just
because someone takes offense at what they say.
</li>

<li>
A speech at graduation is a special honor, far beyond simply giving a
talk at the school.  These speakers are honorees, not mere visitors.
It is entirely valid to campaign against honoring a political figure
on the grounds of wrongs that person has done.
</li>

<li>
Today's Republican candidates and legislators are enemies of democracy
itself, with their voter suppression, gerrymandering, and 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/17/presidential-candidates-each-sold-separately">campaign
funds from billionaire global heating denialists</a>.  The idea that
"we can disagree civilly and still be friends" does not stretch that
far.
</li>
</ul>


feed_id: 8df382d08f13794a20ee337950b0b239
title: Republicans and Social Security
uri: Republicans-and-Social-Security
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Republicans_and_Social_Security%29

content:
<p>
Krugman: The Republican presidential candidates want to eliminate
Social Security, because they bow down to a 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/17/1412741/-Krugman-Why-All-The-Republican-Candidates-Are-Attacking-Social-Security">hundred
or so rich families</a> that want that.


feed_id: d2d8d7269b3015d63e03a720ece0e9ec
title: Chelsea Manning found "guilty"
uri: Chelsea-Manning-found-guilty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Chelsea_Manning_found_guilty%29
content:
<p>
Chelsea Manning was found 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/19/chelsea-manning-guilty-but-spared-solitary-confinement-for-contraband">"guilty"
of absurd crimes</a>, but won't be put in solitary.
<p>
While I am glad this political trial did not put her in solitary, it
remains despicable to punish someone for having an expired tube of
toothpaste or the Senate report on US government torture.  This was a
political persecution from beginning to end.


feed_id: e57be50dcd01933e9d13c87521c3f211
title: Georgia thugs face murder charges
uri: Georgia-thugs-face-murder-charges
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Georgia_thugs_face_murder_charges%29

content:
<p>
Two Georgia thugs face murder charges for 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/18/atlanta-police-officers-murder-stun-guns">tasing
a handcuffed prisoner</a>, who died from it.
<p>
Not-usually-lethal weapons are an improvement when they are used
instead of guns; they are harmful when used instead of nothing.


feed_id: 65b1fc8e2a3e680e69433c03ca484e76
title: Uganda and Jeb Bush
uri: Uganda-and-Jeb-Bush
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Uganda_and_Jeb_Bush%29
content:
<p>
Uganda and Jeb Bush 
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/18/jeb-bush-advisor-signs-lobby-anti-gay-uganda-government/">share
a PR flack</a>.  Uganda uses him to overcome the negative image it got
from its repressive anti-gay law.


feed_id: 9a40337e788a26528da7cc5550cddfe7
title: Africa's birth rate
uri: Africa-s-birth-rate
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Africas_birth_rate%29
content:
<p>
Africa's birth rate is 
<a href="http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/pellissier20150818">dangerously
high</a>.


feed_id: 63d59445b60da1e7d10acbb65a4eff6c
title: Albuquerque thugs to be tried for murder
uri: Albuquerque-thugs-to-be-tried-for-murder
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Albuquerque_thugs_to_be_tried_for_murder%29

content:
<p>
Two Albuquerque thugs will be tried for
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/18/new-mexico-police-officers-murder-trial">murdering
a homeless man</a>.


feed_id: 56e6c56f505da6573a25fe16774b3847
title: Mexico City helps protect journalists
uri: Mexico-City-helps-protect-journalists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Mexico_City_helps_protect_journalists%29

content:
<p>
Mexico City now has a law that 
<a href="http://en.rsf.org/mexico-law-protecting-journalists-goes-14-08-2015,48230.html">offers
help to journalists</a> that flee there from other parts of Mexico.


feed_id: 5b779fcd7b9ceb03a68061784d88a6dc
title: Record companies want censorship
uri: Record-companies-want-censorship
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Record_companies_want_censorship%29

content:
<p>
The record companies (operating through their instrument, the RIAA)
want to make developers 
<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/should-web-browsers-block-copyright-infringing-urls-150816/">build
censorship into torrent software and even web browsers</a>.
<p>
We should make sure the big record companies get what they deserve:
total elimination, as punishment for the many evils they have done to
people who have shared music or might wish to.


feed_id: 6b129d62b27b3496410167ba398a1d54
title: Modern Taylorism
uri: Modern-Taylorism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Modren_Taylorism%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/18/technology/data-crunching-is-coming-to-help-your-boss-manage-your-time.html">Computerized work tracking</a> is being applied to the modern workspace.
<p>When these practices were applied to factory work in the early 20th century,
a practice called "Taylorism", workers fought back … and unionized.</p>
<p>You will have to unionize too!</p>
<p>That means you must support candidates that will make it easier to
form a union and give unions more clout against employers.


feed_id: e08ec8da22b93f3f3b3bfd12da23950f
title: Spanish thugs
uri: 2015-08-20-Spanish-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Spanish_thugs%29
content:
<p>Two Spanish thugs, even more arrogant than the typical thug, 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/16/spanish-woman-fined-gagging-law-photographing-police">
got a
woman fined</a>
 for posting a photo of their car parked in handicapped
parking spot.
</p>
<p>Perhaps their reason for parking there was legitimate.  The fine
certainly was not.  The thugs are responsible for the fine, because
they reported her to officials that were likely to fine her.</p>
<p>Now imagine the effect of that law when thugs beat, rape or kill
citizens.</p>


feed_id: b83581da7c5e7a1f0fb8bf800055ed27
title: Cyber arms race
uri: Cyber-arms-race
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Cyber_arms_race%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.schneier.com/news/archives/2015/08/bruce_schneier_were_.html">
Bruce Schneier: "We're in Early Years of a Cyber Arms Race".</a>
He also says not to be quick to conclude who the attacker is.</p>


feed_id: a8d6956d5f971cae23284e77596557a1
title: Involuntary info sharing
uri: Involuntary-info-sharing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Involuntary_info_sharing%29
content:
<p>CISA (formerly CISPA) supposedly allows companies to give your
personal data to the US government "voluntarily", but "voluntarily"
could 
<a href="http://www.wired.com/2015/08/access-cisa-myth-of-voluntary-info-sharing/">
easily be made mandatory by new regulations</a>
 — without passing any new laws.
</p>


feed_id: 8fe6c0db40e3a06612d7ddba34ebf692
title: Middle Eastern troublemaker
uri: Middle-Eastern-troublemaker
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#20_August_2015_%28Middle_Eastern_troublemaker%29
content:
<p>Among Middle Eastern countries, the 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/19/whos-real-troublemaker-middle-east">
worst troublemaker is Saudi Arabia</a>.
</p>
<p>The article does not mention that it 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-mar-jun.html#26_April_2014_(The_overthrow_of_Assad)">
promoted jihadis in Syria</a>
 or that most of the September 2001 hijackers 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-mar-jun.html#23_May_2015_(Catering_to_Saudi_Arabia)">
came from there</a>
(though I am not saying the Saudi government had any direct role),
or that the country has 
<a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2007-sep-dec.html#13%20November%202007%20(Saudi%20Arabia%20spreads%20propaganda)">
spent billions to spread its strict and cruel
variant of Islam</a>
 around the world.
</p>


feed_id: 07cc1a29f0a1e65a4261712b48588c92
title: China
uri: 2015-08-21-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28China%29
content:
<p>China is pushing hard to 
<a href="http://en.people.cn/n/2015/0715/c90000-8920747.html">eliminate
manufacturing jobs</a>.</p>
<p>Perhaps there will be plenty of employment for working-age Chinese
people taking care of retired and ill Chinese people.  If so, it will
work out well.</p>


feed_id: 085dc3bd1428933c4733b9ac40263d67
title: Urgent: Support the KOCH Act
uri: Urgent-Support-the-KOCH-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#21_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Support_the_KOCH_Act%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: support the KOCH Act to 
<a href="http://act.endcitizensunited.org/page/s/koch-act-aug">make
Super-PACs state who their donors are</a>.


feed_id: 366efbcf0c2c65a047eeb935d062faef
title: Right-wing applause for Hurricane Katrina
uri: Right-wing-applause-for-Hurricane-Katrina
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#21_August_2015_%28Right-wing_applause_for_Hurricane_Katrina%29

content:
<p>
Some US right-wingers applauded Hurricane Katrina as an opportunity to
cut the budget of New Orleans and 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/19/katrina-and-conservative-failure-ten-years-later">eliminate
public housing</a>.


feed_id: a9f5a89d7f73a69bc83219be0cd74057
title: Fossil fuel extraction from public lands
uri: Fossil-fuel-extraction-from-public-lands
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#21_August_2015_%28Fossil_fuel_extraction_from_public_lands%29

content:
<p>
The US 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/19/contain-carbon-bomb-us-must-end-fossil-fuel-leasing-public-lands">must
stop issuing leases</a> for fossil fuel extraction from public lands.
This would keep a large quantity of fossil fuels in the ground.
<p>
Since we need to keep 80% of known reserves in the ground, no one
action of this sort will suffice — rather, many of them are
necessary.


feed_id: 147f87b15650cd29b47807f4a9f43606
title: Murderous thugs
uri: Murderous-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#21_August_2015_%28Murderous_thugs%29
content:
<p>
New Jersey thugs who shot a man with his hands up 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/08/officer-who-killed-jerame-reid-not-indicted">will
not be prosecuted</a>.
<p>
However, a Baltimore thug 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/20/baltimore-police-bail-shooting-burglary-suspect">will
face prosecution for murder</a>.
<p>
Thugs will continue their rampage as long as they continue to enjoy
practical impunity.


feed_id: 3b0597f3a7aceaf882d5abe5b0163ab8
title: Convictions based on "bite mark analysis"
uri: Convictions-based-on-bite-mark-analysis
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#21_August_2015_%28Convictions_based_on_bite_mark_analysis%29

content:
<p>
Americans 
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/20/flawed-science-of-bite-marks/">convicted
based on "bite mark analysis"</a> have trouble getting out of prison,
although this has been found to be junk science.


feed_id: 887c2e21d49c8ad88a027015a77a141a
title: California drought
uri: 2015-08-22-California-drought
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#21_August_2015_%28California_drought%29
content:
<p>
Climate models show that California will face 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/20/california-drought-blame-global-warming">increasing
drought due to global heating</a>, and that it has contributed
substantially to the current drought.


feed_id: d189328dfe78c84220bcd01eb398ad78
title: TV ads opposing Iran deal
uri: TV-ads-opposing-Iran-deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#21_August_2015_%28TV_ads_opposing_Iran_deal%29
content:
<p>
Wave of TV Ads Opposing Iran Deal Organized By 
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/20/wave-anti-iran-deal-tv-ads-organized-saudi-arabian-lobbyist/">Saudi
Arabian Lobbyist</a>.
<p>
Interesting that Israel and and Saudi Arabia are making common cause.


feed_id: 8392bb1bd2196040322152d93d6d7e1f
title: Iraq War general cashing in
uri: Iraq-War-general-cashing-in
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#21_August_2015_%28Iraq_War_general_cashing_in%29
content:
<p>
Iraq War General Ray Odierno Cashing In With 
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/20/iraq-war-surge-general-ray-odierno-gets-new-job-jp-morgan-chase/">New
Job at JP Morgan Chase</a>.


feed_id: af1d56e1a6974108f63f10e9bfd42173
title: Jurisdiction against multinational companies
uri: Jurisdiction-against-multinational-companies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#21_August_2015_%28Jurisdiction_against_multinational_companies%29

content:
<p>
Judge Garzón is campaigning for 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/20/spain-judge-baltasar-garzon-prosecute-global-corporations">universal
jurisdiction</a> against multinational companies.


feed_id: 172d98597eb1e056ad8fb1c07d7427ea
title: New Orleans
uri: 2015-08-22-New-Orleans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#21_August_2015_%28New_Orleans%29
content:
<p>
A 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/aug/20/rebuilding-new-orleans-hurricane-katrina-rita-10-years-water-city">large
project</a> aims to revitalize New Orleans.
<p>
It 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/20/new-orleans-economic-renaissance-is-not-all-it-may-seem-10-years-after-katrina">isn't
helping the poor people very much</a>.
<p>
Too bad they didn't move it to higher ground.


feed_id: c085a0a40f2bbf3586f7c24d68a12428
title: Neonicotinoid pesticides in US rivers
uri: Neonicotinoid-pesticides-in-US-rivers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#21_August_2015_%28Neonicotinoid_pesticides_in_US_rivers%29

content:
<p>
A study sampling US rivers found 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/20/neonicotinoid-pesticides-widespread-us-rivers-streams-study">neonicotinoid
pesticides in half of them</a>, sometimes at levels that may have
devastated the base of the food chain in the Netherlands.
<p>
Neonicotinoids have now been 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/20/pesticides-neonicotinoids-linked-bee-decline-first-time-large-scale-field-study">linked
to honeybee decline</a> in a field study.


feed_id: 2e71df34b97d0e6179f646e36539ae08
title: Weakening UK air pollution standards
uri: Weakening-UK-air-pollution-standards
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#21_August_2015_%28Weakening_UK_air_pollution_standards%29

content:
<p>
The UK's lobbying to weaken air pollution standards represents the
Tories' 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/20/tory-lobbying-against-air-pollution-laws-smells-political-corruption">secret
decision to support the worst parts of the business world</a>.


feed_id: e2a6143f9f22184f4080e09ed25a85e1
title: The bombardment of Yemen
uri: The-bombardment-of-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#21_August_2015_%28The_bombardment_of_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
The Saudi bombardment of Yemen is devastating the country, 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/20/why-are-we-ignoring-war-yemen">with
US support</a>.
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/20/bombing-vital-port-yemen-children-serious-risk-un-warns">Yemeni
Children at Serious Risk after Bombing of Vital Port, Agencies
Caution</a>.


feed_id: e4a992db9d27def3068a019262da1d14
title: Wildfires
uri: 2015-08-23-Wildfires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Wildfires%29
content:
<p>The US 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/21/us-wildfires-australia-new-zealand-washington">
has asked</a>
 Australia and New Zealand for experienced firefighters
to help fight wildfires that are too now big to handle.
</p>
<p>Australia and New Zealand don't need their firefighters in August,
but their fire season will start soon.</p>
<p>It will be a worse in each of these countries, 10 years from now.  and
it will keep getting worse as long as humans continue extracting and
using fossul fuels.</p>


feed_id: f5345ed612292fd5cdd708e16e8a2351
title: Survivors of holocaust
uri: Survivors-of-holocaust
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Survivors_of_holocaust%29
content:
<p>Children of survivors of the holocaust 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/aug/21/study-of-holocaust-survivors-finds-trauma-passed-on-to-childrens-genes">
inherited</a>
 some stress-induced
epigenetic markers from their parents.
</p>
<p>The article did not distinguish between mothers and fathers.
It would be useful to study them separately.</p>


feed_id: 8e04760ccbaae139000f77077b47ef3b
title: Robot weapons
uri: Robot-weapons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Robot_weapons%29
content:
<p>One danger of autonomous robot weapons is that 
<a href="http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/cascio20150821">
they will obey</a>
 illegal
orders without question.
But even semi-autonomous weapons, with a human in "ultimate
control", could make it moe difficult for humans to refuse illegal
orders.</p>


feed_id: e086bdde5e1ad2e0785065c9e3ec9c35
title: California
uri: 2015-08-23-California
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28California%0A%29
content:
<p>Californians 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/21/california-water-drought-almond-pistachio-tunnel">
are fighting plans</a>
 to move more of the state's insufficient water
to almond and pistachio plantations.
</p>


feed_id: c7531227554ba84428bc7132e0fcf574
title: Coal mining
uri: Coal-mining
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Coal_mining%29
content:
<p>Britons that oppose fracking and coal mining due to local pollution

<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/21/friends-of-the-earth-director-craig-bennett-interview">
understand</a>
 the global heating danger too.  Street protests will
be the
new way to campaign against this.
</p>


feed_id: 6cd74c367467d1f1150994c9f039ea8b
title: Invest in Republican candidates
uri: Invest-in-Republican-candidates
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Invest_in_Republican_candidates%29

content:
<p>A new business 
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/21/founder-pro-clinton-super-pac-forms-political-consulting-firm-leader-gop-super-pac/">
offers clients a way to invest in Clinton and in all
Republican presidential candidates</a>
, so that they can call in favors if
any of those candidates win.
</p>


feed_id: 0587894d6e79875733cececa5be084b8
title: Ashley Madison
uri: 2015-08-23-Ashley-Madison
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Ashley_Madison%29
content:
<p>Those who stole and published personal data from Ashley Madison 
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patrick-ambron/the-ashley-madison-hack-a_b_8012534.html">
did a
great wrong</a>
 to the users of that site.
I urge people therefore not to republish that data set.</p>
<p>Please 
<a href="https://stallman.org/articles/on-hacking.html">
do not call the people who did this "hackers"</a>
.
If they broke the security of the site, that is called "cracking"
— but it's not clear that was done in this case.</p>
<p>The company 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/21/ten-questions-ashley-madison-needs-to-answer">
has done</a>
 many sleazy things both before and after the data
were taken.
</p>
<p>Now Ashley Madison 
<a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/can-ashley-madison-claim-copyright-on-its-hacked-user-data">
is sending</a>
 DMCA takedown notices for the data dump
of its users data, invalidly claiming copyright where it does not have
one.
</p>
<p>I disagree with the widespread prejudice in favor of monogamy.  If two
people are happy loving only each other, I am glad for them; but if
one of them wants another relationship, I won't say there is anything
wrong with that.  I never have, and never will, ask a lover to promise
not to have other lovers; I would not want to stand in the way of her
happiness.</p>
<p>Thus, in thinking about the Ashley Madison site, I do not formulate my
thoughts using words such as "adultery" or "cheating".  I do not think
of it as cheating to break a promise imposed by unfair social
pressure.  I don't think the site's stated purpose was immoral.</p>
<p>Rather, what is immoral is setting up services and stores that require
people to <em>identify themselves</em>.  This incident reinforces my
conclusion that we should refuse to identify ourselves when buying
things — whether we are buying introductions, books, furniture,
or whatever else.</p>
<p>Digital systems 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">
must be redesigned</a>
 so that they do not accumulate
dossiers about their users.
In the mean time, don't be tracked — pay cash!  That's what I do.
</p>


feed_id: 32ef2fd34f80ac5829b65503acc2ba66
title: Sex trafficker
uri: Sex-trafficker
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Sex_trafficker%29
content:
<p>In the US, customers and helpers of prostitutes under 18 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2015/08/20/jared-fogle-sex-trafficker">
are now
accused of "trafficking"</a>
, under a law that is a liar.
</p>


feed_id: f06e2392b17a86677050db9568b8aaf4
title: Drug tests
uri: Drug-tests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Drug_tests%29
content:
<p>High school students 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2015/08/19/back-to-school-back-to-random-drug-tests">
should not</a>
 face random drug tests. 
</p>
<p>There is no reason to test anyone for drugs in this way.  People who
do jobs that require quick and accurate reaction should be tested
every day to make sure they have quick and accurate reaction —
not for drug use.</p>


feed_id: 6d52efba9658ede8b32dc6961ab1283c
title: 'Sharing Economy'
uri: Sharing-Economy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28%27Sharing_Economy%27%29
content:
<p>How the 'Sharing Economy' 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/21/like-uber-for-toilets-how-the-sharing-economy-forces-a-movement-towards-privatisation">
Forces</a>
 a Movement Towards Privatisation.
Pay toilets tend to eliminate unlocked public toilets, just as
bottled water tends to eliminate water fountains.</p>
<p>I can't possibly use Looie, for the same reason I can't possibly use
Guber or AirBnB: they require (1) running a nonfree cr…app on a
tracking device, and (2) identifying oneself.  But I have a special
loathing for Looie, because making people pay to use a toilet is
vicious in itself.  I could afford the fee, but poor people can't.</p>
<p>I don't see anything wrong in charging for a taxi ride or for renting
a room.  My criticisms of Guber and AirBnB are about <em>how</em> they
do this.  For Looie, the business is wrong in itself.</p>
<p>I read a copy of Ceptia's Free Toilet Paper in the 1970s, and I
concluded that concluded that pay toilets are a bad thing, but it did
not seem like an important issue since I hardly ever encountered any
in the US.  The problem is much worse in Europe, which never had
anything like Ceptia.  I go to great lengths to avoid giving them my
money.</p>
<p>You can consider me a member-in-spirit of Ceptia, and I hope you will
join in spirit too.</p>
<p>I think that restaurants, which are legally required to have toilets,
should be legally required to allow anyone to use them, and to have a
sign on the door to that effect.  Restaurant owners that are unhappy
with the number of people that come in to use their toilets should
consider moving to a place with less foot traffic.  Of course, they
won't do that: the foot traffic brings them business.  They must take
the bad of the foot traffic along with the good of the foot traffic.</p>


feed_id: b10026738934a3922d0d8349841a62f5
title: Doris Lessing
uri: Doris-Lessing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Doris_Lessing%29
content:
<p>The UK 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/aug/21/mi5-spied-on-doris-lessing-for-20-years-declassified-documents-reveal">
spied</a>
 on famed writer Doris Lessing for 20 years.
</p>


feed_id: 9729b493be7b1006407c12d6d7136a09
title: TPP
uri: 2015-08-23-TPP
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28TPP%29
content:
<p>The negotiators of the TPP (Treacherous Plutocratic Poison) 
<2>were ready
to consider</a>
 supporting fair use instead of damaging it — but
then the big movie companies started pushing the other way in
Congress.
</p>
<p>The TPP is meant to attack democracy.  These fights about details
only reinforce the point that we need to kill it, whether before or
after it is signed.</p>


feed_id: 6fdcdc3af2fcaeba6408eca2d4f893ce
title: Syriza
uri: 2015-08-23-Syriza
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Syriza%29
content:
<p>The part of Syriza that holds true to its opposition to austerity 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/21/greek-crisis-syriza-rebels-break-away-form-popular-unity-party">
has
renamed itself</a>
 the Popular Unity Party.
I applaud them.</p>
<p>However, I do not criticize Tsipras for calling new elections.  That
is clearly the right thing to do.</p>
<p>I think Greece (and the rest of the world) needs a Wooden Stake Party
dedicated to destroying the vampires that are attacking Greece.</p>


feed_id: 34a667473450e85903a44bd7956e13b4
title: Heating
uri: 2015-08-23-Heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Heating%29
content:
<p>July 2015 was the 
<a href="https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/summary-info/global/201507">
hottest</a>
 month ever recorded.
</p>


feed_id: c7c16bd08490e15ee9919bf563d3d7f2
title: Urgent: Efficiency standard for trucks
uri: Urgent-Efficiency-standard-for-trucks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Efficiency_standard_for_trucks%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/EPA_Trucks">file a comment
with the EPA</a> through this page to call for an even higher
efficiency standard for heavy trucks.


feed_id: 6204bf38a296a02f51d6235e46f8cbe5
title: Privacy in India
uri: Privacy-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Privacy_in_India%29
content:
<p>
India's government 
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150819/07244632004/indias-attorney-general-privacy-not-fundamental-right.shtml">argued
that privacy 'not a fundamental right'</a> so it should be ok to
require people to have biometric ID cards.  The Supreme Court
continues to disagree.


feed_id: 32af2827259a48f62ca478107e2ed867
title: Hunting of wild birds
uri: Hunting-of-wild-birds
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Hunting_of_wild_birds%29
content:
<p>
Hunting of wild birds in the Mediterranean (many of them migrating) is
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/21/25m-birds-illegally-killed-in-mediterranean-each-year-says-report">making
some species crash</a>.


feed_id: 1eb46caec95ceaed3f65ddd9861fb9c7
title: War on Drugs in Peru
uri: War-on-Drugs-in-Peru
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28War_on_Drugs_in_Peru%29
content:
<p>
The War on Drugs in Peru now includes 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/21/peru-authorises-military-to-shoot-down-cocaine-smuggling-planes">shooting
down planes suspected of carrying drugs</a>.
<p>
Perhaps they are getting advice from US thugs.  "I thought that plane
was reaching for a cocaine in its air pocket, so I shot it down."


feed_id: 66a88000fd7e2aed4c3eb6f2fccd0f8a
title: EU demands censorship
uri: EU-demands-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28EU_demands_censorship%29
content:
<p>
EU Demands Google 
<a href="http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/001120.html">Forget "The
Right To Be Forgotten"</a>.


feed_id: a0c8d1ab7fd166f4f226456de8162903
title: Refugee deported to Iran
uri: Refugee-deported-to-Iran
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Refugee_deported_to_Iran%29
content:
<p>
Australia deported a refugee to Iran 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/21/asylum-seeker-on-manus-forcibly-returned-to-iran-amid-court-challenge">while
his case was still in progress</a>.  Once in Iran, he was arrested.


feed_id: 61cbe08812fd449851d23757a5fb68a7
title: PISSI bulldozes ancient monastery
uri: PISSI-bulldozes-ancient-monastery
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28PISSI_bulldozes_ancient_monastery%29

content:
<p>
PISSI 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/21/islamic-state-destroyed-ancient-saint-eliane-monastery-syria-says-priest">bulldozed
an ancient monastery</a> with a very early church.


feed_id: eb8bdebf9b452260e815866e21dd2fda
title: Anti-slavery activists imprisoned
uri: Anti-slavery-activists-imprisoned
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Anti-slavery_activists_imprisoned%29

content:
<p>
Mauritania has 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/21/mauritania-anti-slavery-activists-sentence-upheld-accused-parody-justice">imprisoned</a>
anti-slavery activists.


feed_id: 9cbb6346f580361ba59652ec2f8e0d22
title: Stricter laws to cover thugs
uri: Stricter-laws-to-cover-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Stricter_laws_to_cover_thugs%29
content:
<p>
US protesters demand 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/21/protesters-unveil-police-policy-proposals">stricter
laws to cover the thugs</a>.
<p>
Hear, hear!


feed_id: 88f0cd87ad5e5f7117d6133af460a72d
title: War on Drugs
uri: 2015-08-23-War-on-Drugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28War_on_Drugs%29
content:
<p>
A US Marshal says his office told him the policy was 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/19/1413569/-Former-U-S-Marshal-and-DEA-agent-was-told-not-to-enforce-drug-laws-in-white-areas">not
to wage the War on Drugs against well-off people</a>.
<p>
That exemption was wise and good, but didn't go far enough.  They
should extend it to everyone else.


feed_id: 68e514c9cf2ae22b1f48d7a6251e8f6e
title: "Missing" 8.5 trillion dollars
uri: Missing-8-5-trillion-dollars
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Missing_8.5_trillion_dollars%29
content:
<p>
Conservatives' double standard: small waste to the benefit of poor
people is a scandal, while 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/19/1413372/-The-Biggest-Scandal-in-US-History-That-We-re-Still-Not-Talking-About">the
Pentagon has lost track of 8.5 trillion</a> and they don't care.


feed_id: 15b0e432738d5410fd23a6488e4c582b
title: Vulture capitalist Obama donor
uri: Vulture-capitalist-Obama-donor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Vulture_capitalist_Obama_donor%29
content:
<p>
One of Obama's donors is a vulture capitalist who 
<A href="http://www.thenation.com/article/is-an-obama-donor-tying-the-presidents-hands-on-puerto-ricos-debt-crisis/">wants
to eat the corpse of Puerto Rico</a>.


feed_id: bab09d9c5c09cfe6f9a71d6805a56002
title: Thugs "justify" killing
uri: Thugs-justify-killing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Thugs_justify_killing%29
content:
<p>
Even 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/18/1413127/-19-prisoners-signed-affidavits-stating-they-saw-guards-beat-Samuel-Harrell-to-death-No-justice">as
prison thugs were beating Samuel Harrell to death</a>, they started
making false accusations against him to "justify" the killing.
<p>
It appears they will get off without punishment.


feed_id: fd05c203eee8cc063083c5a8e41508e9
title: Nuclear deal with Iran
uri: 2015-08-23-Nuclear-deal-with-Iran
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Nuclear_deal_with_Iran%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/18/1412996/-The-most-incredibly-lucid-explanation-by-a-US-Senator-of-why-the-Iran-Deal-MUST-be-supported">Arguing
for</a> the nuclear deal with Iran.


feed_id: 766d04c3d2efb710ee83dda5bc91dc06
title: Republicans blame the victim
uri: Republicans-blame-the-victim
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Republicans_blame_the_victim%29
content:
<p>
After Republican state legislators resigned after sexual involvement
and harassment with interns, their colleagues 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/18/1413186/-Missouri-senators-resign-after-scandals-Republicans-propose-fix-modest-dress-code-for-interns">want
interns to dress "modestly"</a>.
<p>
It's typical of right-wing religious prudes to blame their sexual
proclivities (whether wrong or not) on the attractiveness of the
victims.


feed_id: de41a0828016476742b934d8b6ec4ce5
title: Nuclear conflict with Russia
uri: Nuclear-conflict-with-Russia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Nuclear_conflict_with_Russia%29
content:
<p>
A Nuclear Conflict with Russia Is 
<a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/6/29/8845913/russia-war">Likelier
Than You Think</a>.
<p>
There are good reasons not to be precisely clear about what would be
considered an invasion and would trigger a defensive alliance.  A
rigid criterion would invite an aggressor to come up to a millimeter
from the criterion.  And who can count on foreseeing everything?
<p>
On the other hand, a vague criterion invites audacious deniable
attacks.
<p>
Either way offers opportunities that a cunning and audacious aggressor
such as Putin can test.


feed_id: ab78c936df7804b07ca7f05a1527c95a
title: Charged with "aggravated trespass"
uri: Charged-with-aggravated-trespass
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Charged_with_aggravated_trespass%29

content:
<p>
Plane Stupid protesters who opposed expansion of Heathrow airport have
been charged with 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/19/plane-stupid-activists-plead-not-guilty-heathrow-expansion-protest">"aggravated
trespass"</a>, which is a "crime" invented as an 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2011-mar-jun.html#28%20March%202011%20(Anti-cut%20protests)">excuse
to punish protesters</a>.


feed_id: d3d5fb6695b42e19397b11f6e273582d
title: Spotify
uri: Spotify
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Spotify%29
content:
<p>
Like most "music screaming" disservices, Spotify is based on
proprietary malware (DRM and snooping).  Recently it
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/21/spotify-faces-user-backlash-over-new-privacy-policy">
demanded users
submit to increased snooping</a>, and some are starting to realize that it
is nasty.
</p>
<p>
However, it was nasty all along.  <em>Any</em> "service" that is based
on not letting people have their own copies is a scheme to subjugate
people.  Once you submit, they are always ready to use that leverage
to subjugate you more.
</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/08/21/spotify_worse_than_the_nsa/">
This article shows the twisted ways</a> that they present snooping as a
way to serve users better
— never mind whether they want that.  This is a typical
example of the attitude of the proprietary software industry
towards those they have subjugated.
</p>
<p>
Out, out, damned Spotify!
</p>


feed_id: fa44638c8c4f9bd164db87405ef1a28d
title: Apology
uri: Apology
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28UK_US_Apoligy%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/aug/21/the-west-has-so-much-to-apologise-for-in-the-middle-east">The US and Britain have done much in the Middle East that calls for an apology.</a></p><p></p>
<p>
This does not excuse the wrong done by the various dictators and kings
in the region, whether supported by the US or by the Soviet Union.</p>


feed_id: 96543b19b1dab85db82d5b6e5f1b0eb3
title: Australian polluticians
uri: Australian-polluticians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#22_August_2015_%28Australian_polluticians%29
content:
<p>
Abbott says that conservation groups are using environmental
protection laws to
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2015/aug/21/private-dinners-lavish-parties-and-shoulder-rubbing-how-coal-giant-adani-charmed-australias-political-elite">"sabotage"</a>
dangerous mine projects.
<p>
In truth, Abbott wants to use the law to help him sabotage Australia's
environment.  And maybe he has been corrupted, along with other
Australian polluticians, by the Indian billionaire that would own the
mine.
<p>
"Polluticians" was a typo, but it seemed so fitting that I decided not
to correct it.
<p>
The story illustrates the dangerous nature of the idea that elected
officials should seek to "bring business to" their cities, states or
countries.  There is an inherent conflict between that and their real
job, which is to prevent business from causing harm in their cities,
states or countries.


feed_id: 25ea753e825e4c4a2c8ee01bc7b22096
title: Urgent: support deal with Iran
uri: 2015-08-23-Urgent-support-deal-with-Iran
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#19_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_support_deal_with_Iran%29

content:
<p>US citizens: join activities to convince legislators <a href="http://60DaysToStopAWar.com">to support the nuclear deal with Iran.</a></p>
<p>
The site's map engine depends on nonfree Javascript code,
so I hope you won't use it.  However, the 
<a href="http://civic.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=367">search
engine</a> works without nonfree software.


feed_id: 6d0961a09064fc03ae970e00edee5b07
title: clean up scientific publication
uri: clean-up-scientific-publication
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28clean_up_scientific_publication%29

content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/aug/22/can-we-trust-science-academic-journal-peer-review-retraction-">The long-term campaign to clean up scientific publication.</a></p>


feed_id: 3092c11da76d09fcced9bbfeacba2767
title: Replaceable workers
uri: Replaceable-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Replaceable_workers%29
content:
<p>Amazon's cruelty in its head office illustrates the attitude of many
companies today: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/23/amazon-jeff-bezos-workers-rights-capitalism-employment-law">they consider workers replaceable and not worth any decency.</a></p>
<p>These companies demand total loyalty while giving none.  Thus, what
they deserve from their workers is sabotage, not loyalty.  We need
governments that will do whatever it takes to put the reins on how
companies treat staff.  First step, make it easy to unionize.</p>


feed_id: 7653a6a932e961c935b14d364a26a0bb
title: Shot for wielding a knife
uri: Shot-for-wielding-a-knife
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Shot_for_wielding_a_knife%29
content:
<p>Thugs in North Carolina shot a man <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/22/north-carolina-man-killed-police-charged-them-knife">who was wielding a knife.</a></p>
<p>Didn't they have tasers to use instead of guns?</p>


feed_id: c908e7687ce345b8025dcf012a1f1d66
title: Sheet mica
uri: Sheet-mica
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Sheet_mica%29
content:
<p>Sheet mica sells for over $1000 per kg.  The workers that mine it,
violating laws that India does not enforce, <a href="http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2015/09/features/mica-illegal-mining-india/viewall">are paid about 25 cents per kg.</a></p>
<p>If India were to crack down on the illegal mining, approved mines
would have to start, and pay workers more.  But India is a very corrupt
country.</p>


feed_id: 5e6cf93b807e63fda1471f8042828ec5
title: Body monitoring
uri: Body-monitoring
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Body_monitoring%29
content:
<p>Workers must fight against <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-12/wearable-biosensors-bring-tracking-tech-into-the-workplace">businesses that want to monitor their bodies.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/23/data-and-tracking-devices-in-the-workplace-amazon">More information.</a></p>Devices that monitor your body should report their data to you, and
you alone.  And if they have software that is to be changed, it should
be free software.</p>
<p>As in all cases of mistreatment by a company, it helps to have a
union.  If your country or state doesn't make it easy to unionize,
make it an issue in your next election.</p>


feed_id: fa29246ee877c1d6853971b5b687cb57
title: Universities' fund managers
uri: Universities-fund-managers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Universities%27_fund_managers%29
content:
<p>Universities including Harvard and Yale <a href="http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/08/19/opinion/stop-universities-from-hoarding-money.html?_r=0&referrer=">pay fund managers hundreds of millions of dollars a year</a> — and do this in a way that relieves
the fund managers of most of their income tax.</p>
<p>I'm not sure I agree with the article's spend-8-percent proposal.  It
would cause big problems when the stock market goes down.  Rather, I'd
suggest limiting the percentage that can be paid in management fees.</p>


feed_id: d0deeafba6390f2591d3f996b978ad6c
title: License plate readers on garbage trucks
uri: License-plate-readers-on-garbage-trucks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28License_plate_readers_on_garbage_trucks%29

content:
<p>San Jose, California, proposes to put license plate readers on garbage trucks
<a href="http://tech.slashdot.org/story/15/08/21/1458238/san-jose-may-put-license-plate-scanners-on-garbage-trucks">so as to scan all the cars in the city regularly.</a></p>
<p>This is far too much surveillance for a free society.  Indeed, <a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html
">license plate readers as they exist today should not be allowed at all.</a>
License plate readers should be designed so that they do not even
record having seen a plate that is lawful and not sought by court
order.</p>


feed_id: 857d92517d0e2854a4cf58f575f003f4
title: Rallies for Sanders
uri: Rallies-for-Sanders
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Rallies_for_Sanders%29
content:
<p>Reporters find excuses to <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/21/nothing-see-here-pooh-poohing-sanders-surging-crowds">downplay the size of Sanders' support</a> as expressed by rallies for him.</p>


feed_id: bf518ab4ec723a8e7d19b232c12130ef
title: Fired for not going to church
uri: Fired-for-not-going-to-church
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Fired_for_not_going_to_church%29
content:
<p>Courtney Canfield <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/20/1413850/-Woman-claims-she-was-fired-from-KS-sec-of-state-office-for-not-attending-prayer-services?detail=email">was fired from a government job in Kansas</a> for not going to church.</p>


feed_id: ee932b033af82f7c5dc175ac94c42c4f
title: eradication of guinea worm
uri: eradication-of-guinea-worm
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28eradication_of_guinea_worm%29
content:
<p>After 29 years, the eradication of the guinea worm <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/20/1413874/-Carter-s-Guinea-worm-program-took-3-5-million-cases-in-1986-to-just-11-so-far-this-year?detail=email">is almost complete.</a></p>
<p>WHO says it expects to finish the job this year.</p>
<p>Jimmy Carter was the last president of the US that deserved respect.</p>


feed_id: a16ea434874ae07d3ced4574a0d51511
title: Gun in your home
uri: Gun-in-your-home
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Gun_in_your_home%29
content:
<p>It's dangerous to have a gun in your home.  Even living next to someone
that has a gun <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/20/1410421/-A-gun-in-the-home-increases-the-risk-of-accidents-So-does-a-gun-next-door-GunFAIL-CXXXIV?detail=email">is somewhat dangerous.</a></p>


feed_id: 5690f696a2f5df1e1e8269e05bc559db
title: Ashley Madison and fair use
uri: Ashley-Madison-and-fair-use
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Ashley_Madison_and_fair_use%29
content:
<p>Ashley Madison got Twitter to delete a journalist's posting <a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/ashley-madison-sent-me-a-dmca-request-for-tweeting-two-cells-of-a-spreadsheet"> which is almost certainly fair use.</a></p>
<p>The company tries to mystify its copyright claim by calling it
"intellectual property".  Whenever you see a company talk about its
"intellectual property", it is trying to be fuzzy about what legal
grounds (if any!) its demand is based on.  I suggest responding with,
"Intellectual property is not the name of any law.  Be specific about
your claim or I will ignore you."</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the journalist fell for the confusion in that term, and
even added to it by writing, "DMCA notices are intended to stop the
spread of intellectual property and copyrighted material," as if
"intellectual property" referred to something <em>other than
copyrighted material</em> to which the DMCA applied.  There is no such
thing.</p>
<p>The term "intellectual property" has no meaning except confusion.</p>
<p><a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html"> Please don't ever use the term.</a></p>


feed_id: c9bdbd138ede04f3dcacdf772898bfda
title: Google and Facebook against net neutrality
uri: Google-and-Facebook-against-net-neutrality
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Google_and_Facebook_against_net_neutrality%29

content:
<p>Google and Facebook <a href="http://www.medianama.com/2015/08/223-google-iamai-net-neutrality-india/">lobbied in India against network neutrality.</a></p>


feed_id: d5b8be5f1bbcc403fe80e95f9d212e0e
title: California's energy efficiency
uri: California-s-energy-efficiency
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28California%27s_energy_efficiency%29

content:
<p>California's <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/08/20/californias-energy-efficiency-success-story-90-billion-utility-bill-savings">40 years of aiming for energy efficiency</a> show what would have been the easy way to avoid global heating disaster.</p>


feed_id: e2a4dd73e8b2b1cd5afb255afe8a4cdd
title: Anti-science policies
uri: Anti-science-policies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Anti-science_policies%29
content:
<p>Now that tar sands extraction is failing even in its own narrow
economic terms, Canada has a chance to <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/20/canadas-carbon-moment-has-arrived">reject extractivism and the anti-science policies that were created to prop it up.</a></p>


feed_id: e3fbb11b9d7c7c16e2f88c465d5e149f
title: CISA Bill
uri: CISA-Bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28CISA_bill.%29
content:
<p><a href="https://medium.com/@NathanDWhite/what-the-chamber-of-commerce-won-t-tell-you-about-the-cybersecurity-information-sharing-act-8a8894f2b59c">Exposing the doubletalk of the defenders of the CISA bill.</a>


feed_id: e85f1b38a901bd00256498046422a4eb
title: Urgent: Stop execution
uri: Urgent-Stop-execution
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_execution%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/governor-fallin-grant">call
on the governor of Oklahoma</a> to stop the execution of Richard
Glossip.
<p>
The petition's author says he "firmly believe(s) Oklahoma is about to
execute an innocent man."  However, that's not part of the petition
itself.  I don't have a basis to "firmly believe" that Glossip is
innocent, but I think it is quite plausible that he is, and that's
enough to make it honest for me to sign.
<p>
The death penalty is wrong even for criminals who are guilty.


feed_id: 1e2f9513b69541fe66467b5d91ea6cd5
title: Urgent: Oppose DARK Act
uri: 2015-08-23-Urgent-Oppose-DARK-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_DARK_Act%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.myngp.com/Forms/NoScript/5517762055621641984">call
on your senators</a> to vote against the DARK Act.


feed_id: 4e50b1e05cc20303d92748492e6b8416
title: Urgent: Quit FoodDrinkEurope
uri: Urgent-Quit-FoodDrinkEurope
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Quit_FoodDrinkEurope%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="http://action.sumofus.org/a/fooddrinkeurope-ttip-lobby/">Call
on Unilever</a> to quit FoodDrinkEurope.


feed_id: bd73db6dbaed5a260099c7cbe401a87b
title: Urgent: Consumer Reporting Fairness Act
uri: Urgent-Consumer-Reporting-Fairness-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Consumer_Reporting_Fairness_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/Sherrod_Brown_credit_reports">call
on Congress</a> to pass the Consumer Reporting Fairness Act.


feed_id: bbd705f7b8a3f6d4578586b9ce9185d0
title: Police culture
uri: Police-culture
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Police_culture%29
content:
<p>
To Prevent Police Brutality, 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/20/prevent-police-brutality-overhaul-police-culture-report">Overhaul
Police Culture</a>.


feed_id: 98754680f23e11727bd543e96ed40d23
title: Iran
uri: 2015-08-23-Iran
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Iran%29
content:
<p>
Chomsky: Iran is 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/20/rogue-states-and-nuclear-dangers">no
strategic threat to other countries</a>, including the US and Israel,
and wouldn't be even if it had nuclear weapons.
<p>
The Iranian government oppresses women and dissidents, though not
quite as badly as US ally Saudi Arabia.  But that doesn't call for
war.


feed_id: b0a4cc4f84747fee78915b8dcd0528b0
title: Prosecution of killer thug
uri: Prosecution-of-killer-thug
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Prosecution_of_killer_thug%29
content:
<p>
The thug that killed Jonathan Ferrell was prosecuted for murder
but the case 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/22/mistrial-officer-randall-kerrick-jonathan-ferrell-familiy-want-new-trial">ended
in a mistrial</a>.


feed_id: 189e85682ffc928f4b3451cbd1a20542
title: Non-rich Britons organize
uri: Non-rich-Britons-organize
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Non-rich_Britons_organize%29
content:
<p>
Abandoned by the Labour Party, and despite repression and reprisals
from landlords, non-rich Britons that rent housing are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global/2015/aug/22/renters-fight-rogue-landlords-rhiannon-lucy-cosslett">organizing
to fight back</a>.


feed_id: dfaac3cac8df5ca4c3438e96411e5c7a
title: Bangladeshi secularists
uri: Bangladeshi-secularists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Bangladeshi_secularists%29
content:
<p>
The Bangladeshi government's 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/22/brutal-fight-of-bangladeshs-secular-voices-to-be-heard">repression</a>
puts secularists at more risk from murderous Islamists.


feed_id: 04886b38f06ef57316db4b00690c3a91
title: Defenders of toxic activities
uri: Defenders-of-toxic-activities
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Defenders_of_toxic_activities%29
content:
<p>
Toxic activities around the US have 
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/32389-greed-dies-hard-in-a-poisoned-land">powerful
defenders</a>.


feed_id: f7a161848948eee6944fe4314e55a65f
title: Seduction labeled as "rape"
uri: Seduction-labeled-as-rape
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Seduction_labeled_as_rape%29
content:
<p>
Seduction is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/22/former-nfl-cheerleader-sentenced-after-pleading-guilty-to-of-15-year-old-boy">labeled
as "rape" to ruin someone's life</a>.
<p>
Teenage boys may know they'd like to have sex, but that doesn't mean
they can stand up to social and family pressure to claim it was a
horrible damaging experience.


feed_id: 4d1a622cbbabb87314ba79077f81bdd2
title: American Red Cross spending
uri: American-Red-Cross-spending
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28American_Red_Cross_spending%29
content:
<p>
The American Red Cross 
<a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/08/17/432262063/in-private-letter-red-cross-tries-to-end-government-inquiry">tried
to prevent a government inquiry</a> into how it has spent its disaster
relief funds.


feed_id: 50469a3d05cfe1e84aec7d70319efb7a
title: Sensitive medical records in computers
uri: Sensitive-medical-records-in-computers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Sensitive_medical_records_in_computers%29

content:
<p>
Sensitive medical records including notes from psychotherapy, when put
into computers, 
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/21/how-mental-health-care-data-may-get-exposed/">become
available to other doctors, to governments, and to employers</a>.


feed_id: ee8597567df22ebfb358de27cecaeb37
title: Body cameras
uri: Body-cameras
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Body_cameras%29
content:
<p>
Should 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/21/dystopian-danger-police-body-cameras">school
principals</a> wear body cameras?
<p>
Thugs' body cameras should have 
<a href="http://www.technologyreview.com/view/539631/controlling-when-the-cameras-record/">automatic
control over when they do, or don't, record</a>, to reduce their
negative effects.
<p>
The same applies to any thugs stationed in schools — but they
should be removed from schools, in order to shut down the
school-to-prison pipeline.
<p>
Perhaps school principals should not wear body cameras, but if they do
have body cameras, those should have automatic control too.  The
proper criteria for recording would be different for principals.


feed_id: b8b33e5fff483fd1dbf7b46af2811329
title: US veterans exposed to toxic chemicals
uri: US-veterans-exposed-to-toxic-chemicals
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28US_veterans_exposed_to_toxic_chemicals%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/21/first-gulf-war-is-still-claiming-victims-among-veterans">1/3
of the US veterans of the 1991 war in Iraq</a> suffer from the effects
of toxic chemicals.


feed_id: a8ecd964cefba73c40cb8c4fa71af6dc
title: Trapped migrants
uri: Trapped-migrants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Trapped_migrants%29
content:
<p>
Thousands of migrants tried to force their way across the border of
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.  They are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/21/crush-reported-as-migrants-try-to-cross-border-between-greece-and-macedonia">trapped
in the no-country's-land</a> between Macedonia and Greece.
<p>
I don't think Macedonia is obligated to allow all these people in.
The problem is in the policies and behavior that sends so many people
fleeing.
<p>
Merkel says the 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/21/angela-merkel-migration-crisis-europes-biggest-challenge">"migration
crisis"</a> will define this decade.  Alas, it will get worse in the
next decade.  One of the causes is the early stages of climate mayhem.
In a few decades, we can expect to see tens of millions of people
trying to flee from regions where they can no longer live.  This has
already touched off the 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#08_March_2015_(Failure_of_agriculture_in_Syria)">Syrian
civil war</a> and brought about 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-sep-dec.html#29_September_2014_(PISSI)">PISSI</a>.  Imagine what will happen as climate mayhem gets worse.
<p>
Another contribution is the global corporate land grab, which 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-sep-dec.html#11_October_2014_(Corporate_land_grabs_and_development)">drives
people off their land leaving them with no way to survive</a>.  That
will get worse, unless we hand those companies a stunning setback (I
hope we do.)
<p>
Then there is overreproduction.  We must end the growth of human
population.  The first step is to 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-may-aug.html#03_July_2013_(Population_growth_and_bad_govt_policies_widen_inequality)">make
reliable birth control and abortion services available gratis to all
women</a>.  If we are lucky, that will be enough.


feed_id: f6c1222d9f2177cff6997fce39c4d556
title: Wildfires
uri: 2015-08-23-Wildfires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Wildfires%29
content:
<p>The US 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/21/us-wildfires-australia-new-zealand-washington">
has asked</a>
 Australia and New Zealand for experienced firefighters
to help fight wildfires that are too now big to handle.
</p>
<p>Australia and New Zealand don't need their firefighters in August,
but their fire season will start soon.</p>
<p>It will be a worse in each of these countries, 10 years from now.  and
it will keep getting worse as long as humans continue extracting and
using fossil fuels.</p>


feed_id: 9b56cf778a3b05558b6eabc6cf077665
title: Robot weapons
uri: 2015-08-23-Robot-weapons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#23_August_2015_%28Robot_weapons%29
content:
<p>One danger of autonomous robot weapons is that 
<a href="http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/cascio20150821">
they will obey</a>
 illegal
orders without question.
But even semi-autonomous weapons, with a human in "ultimate
control", could make it more difficult for humans to refuse illegal
orders.</p>


feed_id: 18bb43be0ca131932bc39329b01cf7a2
title: Urgent: Nuclear deal with Iran
uri: Urgent-Nuclear-deal-with-Iran
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Nuclear_deal_with_Iran%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://moveon.org/ecard/withhold_money/index2.html">tell
Democrats</a> you will refuse to support them if they block the
nuclear deal with Iran.


feed_id: b6fc7bdbfa7ad4ee652e6a8339c33319
title: Urgent: Planned Parenthood funding
uri: Urgent-Planned-Parenthood-funding
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Planned_Parenthood_funding%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/States_Defend_PP">call on
states</a> not to defund Planned Parenthood's health care.


feed_id: 1dbe92e01af99b258a71c9b0e8bad789
title: Israel puts divorce under religious law
uri: Israel-puts-divorce-under-religious-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Israel_puts_divorce_under_religious_law%29

content:
<p>
Israel 
<a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/the-war-on-women-in-israel/">puts
divorce under religious law</a>, and all the religions are more or
less unfair to women.


feed_id: 3692f275cab77b2c401233b66d891835
title: The bailout for Greece's creditors
uri: The-bailout-for-Greece-s-creditors
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28The_bailout_for_Greeces_creditors%29

content:
<p>
The bailout for Greece's creditors 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/aug/19/germany-approves-third-greek-bailout-crisis-over-for-a-couple-of-months">lasts
only until October</a>.  At that point, Greece will fail to jump
through the next hoop, which will serve as the excuse to impose
further suffering.
<p>
But that's what this whole process has been, since the start: Greece
must accept a series of a permanent losses, each one in exchange for a
delay.  In such a process, the sooner you rebel, the better.  It would
have been better for Greece to rebel in 2010.


feed_id: 65737b2dc39e797325553d46f40c0c1e
title: WGBH files bogus DMCA notice
uri: WGBH-files-bogus-DMCA-notice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28WGBH_files_bogus_DMCA_notice%29
content:
<p>
Boston Public Broadcaster WGBH Files 
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150821/16573132031/boston-public-broadcaster-wgbh-files-bogus-dmca-notice-public-domain-video-uploaded-carl-malamud.shtml">Bogus
DMCA Notice On Public Domain Video Uploaded By Carl Malamud</a>.


feed_id: 8f6c0249f3013ebf1be8a9fd47883972
title: Tories, work and pensions
uri: Tories-work-and-pensions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Tories%2C_work_and_pensions%29
content:
<p>
The UK government in charge of work and pensions just 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/aug/23/dwp-seeks-short-term-staff-weeks-after-axing-thousands-of-full-timers">fired
thousands of staff</a>, they hired temporaries to replace them.
<p>
This shows what the Tories want to do to work and pensions.
<p>
The same department wanted to show how unemployed people appreciated
lessons it taught them by leaving them broke for months.  It couldn't
find any real examples, so it 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/19/benefit-sanctions-ruin-lives-dwp-fiction">made
some up</a>.
<p>
It would teach Tories a salutary lesson to make them live with no
money for a year.


feed_id: 9ee3cb1d059d51d569dbab9860236988
title: Total surveillance in Utah in 2002
uri: Total-surveillance-in-Utah-in-2002
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Total_surveillance_in_Utah_in_2002%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/Author/2395">Dubya and Cheney
are being sued</a> for imposing total surveillance in Utah in 2002.


feed_id: b0bf340745b12d74591a5d30117faa14
title: Migrants at Macedonia border
uri: Migrants-at-Macedonia-border
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Migrants_at_Macedonia_border%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/23/migrants-macedonia-border-greece">Migrants
Overwhelm Security Forces at Macedonia Border</a>.


feed_id: e3b946d83600d3ba5638210d78dec0de
title: Islamist militants
uri: Islamist-militants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Islamist_militants%29
content:
<p>
An article about the three recently deceased 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/22/three-americas-great-satans-dead">Islamist
militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan</a>.
<p>
The author describes the Taliban as a "religious, anti drug,
anti-Communist movement," meant I suppose as praise.
<p>
The Taliban may well be opposed to Communism in principle, though it
never actually fought Communism since it was founded after the Soviet
Union had disintegrated.  However, there is worse repression than
post-Stalin Soviet Communism — look at 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#08_July_2015_(Egypt_to_make_disagreement_a_crime)">Egypt</a>,
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-mar-jun.html#19_May_2015_(US_ignores_Saudi_repression)">Saudi
Arabia</a> and
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-sep-dec.html#28_October_2014_(Life_under_the_rule_of_PISSI)">PISSI</a>
today.
<p>
It may have started out anti-drug, but it got involved with opium
production once it took power.  Not that the 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2009-mar-jun.html#10%20April%202009%20(Legalizing%20drugs%20would%20save%20billions)">War
on Drugs</a> is a good thing.
<p>
But it certainly is religious.  That is the worst thing about it.
Islamism means 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#04_July_2014_(Nigerian_Atheist_receives_death_threats)">contempt
for human rights</a>, those of women especially, but also those of
men.


feed_id: c226c283ff06a8d8bedb7b2a54f39512
title: Movie companies' influence on TPP
uri: Movie-companies-influence-on-TPP
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Movie_companies_influence_on_TPP%29

content:
<p>
The negotiators of the TPP (Treacherous Plutocratic Poison) were ready
to consider supporting fair use instead of damaging it — but
then the big movie companies started 
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150818/14190431997/mpaa-throws-hissy-fit-over-ustr-even-thinking-about-expanding-fair-use-tpp.shtml">pushing
the other way in Congress</a>.
<p>
The TPP is meant to attack democracy.  These fights about details
only reinforce the point that we need to kill it, whether before or
after it is signed.


feed_id: 55e9b20e3b06658aa38f618ad471b05b
title: Repression transplant
uri: Repression-transplant
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Repression_transplant%29
content:
<p>
A long interview with Varoufakis, who says that as Tsipras helps
impose so many laws and decisions he considered wrong, he becomes
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/23/yanis-varoufakis-convicted-high-treason-interview-greece-finance-minister-syriza">twisted
into believing in what he is doing</a>.
<p>
It is a fundamental mistake to help a repressive government with the
idea that you will mitigate the repression.  What it tends to do is
transplant the repression into your own heart, as you become a pillar
to support it.


feed_id: eb55d43fb8704dab86c16f994e48d661
title: Restaurants stealing from waiters' tips
uri: Restaurants-stealing-from-waiters-tips
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Restaurants_stealing_from_waiters_tips%29

content:
<p>
Many restaurant chains in the UK 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/aug/23/restaurant-tipping-policy-forces-waiters-to-pay-to-work">regularly
steal from waiters' tips</a>, or make them pay for the privilege of
working.
<p>
I would make it a felony for any individual manager to participate in
imposing such things.


feed_id: 20ee28a5f7258c510dde428100236ec8
title: Thug caught demanding bribe
uri: Thug-caught-demanding-bribe
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Thug_caught_demanding_bribe%29
content:
<p>
A Philadelphia thug was 
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3206559/Police-Video-shows-officer-pressuring-driver-donation.html">caught
on video</a> demanding a bribe (though not personally for himself) in
exchange for not towing a car.


feed_id: bd85783b86ac3cac66480ccba2cc0f11
title: Forest biomes dying
uri: Forest-biomes-dying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Forest_biomes_dying%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/every-forest-biome-on-earth-is-actively-dying-right-now">Every
Forest Biome on Earth Is Actively Dying Right Now</a>.  Due to human
actions.
<p>
It makes a big difference whether we push them one step further or ten
steps further, because each step could be too much for some of them.
It makes a big difference whether the human population peaks at 8
billion, 9 billion or 10 billion.


feed_id: 1fa2c8753d6a66c5bfbec8d63441a856
title: Netanyahu
uri: 2015-08-24-Netanyahu
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Netanyahu%29
content:
<p>
Uri Avnery: "Binyamin Netanyahu is either 
<a href="http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/channels/avnery/1440162397/">incredibly
shrewd or incredibly foolish</a>."
<p>
Or perhaps shrewd in the small and incredibly foolish in the large.


feed_id: 58cd3e57c1a68b178901466c90d1405c
title: Presidential candidates in the press
uri: Presidential-candidates-in-the-press
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Presidential_candidates_in_the_press%29

content:
<p>
Of 
<a href="http://us10.campaign-archive1.com/">two US presidential
candidates whose polling figures are surging</a>, only the arrogant
billionaire interests the press.


feed_id: 271d08c88ea5575a1c86e11456570941
title: Opposition movement in Honduras
uri: Opposition-movement-in-Honduras
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Opposition_movement_in_Honduras%29

content:
<p>
The coup-derived president of Honduras, who won an election apparently
using funds stolen from the state, now confronts a 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/21/honduran-coups-ugly-aftermath">powerful
opposition movement</a>.
<p>
Obama did not say outright that he supported the coup, but there is
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-mar-jun.html#17_May_2012_(Obama_supporting_coup-installed_government_of_Honduras)">plenty
of evidence</a> that the US did back it.


feed_id: 32ae9c193f364d006a063f20c04d9b64
title: Leading a student debt strike
uri: Leading-a-student-debt-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Leading_a_student_debt_strike%29
content:
<p>
Nathan Hornes describes how the for-profit degree mill Everest College
gave him a worthless "education", but 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/21/i-learned-more-leading-student-debt-strike-i-did-college">leading
a student debt strike</a> gave him a real one.


feed_id: 5e3ee0de4ec86b796f368d7527f35d74
title: Society in UK
uri: Society-in-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Society_in_UK%29
content:
<p>A summary of how society in the UK 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/19/baby-boomer-social-mobilty-stupid-lucky">
has changed</a>
 for the worse since the
1970s.
Most of this applies to the US as well.</p>
<p>A considerable amount of this is due to Reagan and 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-mar-jun.html#14_June_2015_%28Thatcher%27s_policies%29">
Thatcher</a>
, and their
right-wing successors in both parties (including Clinton and B'liar).
A considerable amount of this is due to business-dominated
globalization, which was to a large extent intended to produce such
results.
</p>


feed_id: 043d487df88695505c8898044a22cdcb
title: Mexican activists
uri: Mexican-activists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Mexican_activists%29
content:
<p>The Mexican government, or perhaps an allied gang, 
<a href="http://www.wired.com/2015/08/pro-government-twitter-bots-try-hush-mexican-activists/">
is using spambots
to drown out protesters</a>
 on Twitter.
</p>


feed_id: 7f86baa02026bbd1f85ab88b8a6b2d08
title: Students' personal data
uri: Students-personal-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Students%27_personal_data%29
content:
<p>Companies 
<a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/news/surveillance-society/2015/08/20/Surveillance-Society-Students-easy-targets-for-data-miners/stories/201508230018">
are recruiting</a>
 teachers and schools to give them personal
data about lots of students.
</p>
<p>It makes no difference what the companies say about how they will use
the data: merely letting them see it is a violation of the students'
privacy.</p>


feed_id: 98820aab1beb3b4684e88b74c4d8b222
title: Protest in Manhattan
uri: Protest-in-Manhattan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Protest_in_Manhattan%29
content:
<p>Bare-chested protesters marched through Manhattan 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/23/topless-protesters-new-york-times-square">
to protest the prudery of
officials</a>
, who want to ban the body-painted women in Times Square that
offer to pose with other people for a fee.
</p>
<p>As long as they are not pushy to the point where it is difficult to
say no, or hard to pass by, they are not hurting anyone.</p>


feed_id: 9edb885c028682c3115d921754aa10b1
title: Campaign Zero
uri: Campaign-Zero
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Campaign_Zero%29
content:
<p>More about Campaign Zero, which 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/21/campaign-zero-blueprint-ending-police-violence">
aims to end violence by thugs</a>
 in the US.
</p>


feed_id: 1988e3f9baa2158e41c06a5ad9a4cdbe
title: Predation
uri: Predation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Predation%29
content:
<p>In the wild, predation by humans 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/21/armed-advanced-killing-technology-humans-act-planets-super-predators">
is much more intense</a>
 than predation
by nonhuman predators.
</p>


feed_id: b3aff25f2ba9d29cad7c1bdcf1f6075e
title: Church and Money
uri: Church-and-Money
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Church_and_Money%29
content:
<p>Some US "churches" 
<a href="http://www.alternet.org/belief/john-oliver-exposed-mega-church-conmen-how-irs-lets-them-get-away-it">
are</a>
 effectively pyramid schemes which benefit from
tax loopholes and a blind eye from the IRS.
</p>
<p>This perverted form of Christianity says that being rich is a sign
you're going to heaven.  I presume it also says that being a camel is
a sign you can fit through the eye of a needle.</p>
<p>Other perverted US Christians claim that they don't need a conscience
because they are Christians — they say "god won't let me do
anything wrong."</p>


feed_id: 4963e6c6f04e745491a59a07ac4f9954
title: Corporate welfare
uri: Corporate-welfare
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Corporate_welfare%29
content:
<p>"Corporate welfare 
<a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/robert-reich-corporate-welfare-ravaging-american-taxpayers">
is often camouflaged in taxes</a>
 that seem neutral on 
their face but give windfalls to big entrenched corporations at the 
expense of average people and small businesses."
</p>


feed_id: dfb6633821d00671d9e196d9199b723b
title: Jury nullification
uri: 2015-08-24-Jury-nullification
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Jury_nullification%29
content:
<p>
Activists of the Fully Informed Jury Association 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2015/08/18/jury-nullification-activists-sue-denver">are 
suing</a> to establish that they won't be charged with felonies for
handing out the organization's pamphlets about jury nullification.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://fija.org">Jury nullification</a> is the reason we
have juries: to hamper the state from imprisoning people based on laws
that most people disagree with.  This can be used for ill — for
instance, jurors can acquit a thug charged with killing a black person
because they are racist, or even for killing a non-black person if
they have swallowed the myth that thugs are our heroes.  Nonetheless,
jury nullification is a vital safeguard of liberty.</p>


feed_id: 2a53ee8d4375031f53d1917fefa8ac7d
title: Human rights and corporations
uri: Human-rights-and-corporations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Human_rights_and_corporations%29
content:
<p>The Court of Appeals of the First Circuit ruled that corporations
can't be required to inform people about their use of conflict
minerals, or basically anything, 
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/20/know-else-required-corporations-disclose-whether-use-conflict-minerals/">
because it violates their "human
rights"</a>
.
</p>
<p>We need to adopt the proposed constitutional amendment that human
rights do not apply to corporations.</p>


feed_id: 466b652068ed51a7568882350d1ea5cc
title: Poverty and overpopulation
uri: Poverty-and-overpopulation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_%28Poverty_and_overpopulation%29
content:
<p>The idea of "unworthy poor", who are poor through laziness, 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/20/our-perceptions-about-unworthy-poor-havent-changed">
provides
an excuse</a>
 to harden hearts towards people that society has swept into
poverty by piling on more obstacles than they can handle.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-mar-jun.html#15_June_2015_%28Human_population_growth%29">
Reducing the human birth rate</a>
 should be a global priority, and that
calls for giving all women reliable birth control (which, not by
coincidence, requires no cooperation from their lovers).
</p>


feed_id: fe6a74ec6457bfdbe4635b63ac613667
title: Urgent: Support the Revolving Door Act
uri: Urgent-Support-the-Revolving-Door-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_RevolvingDoor
content:
<p>US citizens: <a href="http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/congress-lobbying-ban/">support the Revolving Door Act</a> that would ban
ex-congresscritters from becoming lobbyists.</p>


feed_id: 2815635db9121bacda1fb9578fb7c42b
title: Freed Poltical Prisoners
uri: Freed-Poltical-Prisoners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_freed_political_prisoners
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/24/belarus-president-lukashenko-pardons-six-jailed-opposition-figures">Belarus has freed some important political prisoners.</a></p><p></p>
<p>It is a step, but only a step, towards reduced tyranny.</p>


feed_id: b207d0cb841cdb5a43c34e11b907f706
title: Cluster Bombs
uri: Cluster-Bombs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_cluster_bombs
content:
<p>Saudi Arabia is <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/22/us-provides-cover-use-banned-cluster-bombs-yemen">dropping cluster bombs in Yemen.</a></p>


feed_id: c561507dc45c8aee87216b3884afa551
title: Irradiating food
uri: Irradiating-food
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_irradiating_food
content:
<p>It's too bad people are <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2015/05/food-irradiation">afraid of irradiating food to kill
germs and parasites.</a></p>


feed_id: 7b8d892d61f716f117ad0298bf18f921
title: Today's unchecked form of capitalism
uri: Today-s-unchecked-form-of-capitalism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#25_August_2015_%28Todays_unchecked_form_of_capitalism%29

content:
<p>
Today's 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/24/evidence-keeps-pouring-capitalism-just-isnt-working">unchecked
form of capitalism</a> allows the invisible hand to crush people and
toss their corpses on the scrap heap.
<p>
The capitalism that the US had in 1970 was much better than the kind
we have today.  Thus, I don't conclude that any whiff of capitalism is
bad, the way Ayn Rand thought about community.  Rather, I say that
capitalism must be compensated by community, and effectively regulated
by democracy.


feed_id: 1a5140e9bb1d8a9762607f55ab566b88
title: Treated if white, punished if black
uri: Treated-if-white-punished-if-black
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#25_August_2015_%28Treated_if_white%2C_punished_if_black%29

content:
<p>
In the US, troubled kids are treated if they are white — and
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/24/troubled-kids-treated-if-white-punished-if-black">punished
if they are black</a>.  A court will consider whether this is illegal.
<p>
Evidently the system is racist, but why?  The people who decide how to
deal with these children might be bigots.  Or they might unconsciously
make biased decisions, influenced by the child's race.  Or they may
judge some students harshly because of secondary characteristics that
in fact are correlated with race.
<p>
Or perhaps the schools black kids attend tend to be underfunded,
desperate, and harsh.


feed_id: 4b08002b30d6eeaa08ee1deaef0a5aa8
title: Giving real names to digital services
uri: Giving-real-names-to-digital-services
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#25_August_2015_%28Giving_real_names_to_digital_services%29

content:
<p>
Was it 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2015/aug/24/ashley-madison-hack-victims-deserve-punished">stupid
to make an account on Ashley Madison</a>?
<p>
Yes, it was — but not because of that site's specific service.
It is stupid in general to make an account on a digital service and
give your name, unless it is for posting statements for publication.
<p>
(If the service <em>requires</em> people to give their real names, it
is dangerous in other ways.)


feed_id: 7554000fef3d90fdbfdea271170a790e
title: Global heating and fires
uri: Global-heating-and-fires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#25_August_2015_%28Global_heating_and_fires%29
content:
<p>
US firefighters say global heating has made for 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/24/firefighters-climate-change-drought">fires
like nothing they have seen before</a>.
<p>
In 20 years, the fires will be like nothing seen today.


feed_id: ceebb5943ce733a63f500f7c65eb525e
title: New Orleans
uri: 2015-08-25-New-Orleans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#25_August_2015_%28New_Orleans%29
content:
<p>
A 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/aug/24/new-orleans-hurricane-katrina-louisiana-wetlands-modern-atlantis">megaproject</a>
is being considered to allow the Mississippi to once again feed
sediment into the wetlands south of New Orleans.
<p>
This might work if the city only had to cope with the local problems
that the article mentions.  It might perhaps suffice for 50 years.  It
can't possibly cope with the 6 meters of sea level rise predicted for
the 21st century if we don't cut global heating short.


feed_id: ed70e976baecc75da51919a02973d8b9
title: Urgent: Endangered Species Act
uri: 2015-08-25-Urgent-Endangered-Species-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#25_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Endangered_Species_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2975">call
on Congress</a> to protect the Endangered Species Act.


feed_id: ae8d0a981b3da6c0c8ffb9193cacf4a6
title: Urgent: Divest from fossil fuels
uri: Urgent-Divest-from-fossil-fuels
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#25_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Divest_from_fossil_fuels%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="http://gofossilfree.org/museums/">call on major US science
museums</a> to divest from fossil fuels.


feed_id: 364cd8bcddf2b20d95a6b9b0abec2e1d
title: Technology and insufficient jobs
uri: Technology-and-insufficient-jobs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#25_August_2015_%28Technology_and_insufficient_jobs%29

content:
<p>
For over a century, technology created many new jobs, which typically
were more productive and were better paid than the old jobs that were
eliminated.
<p>
But this hasn't been true 
<a href="http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/santens20150819">since
1990 or so</a>.
<p>
Nowadays, the new jobs are mostly low-skill jobs, and low-paid.
<p>
But nowadays, with insufficient jobs, workers 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_July_2015_(Income_inequality)">don't
get raises even when their productivity increases</a>.  That's because
employers can <em>get away</em> with not giving raises.  They keep the
benefit of the workers' increase productivity for themselves.
<p>
The 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/24/upsurge-uncertain-work">uncertainty
of today's temporary, subcontracted and irregular employment</a>
imposes stress on many American workers.
<p>
This stress is especially bad for those who are paid little and thus
always at the edge.  My income is irregular, but I don't worry much if
some months go by and no speech gives me a fee.  Millions of Americans
could go hungry if they get too few hours.
<p>
The article recommends a solution of imposing welfare systems on
whichever employer pays more than half of a worker's income, but there
may not be any such employer, and and if there is, it might be
different from week to week.  Instead of placing the load for a
worker's welfare support on that one employer, I suggest we disconnect
welfare systems from employment, and make companies pay for them
through taxes that are unrelated to how many workers they employ.
<p>
That would, as a side benefit, remove one incentive to replace human
workers with automation.


feed_id: e6286e7e1bf2be9a90368a4de1a8cf11
title: Global heating denial
uri: 2015-08-26-Global-heating-denial
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Global_heating_denial%29
content:
<p>
A project to replicate and check the scientific publications of the
few scientists that deny anthropogenic global heating found 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2015/aug/25/heres-what-happens-when-you-try-to-replicate-climate-contrarian-papers">gross
errors in them</a>.


feed_id: fb1dc88045a8b16ac80e78e4804b844f
title: "Sexual harassment" or risqué hack?
uri: Sexual-harassment-or-risqué-hack
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Sexual_harassment_or_risque_hack%29

content:
<p>
"Sexual harassment", or 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/25/us-university-suspends-fraternity-over-sexually-suggestive-banners">amusing
risqué hack</a>?
<p>
While I can see why the university didn't like this, I don't believe
this public non-threatening joke should be considered "harassment",
much less an "assault".


feed_id: 355aa0d1403782e32a31420c9a3210a6
title: Whales hurt by blasting noises in ocean
uri: Whales-hurt-by-blasting-noises-in-ocean
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Whales_hurt_by_blasting_noises_in_ocean%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/24/seismic-blasting-pursuit-oil-puts-whales-risk-report-confirms">Increasing
evidence</a> that blasting loud noises from the top of the ocean down
into the ocean floor is very bad for whales.


feed_id: e22333ea014e717f3588b84308043bed
title: Man with spoon shot by thug
uri: Man-with-spoon-shot-by-thug
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Man_with_spoon_shot_by_thug%29
content:
<p>
A thug in Alabama felt so "threatened" by a man wielding a big spoon
that he 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/24/alabama-man-spoon-killed-police">shot
him dead</a>.


feed_id: 6dda823239b6e6784bde55d5290da144
title: Deforestation
uri: 2015-08-26-Deforestation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Deforestation%29
content:
<p>
If deforestation continues at its current rates, by 2050 tropical
forests 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/25/tropical-forests-totalling-size-of-india-at-risk-of-being-cleared-study-warns">equal
to the size of India</a> will be destroyed.
<p>
This will cause extinction of many species as well as contributing
greatly to global heating.


feed_id: bd069b76f6b791feeb46916eb8387ac1
title: Great Barrier Reef species endangered
uri: Great-Barrier-Reef-species-endangered
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Great_Barrier_Reef_species_endangered%29

content:
<p>
Heating especially endangers the 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/25/great-barrier-reef-climate-change-is-biggest-threat-to-native-species-study">unique
endemic species of the Great Barrier Reef</a>.


feed_id: 4e7389c7c139f340d13b6a9b286fae16
title: Windows spying
uri: Windows-spying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Windows_spying%29
content:
<p>
Now that Windows 10 admittedly spies on its users, Microsoft is
<a href="http://www.hakspek.com/security/updates-make-windows-7-and-8-spy-on-you-like-windows-10/">downgrading
Windows 7 and 8 to spy the same way</a>.


feed_id: c8ddc7a5e0698d96d8a4e937b083acdb
title: New elections in Turkey
uri: New-elections-in-Turkey
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28New_elections_in_Turkey%29
content:
<p>
As expected, Turkey will have 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/24/turkey-president-new-election-government-deadline">new
elections</a>.
<p>
Some suspect the reason for renewed attacks on separatist Kurds is to
try to reduce the vote of the originally-Kurdish human rights HD
party.


feed_id: 2cbfc05c5392a83835cd40efb6262191
title: The fires in Washington state
uri: The-fires-in-Washington-state
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28The_fires_in_Washington_state%29
content:
<p>
Fire fueled by drought, in turn caused by global heating, is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/24/omak-washington-wildfires-state-of-emergency">burning
up Washington state</a>.
<p>
One fire complex now covers 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/24/washington-wildfires-okanogan-complex">400
square miles</a>, larger than New York City.
<p>
The Koch brothers are 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2010-mar-jun.html#1%20April%202010%20(All%20about%20Koch%20oil)">spending
millions to make sure this keeps getting worse</a>.


feed_id: beacf2453ffe9a3761217dcd9f0c7a30
title: How thugs get journalists fired
uri: How-thugs-get-journalists-fired
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28How_thugs_get_journalists_fired%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/aug/24/los-angeles-times-cartoonist-ted-rall-fired-edward-snowden-book">Ted
Rall's case</a> shows how easy it is for thugs to get journalists
fired, when news outlets are cowards.


feed_id: ef9ee040bb83f70646e864bee2eee2b5
title: Helping mining companies plunder Africa
uri: Helping-mining-companies-plunder-Africa
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Helping_mining_companies_plunder_Africa%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/24/how-harper-government-has-helped-mining-companies-plunder-africa">How
the Harper Government [in Canada] has Helped Mining Companies Plunder
Africa</a>.


feed_id: 2a34a5c8f7030f9954da7db9ab612063
title: Salim Alaradi
uri: Salim-Alaradi
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Salim_Alaradi%29
content:
<p>Salim Alaradi 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/25/canada-man-detained-tortured-united-arab-emirates">
has bee imprisoned without charges and tortured</a>
 in the
United Arab Emirates for about a year now.
</p>


feed_id: 579c247957f36c7995b4f64afc89eaae
title: Uranium mining
uri: Uranium-mining
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Uranium_mining%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/25/uranium-mining-grand-canyon-groundwater-contamination">
Claims</a>
 that uranium mining near the Grand Canyon would not pollute the water
are wishful thinking, not science.
</p>


feed_id: 3a853b29c29b694a226921263bccc5a7
title: Steve-O
uri: Steve-O
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Steve-O%29
content:
<p>Los Angeles wants protester Steve-O 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/25/jackass-steve-o-criminal-charges-seaworld-sucks-protest">
to pay the cost of its irrational
reaction to his protest</a>
 against SeaWorld.
</p>
<p>I don't know what sort of fireworks he used.  If they were large and
dangerous, that could justify prosecution.  If they were firecrackers
such as people light on July 4, those charges are bogus excuses.</p>
<p>The other charges don't justify much either.</p>


feed_id: 7b4caa8427e2e5958b940fe797d7460d
title: Nigeria
uri: Nigeria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Nigeria%29
content:
<p>Parts of Nigeria 
<a href="http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/igwe20150825">
repress</a>
 non-Muslims and terrify ex-Muslims; others
harass non-Christians.  Secularists have plenty of work to do.
</p>


feed_id: f0186f8235f4054f3a2ca214d35cfb9a
title: UK thugs
uri: 2015-08-26-UK-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28UK_thugs%29
content:
<p>UK thugs 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/25/iran-is-great-van-metropolitan-police-ivan-family">
refuse</a>
 to compensate the owners of the van that they
vandalized.  They considered it suspect for no valid reason, only
because of the painted slogan, "Iran is Great".
</p>
<p>The van belongs to a family that was delighted by the welcome they
received when they visited Iran.</p>


feed_id: 10aa10145e6d2d141b3d11345d5d6a01
title: Government spying
uri: Government-spying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Government_spying%29
content:
<p>Canadians 
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/08/22/social_media_driving_change_in_canada/">
have become incensed</a>
 at government spying on protest movements.
</p>


feed_id: 30be1f5a85a5d5ed0fd9f68e35f4286f
title: Thugs
uri: 2015-08-26-Thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Thugs%29
content:
<p>Eight thugs 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/25/eight-south-african-policemen-guilty-of-murdering-taxi-driver">
were <em>convicted of murdering</em> a man</a>
 that they
dragged from their thugmobile.
</p>
<p>This was in South Africa.  I wish the US could manage to convict
murderous thugs.</p>


feed_id: b8144c2caef91f72d0e28b23f45882e8
title: Debt
uri: Debt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Debt%29
content:
<p>The argument for 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/24/dont-owe-wont-pay-everything-youve-been-told-about-debt-wrong">
eliminating</a>
 odious debt.
</p>


feed_id: 9d36f6215ad801dfb900d042302a67e6
title: Oleg Sentsov
uri: Oleg-Sentsov
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Oleg_Sentsov%29
content:
<p>Read protester 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/25/ukrainian-film-maker-jailed-oleg-sentsov-20-years-speech">
Oleg Sentsov's speech</a>
 to the Russian show trial, just
before it sentenced him to 20 years in prison for imaginary
"terrorism".
</p>


feed_id: 5bd31ad028c44f1df5361abe5dc7e3cd
title: Carbon emissions
uri: Carbon-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Carbon_emissions%29
content:
<p>The Kyoto Protocol's carbon emissions trading scheme has been gamed
so much that 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/24/kyoto-protocols-carbon-credit-scheme-increased-emissions-by-600m-tonnes">
it has allowed</a>
 a big increase in emissions.
</p>
<p>This is why I think we need to impose a tax on emissions rather than
a trading scheme.</p>


feed_id: b04e407f06575ffd27d9f37194aba00e
title: NHS
uri: NHS
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28NHS%29
content:
<p>The UK's NHS, even starved of funds by Tories that want to ruin it,
still 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/25/gp-appointment-waiting-times-in-us-worse-than-nhs">
lets patients see their doctor sooner than many private
insurance plans in the US</a>
.
</p>


feed_id: 57a05c004c7ca303adbe06be20e8407f
title: Palmyra
uri: 2015-08-26-Palmyra
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Palmyra%29
content:
<p>PISSI 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/24/palmyra-destruction-ancient-temple-baal-shamin-war-crime-un-isis">
has destroyed</a>
 a unique temple in Palmyra.
</p>
<p>If you are part of European or Middle Eastern culture, PISSI is
attacking your history.  This alone would be enough to justify the war
to defeat PISSI — but only if it is fought in a legitimate way
and has a chance of winning.</p>
<p>The only way I can see that has any chance of winning is to support
the Kurds.</p>


feed_id: 74f0f25590a101e48ffea71a245f61b0
title: Israel endorses torture
uri: Israel-endorses-torture
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Israel_endorses_torture%29
content:
<p>
By legalizing force-feeding of prisoners, especially prisoners not
charged with any crime, Israel
<a href="http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=69882">endorses
torture</a> and follows the bad example of the US.


feed_id: 466315d853e814cb6acd545ac38144e6
title: Israel continues ethnic cleansing
uri: Israel-continues-ethnic-cleansing
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Israel_continues_ethnic_cleansing%29

content:
<p>
Israel continues its gradual ethnic cleansing of certain areas in
Palestine by 
<a href="http://m.btselem.org/planning_and_building/20150820_jordan_valley_demolitions">demolishing
the homes of Palestinians</a>.


feed_id: e52fb686e760e89f8ef1dc0df12830b6
title: Visits to Palestine
uri: Visits-to-Palestine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Visits_to_Palestine%29
content:
<p>
US citizens trying to visit Palestine are 
<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/civil-rights/251680-us-passports-scoffed-at-by-israel-us-stands-by">regularly
blocked by Israel if they are of Palestinian origin</a>.
<p>
In fact, many countries do not recognize dual citizenship; US citizens
that have citizenship in those countries are treated simply as natives.
Israel's actions in this regard are not unusual.
<p>
But that doesn't excuse Israel' harsh and gratuitous policy.


feed_id: 77028f66f565af30c598fb9a5e5e58e4
title: Urgent: Investigations of NSA spying
uri: Urgent-Investigations-of-NSA-spying
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Investigations_of_NSA_spying%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/obama_att_nsa">call on
Obama</a> to tell us how AT&T helped the NSA, and stop interfering
with investigations of NSA spying on us.


feed_id: ee0cceb9804b8a530cfbc3d69a94af91
title: War on sex education
uri: War-on-sex-education
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28War_on_sex_education%29
content:
<p>
Arizona's 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/22/1414551/-Arizona-school-district-requires-students-to-paste-anti-abortion-sticker-in-science-textbook">war
on sex education</a> is ridiculous, but very effective — at
encouraging teenagers to get pregnant.


feed_id: 5849ea84d1f1dfcd0021bd2f661c90cb
title: Guantanamo prisoners
uri: 2015-08-27-Guantanamo-prisoners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Guantanamo_prisoners%29
content:
<p>
Most of the prisoners in Guantanamo were captured by Afghan warlords
and
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/25/revealed-most-guantanamo-detainees-captured-warlords-not-us-military">sold
to the US for a bounty</a>.  Even in the cases where there is an
accusation with real evidence against some of the prisoners, it is
hard to trust it.


feed_id: 208b18be47472d70fe0c0b5116fa0b74
title: Thug found guilty for mass arrests
uri: Thug-found-guilty-for-mass-arrests
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Thug_found_guilty_for_mass_arrests%29

content:
<p>
Canadian [thug] Found Guilty for 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/25/canadian-officer-found-guilty-mass-arrests-during-g20-crackdown">Mass
Arrests During G20 Crackdown</a>.


feed_id: 3ac88d8f49b36eefb5040292a522a8c2
title: Poverty
uri: Poverty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Poverty%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/25/what-if-we-reported-poverty-way-we-report-stock-market">What
If We Reported On Poverty The Way We Report On The Stock Market?</a>


feed_id: 359dd5f426394f8a5e555332feb227f8
title: Global heating now visible
uri: Global-heating-now-visible
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Global_heating_now_visible%29
content:
<p>
To see global heating, you don't need a climate model any more.  It is
visible already in patterns of 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/26/bushfires-heatwaves-and-early-deaths-the-climate-is-changing-before-our-eyes">weather,
fire, illness and death</a>.
<p>
Why, then, do so many stubbornly refuse to see it?  Increasingly we
learn that they have been paid not to see it.


feed_id: f74b7b7571c88acdc22182d11141ab58
title: Harassment of climate scientist
uri: Harassment-of-climate-scientist
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Harassment_of_climate_scientist%29

content:
<p>
Christopher Horner, who relentlessly harasses climate scientists, is
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/25/chris-horner-coal/">funded
by the fossil fool industry</a>.


feed_id: d53c2a68b839ca0bad2742666b2aa67a
title: Sneaky, indirect funding for Republicans
uri: Sneaky-indirect-funding-for-Republicans
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Sneaky%2C_indirect_funding_for_Republicans%29

content:
<p>
A now-bankrupt coal company
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/25/coal-giant-bankruptcy-reveals-secret-ties-republican-dark-money-groups/">gave
money sneakily and indirectly</a> to many fossil fool Republican
candidates in 2014.


feed_id: ccd502e1026b2925d582b07d5c94742a
title: Stolen Palestinian Land
uri: Stolen-Palestinian-Land
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Real_Estate_Profits_from_stolen_land%29

content:
<p><a href="https://electronicintifada.net/content/how-global-real-estate-giant-remax-profits-stolen-palestinian-land/14765">How Global Real Estate Giant RE/MAX Profits from Stolen Palestinian Land.</a></p>


feed_id: e2f344ffc6e1d1270df50f3d5d67b681
title: Urgent: Call on SoulCycle
uri: Urgent-Call-on-SoulCycle
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28call_on_SoulCycle%29
content:
<p>Everyone: <a href="http://action.sumofus.org/a/soulcycle-goldman-sachs/?akid=12970.881131.4B5MuZ&rd=1&sub=fwd&t=1002">call on SoulCycle not to use Goldman Sachs for its IPO.</a></p>


feed_id: 793e3178e5ab92c51d5f383392851ad3
title: The Corruption Party
uri: The-Corruption-Party
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Tories_Selling_Opportunitys_to_meet_with_ministers%29

content:
<p>The Tories are <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/aug/26/conservatives-offer-day-of-special-access-to-ministers-for-2500">openly selling opportunities to meet with ministers,</a> for campaign funds.</p><p></p>
<p>
It might as well be called the Corruption Party.
</p>


feed_id: 518c79f83d7084f829f9de3647a8551f
title: Germany GMO ban
uri: Germany-GMO-ban
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Germany_Bans_GMO%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/25/answering-resistance-all-sides-germany-moves-ban-gmo-crops">Germany has banned GMO crops.</a></p>


feed_id: 2d167c7f8b64c0a932e0fafd109fe8ca
title: Deforestation
uri: 2015-08-27-Deforestation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#26_August_2015_%28Deforestation%29
content:
<p>
If deforestation continues at its current rates, by 2050 tropical
forests 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/25/tropical-forests-totalling-size-of-india-at-risk-of-being-cleared-study-warns">equal
to the size of India</a> will be destroyed.
<p>
This will cause extinction of many species as well as contributing
greatly to global heating.
<p>
Preserving forests is 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/24/cutting-tropical-deforestation-key-curbing-climate-change-and-its-cheap">crucial 
for limiting global heating</a>.


feed_id: 6b8f9bf6af2895182e38e8fec512bb46
title: Sea level rising
uri: Sea-level-rising
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Sea_level_rising%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/27/global-sea-levels-have-climbed-8cm-since-1992-nasa-research-shows">Sea level has risen 8cm since 1992;</a> probably it will rise almost a meter in this century, due to global heating.</p>
<p>It will rise a lot more in the following century.</p>


feed_id: b3a2d605bc699c9969efd132adc49efd
title: Neonicotinoids harm bees
uri: Neonicotinoids-harm-bees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Neonicotinoids_harm_bees%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/26/banned-pesticides-pose-a-greater-risk-to-bees-than-thought-eu-experts-warn">Spraying neonicotinoids on leaves</a> has been shown to harm bees.</p>
<p>We already knew that treating seeds with those same pesticides harms
bees.</p>


feed_id: 8abab9bc8fd57c455d02d502e2d1f4f5
title: Birthright citizenship
uri: Birthright-citizenship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Birthright_citizenship%29
content:
<p>To see what would happen if the US <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/08/donald-trump-immigration-birthright-citizenship">eliminated birthright citizenship,</a> look at the <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-mar-jun.html#22_June_2015_(Dominican_Republic)">Dominican Republic.</a></p>


feed_id: e375e952ad6ecc2880f6b9c1e2f3679a
title: Golden parachutes
uri: Golden-parachutes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Golden_parachutes%29
content:
<p>Clinton is <a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/26/progressives-demand-answers-clinton-golden-parachutes-wall-streeters-turned-government-officials/">reluctant to endorse</a> Senator Warren's bill to ban "golden parachutes" for company employees moving to government jobs.</p>
<p>The reason for this is clear: she knows she will be expected to
appoint people to important positions who are receiving such payments
that are equivalent in effect to bribes.</p>
<p>No matter what Clinton may say now, her past shows that she is in bed
with arrogant business, just as Obama is.  I am certainly not voting
for her.</p>


feed_id: 2348a5ca0f7b6717163f70b843b2cfca
title: Records about use of GMOs
uri: Records-about-use-of-GMOs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Records_about_use_of_GMOs%29
content:
<p>The Department of Agriculture helps GMOs by <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/08/26/center-food-safety-sues-department-agriculture-withholding-genetically">ignoring requests</a> for public records about use of GMOs.</p>


feed_id: 8e0f433f29d19191066d8d6c0b79030a
title: Urgent: Diplomacy with Iran
uri: 2015-08-27-Urgent-Diplomacy-with-Iran
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Diplomacy_with_Iran%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/iran_vp">Call on Democratic
presidential candidates</a> to pledge to choose a VP candidate that
supports diplomacy with Iran.


feed_id: cd9563a4eaa32f2c0ce3518820ade345
title: Unjustly imprisoned Britons in UAE
uri: Unjustly-imprisoned-Britons-in-UAE
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Unjustly_imprisoned_Britons_in_UAE%29

content:
<p>
Thugs of the United Arab Emirates tortured Ahmad Zeidan into
confessing to possession of drugs, which were in the glove compartment
of the car he was riding in.  He signed a confession in Arabic that he
could not read.  Everyone in the car was 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/26/uk-citizen-imprisoned-uae-british-government-no-help">convicted
together</a>.
<p>
All the others, who were not British, have been pardoned and released.
He thinks the UK government is more interested in selling arms to the
UAE than in pleading for unjustly imprisoned Britons.
<p>
I don't intend to visit the UAE, because no one is safe there from
wild accusations and torture.  Zeidan says he doesn't blame the emir
whose thugs did this — he probably fears to criticize —
but I am safe outside the UAE and I do blame the emir.


feed_id: 2787d436335b868d833c48c17d7319ba
title: Continuation of works of art
uri: Continuation-of-works-of-art
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Continuation_of_works_of_art%29
content:
<p>
Comparing publication of two books by dead authors: the last Discworld
book written by Terry Pratchett, and a Lisbeth Salander book 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/aug/26/final-discworld-novel-stieg-larsson-sequel-release-terry-pratchett-girl-in-the-spiders-web">written
by someone other than Stieg Larsson</a>.
<p>
I urge you to resist the marketing hype associated with these books.
You might want to get them, but hype should not be rewarded.
<p>
I am mostly not a fan of Pratchett.  I thought Small Gods was very
good, but the other few Pratchett books I've read did not especially
impress me.  However, I am impressed by the stance of Pratchett's
daughter towards honoring his memory.
<p>
By contrast, Stieg Larsson's family seems to be behaving in a sleazy
manner.  It seems that his mate really loved him but his relatives
love his money-making potential more.
<p>
This illustrates the important difference between works of practical
use, such as software, and works of art.  It is a very good thing that
others now continue the development of the GNU programs that I
initially wrote.  Their work is useful; they add features and fix
problems.  Whether their style is similar to mine is hardly worth
thinking about.
<p>
But it is foolish to hope that someone else, even someone talented and
skilled, can continue the work of a dead author of fiction.


feed_id: a6bcf8e9adad970f0ecb57cbc67bb183
title: Condemnation of bigotries
uri: Condemnation-of-bigotries
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Condemnation_of_bigotries%29
content:
<p>
We who condemn Israel's occupation of Palestine
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/26/antisemitism-left-racism-israel">must
strongly condemn antisemitism too</a>.
<p>
In addition to being the right thing to do, because all bigotries are
unjust, it also refutes the nasty claim that condemnation of the
occupation is antisemitism itself.
<p>
To distinguish them clearly is why I speak of AIPAC as the "Israeli
hawks' lobby".  Not all Israelis support that position, and most
American Jews do not support it any more.
<p>
By the way, when I condemn bigotry against gays, I do not call it by
the tendentious term "homophobia".  I call it "bigotry against gays".
We should accuse bigots of bigotry, not a hypothetical fear.


feed_id: 9d021031671430e04c71c778181a4a14
title: Right-wing attempt to take over Hugo awards
uri: Right-wing-attempt-to-take-over-Hugo-awards
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Right-wing_attempt_to_take_over_Hugo_awards%29

content:
<p>
The right-wing attempt to take over the Hugo awards by 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/aug/26/george-rr-martin-relieved-after-sad-puppies-hugo-awards-defeat">bloc
voting</a> has failed.
<p>
I hope they will give it up rather than continue ruining the Hugo
awards.
<p>
I must acknowledge, even though I disagree with his politics, that
John C Wright has written some great science fiction.


feed_id: 77d7a77de10ad511d0e6a5ece65e1344
title: US surveillance of Japanese officials
uri: US-surveillance-of-Japanese-officials
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28US_surveillance_of_Japanese_officials%29

content:
<p>
Obama apologized to Japanese premier Abe for the 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/26/obama-calls-japan-regret-for-wikileaks-spying">inconvenience
caused by revelations</a> of US surveillance of Japanese trade
negotiators.
<p>
Obama did not, it appears, apologize for spying on them.


feed_id: 012d67c283731c789fb9d1653f76d37e
title: How thugs deal with the mentally ill
uri: How-thugs-deal-with-the-mentally-ill
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28How_thugs_deal_with_the_mentally_ill%29

content:
<p>
US thugs don't know how to deal with the mentally ill, and often end up
<a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/25/what-we-dont-know-policing-race-mental-illness/">killing
them</a>, skipping many other options.


feed_id: 978164db1662f5570a2ded7152fe7f99
title: Self-driving cars with remote control
uri: Self-driving-cars-with-remote-control
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Self-driving_cars_with_remote_control%29

content:
<p>
Self-driving cars may do more than report on their passengers; 
<a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2015/08/24/rand_report_self_driving_cars_could_give_police_new_powers.html">thugs
may be able to direct them by remote control</a>.


feed_id: 35a6968c3e85ea4e66111d31045c2bc2
title: LA Times' "independent" education project
uri: LA-Times-independent-education-project
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28LA_Times_independent_education_project%29

content:
<p>
LA Times' 'Independent' Education Project 
<a href="http://us10.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8c573daa3ad72f4a095505b58&id=e6510801e1">Bankrolled
by Charter School Backers</a>.


feed_id: a79f958a342362458973e4d6025d5de5
title: Urgent: Protecting Honest Fishermen Act
uri: Urgent-Protecting-Honest-Fishermen-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Protecting_Honest_Fishermen_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.oceana.org/sign/congress_honest-fisherman-act_2015">call
on your congresscritter</a> to cosponsor the Protecting Honest
Fishermen Act of 2015.


feed_id: feac00331ab606f6f48f7608d17b4f10
title: Anticorruption protest rally in Malaysia
uri: Anticorruption-protest-rally-in-Malaysia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Anticorruption_protest_rally_in_Malaysia%29

content:
<p>
Malaysia 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/aug/27/ngo-alert-malaysia-government-blocks-internet-and-threatens-to-send-army-against-rally">threatens
to crush an anticorruption protest rally</a> with the army, after
blocking access to the web sites that promote it.
<p>
Malaysia is one of the countries I will no longer visit
because it demands fingerprints from visitors.


feed_id: fc4aab031cc9b264f1aed7e89f47a0b2
title: Peace deal in South Sudan
uri: Peace-deal-in-South-Sudan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Peace_deal_in_South_Sudan%29
content:
<p>
The warring tribal factions in South Sudan have signed another peace deal,
but one 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/27/south-sudan-peace-deal-greeted-with-quiet-optimism-by-humanitarian-world">cannot
be confident it will hold</a>.


feed_id: 6384f0ea0cf8bf7aba26192dbf4565b5
title: Ukraine debt "restructuring"
uri: Ukraine-debt-restructuring
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Ukraine_debt_restructuring%29
content:
<p>
Ukraine has received debt "restructuring", which means it
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/27/ukraine-agrees-win-win-debt-restructuring-deal">can
pay later and less</a>.
<p>
Contrast with Greece.


feed_id: 0d9872cf5b790b68f69d76d0774dd10e
title: Requiring ID to attend events
uri: Requiring-ID-to-attend-events
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Requiring_ID_to_attend_events%29
content:
<p>
Banksy, whose work famously criticizes surveillance, is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/aug/27/banksy-dismaland-identification-ticket-touts">demanding
visitors to his theme show present their IDs</a>.
<p>
The article does not say so, but it seems clear that people are
required to give their names to buy a ticket.  That in itself is
wrong.
<p>
When event organizers ask their attendees to identify themselves, they
participate in constructing a society of total surveillance.  That is
why the Free Software Foundation welcomes people to attend its events
anonymously, paying cash on arrival.  <em>All</em> events have a moral
obligation to do this.
<p>
If an event which is open to the general public asks you to identify
yourself, for freedom's sake insist they stop contributing to mass
surveillance.


feed_id: 520e20dd3d76ce73642b964823000047
title: Death penalty
uri: 2015-08-28-Death-penalty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Death_penalty%29
content:
<p>
Only 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/27/death-penalty-people-executed-capital-punishment">37
countries</a> still use the death penalty, but some of them are going
at it like vicious demons.


feed_id: a2ed40b12d31a32648c45187814840de
title: Victorian hang-ups
uri: Victorian-hang-ups
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Victorian_hang-ups%29
content:
<p>
Raising Your Child with Victorian Hang-Ups: a 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2015/aug/27/raising-children-victorian-hang-ups-parenting-psychology">Guide
for Parents</a>.


feed_id: b48926958dff078d6ffe37237670f392
title: Israel trying to block opera's visit to Iran
uri: Israel-trying-to-block-opera-s-visit-to-Iran
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Israel_trying_to_block_operas_visit_to_Iran%29

content:
<p>
Israel is 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/aug/27/berlin-state-opera-daniel-barenboim-tehran-concert-israel">trying
to block a visit by the Berlin State Opera</a> to Iran, which its
conductor (who is Israeli) has been trying for years to set up.


feed_id: d925a4f40e5596292d047431f9301368
title: Revolving door
uri: Revolving-door
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Revolving_door%29
content:
<p>The revolving door is spinning in Canada: Shell is applying for
permission for drilling in the Atlantic Ocean to a board that includes
<a href="The revolving door is spinning in Canada: Shell is applying for
permission for drilling in the Atlantic Ocean to a board that includes
a 30-year Shell employee.">a 30-year Shell employee.</a></p>


feed_id: 8f8fe5c6ce3179ef168f627d04919706
title: Political prosecution in Hong Kong
uri: Political-prosecution-in-Hong-Kong
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#27_August_2015_%28Political_prosecution_in_Hong_Kong%29

content:
<p>A Hong Kong protest leader <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/27/hong-kong-student-leader-joshua-wong-charged-protests">faces a clearly political prosecution.</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#17_August_2015_(Twisted_moral_standards)">Hong Kong resembles Ferguson.</a></p>


feed_id: d2044bc3e0f8c73f9de498ecf091a80d
title: Urgent: reprove Arctic drilling
uri: Urgent-reprove-Arctic-drilling
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_reprove_Arctic_drilling%29

content:
<p>Everyone: reprove Shell <a href="https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=3B6B95A726F78849392FEB7FDC3C35DA.app312a?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3833">for drilling in the Arctic.</a></p>


feed_id: 8f69e03447fa19a8f2f5a1de4bd26d70
title: "Endangering" Chelsea O'Donnell
uri: Endangering-Chelsea-O-Donnell
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Endangering_Chelsea_O%27Donnell%29

content:
<p>Chelsea O'Donnell left home and went to stay with an acquaintance, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3207144/Convicted-heroin-dealer-Rosie-O-Donnell-s-missing-daughter-17-charged-endangering-child-police-read-inappropriate-messages-phone.html">who has been accused</a> of "endangering" Ms O'Donnell.</p>
<p>Her age is nominally 17 but perhaps really 18, not that it should matter.</p>
<p>It's par for the course that there is no information at all about what
concrete actions his supposed "endangering" actually consists of, to
justify the claim that the term "endangering" applies.</p>
<p>Perhaps the only substance behind this accusation is prejudice,
or pandering to the anxiety of Ms O'Donnell's adoptive mother.</p>


feed_id: 7acdc7748ccb545d5d8b368d105f9709
title: California water usage
uri: California-water-usage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28California_water_usage%29
content:
<p>California cities <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/27/california-exceeds-water-conversation-goal-july">have cut water usage by 30%.</a></p>
<p>That would be a giant step towards saving water for the future, except
for one thing: most of California's water use is for farming and
nonrenewable energy.  If those keep using up water as if there were no
tomorrow, cities may find in a year or two that there isn't enough
left in the reservoirs even for their reduced usage.</p>
<p>By the way, if you call this "the drought of the century", specify the
20th century.  But 21st century standards, this one isn't special.</p>
<p>Drought has also hit <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/27/european-extreme-weather-belt-linked-to-worst-drought-since-2003">a large part of Europe,</a> damaging the harvest there.</p>
<p>This too will become frequent due to global heating.</p>


feed_id: 91c37b6b790d7d007846797c0a600008
title: Melting Chukchi ice
uri: Melting-Chukchi-ice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Melting_Chukchi_ice%29
content:
<p>Melting ice in the Chukchi sea has forced walruses to crowd on the shore, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/27/walruses-alaska-arctic-sea-ice-melt">which may be fatal.</a></p>


feed_id: f16cf798dd508bb7362d2389155cfbd7
title: Turkey helping PISSI
uri: Turkey-helping-PISSI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Turkey_helping_PISSI%29
content:
<p>As soon as PISSI's suicide bomb went off, in a group of Turkish Kurds
and leftists that were headed for Kobani, <a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/turkey-is-using-isis-as-cover-for-its-war-against-kurdish-activists/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Campaign&utm_term=daily">Turkish thugs began attacking them.</a></p>
<p>The survivors are convinced that the thugs made a joint plan with PISSI.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#03_August_2015_(Turkeys_former_support_for_PISSI)">Turkey helped PISSI</a> plenty before.<p>


feed_id: 48745432a321780f2276b6acdefdc1a4
title: US nuclear waste
uri: US-nuclear-waste
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28US_nuclear_waste%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/26/significant-design-vulnerabilities-plague-massive-nuclear-waste-site-leaked-internal">A safety study</a> of the design for packaging US nuclear waste for long-term storage found many problems with the proposed plant.</p>
<p>The Department of Energy suppressed the study while saying everything was fine.</p>


feed_id: 7280c28940446d972c7ca5b9aaeb6a71
title: End Israel's siege of Gaza
uri: End-Israel-s-siege-of-Gaza
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28End_Israel%27s_siege_of_Gaza%29
content:
<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/26/aid-groups-world-leaders-time-force-israel-lift-blockade-gaza">Oxfam and other groups</a> call for ending Israel's siege of Gaza.</p>


feed_id: 19e2e83ae8fd806b62d545daa5b555c9
title: Bay of Fundy
uri: Bay-of-Fundy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Bay_of_Fundy%29
content:
<p>Transcanada wants to export tar sands oil through the Bay of Fundy.</p>
<p>A single spill of highly toxic bitumen <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/26/transcanadas-energy-east-pipeline-too-much-risk-bay-fundy">could destroy the marine life.</a></p>
<p>Even the noise from the numerous tankers' engines would harm the
endangered right whales that live there.</p>
<p>If the bitumen comes from tar sands, its extraction (done with strip
mines) destroys wide reaches of land, and burning it contributes to
global heating disaster.  So many bad consequences can avoided simply
by not extracting the tar sands.</p>


feed_id: 32524109193499e68a6345e7308af875
title: AT&T WiFi hotspot injects ads
uri: AT-T-WiFi-hotspot-injects-ads
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28ATT_WiFi_hotspot_injects_ads%29
content:
<p>
An AT&T WiFi hotspot was 
<a href="http://webpolicy.org/2015/08/25/att-hotspots-now-with-advertising-injection/">found
to inject ads</a> into browsing of unrelated web sites.


feed_id: 4ae0dc5552574fa9c2605b347b28fb2b
title: The US senators pushing CISA
uri: The-US-senators-pushing-CISA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28The_US_senators_pushing_CISA%29
content:
<p>
The US senators pushing the disguised surveillance bill CISA are
planning to use it to 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/08/senators-looking-add-bad-cfaa-amendments-bad-cybersecurity-bill-0">make
the CFAA more dangerous to future Aaron Swarzes</a>.


feed_id: 7bfaa83200c8b8ac47353aa110de3db8
title: Gold King mine waste
uri: Gold-King-mine-waste
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Gold_King_mine_waste%29
content:
<p>
The EPA 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/26/animas-river-mine-spill-colorado-blowout-potential-underestimated">underestimated
the water pressure in the waste</a> from the Gold King mine, and thus
the danger of a big toxic spill into the Animas River.


feed_id: 7bcea5b7d3974cc9b3be3ca7aadfde52
title: PISSI using Assad's mustard gas
uri: PISSI-using-Assad-s-mustard-gas
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28PISSI_using_Assads_mustard_gas%29
content:
<p>
It seems PISSI is using 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/26/mustard-gas-likely-used-in-suspected-islamic-state-attack-in-syria">mustard
gas taken from Assad's supplies</a>.


feed_id: a38ba6558d62ca090930b1a6f862a06d
title: "Transformation" of New Orleans
uri: Transformation-of-New-Orleans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Transformation_of_New_Orleans%29
content:
<p>
The "transformation" of New Orleans worked by 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/commentisfree/2015/aug/26/new-orleans-transformation-hurt-residents">expelling
most of the black New Orleanians</a>.


feed_id: 07b5962304d50d9a3a01699597673bef
title: Urgent: Stop attack on Nevada solar energy
uri: Urgent-Stop-attack-on-Nevada-solar-energy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_attack_on_Nevada_solar_energy%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="http://act.climatetruth.org/sign/buffett_solar/">tell Warren
Buffet</a> to stop attacking Nevada solar energy.


feed_id: da4aed5893314ca996d7993fd675ee0f
title: Civil society organizations being shut down
uri: Civil-society-organizations-being-shut-down
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Civil_society_organizations_being_shut_down%29

content:
<p>
Governments across the world are 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/law/2015/aug/26/ngos-face-restrictions-laws-human-rights-generation">shutting
down civil society organizations</a> that defend the environment or
human rights.


feed_id: 8d1c319b7aec6723bf46e3057d66f8fb
title: Catholic hospital ordered to provide care
uri: Catholic-hospital-ordered-to-provide-care
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Catholic_hospital_ordered_to_provide_care%29

content:
<p>
A Catholic hospital in the US was 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/08/25/under-threat-lawsuit-catholic-hospital-approves-previously-denied-health-care">ordered
by a court to allow a tubal ligation operation</a>, since no other
facility in the region was available.
<p>
This problem, that all hospitals in a region are associated with the
Catholic church, affects increasing numbers of women.  In some cases
it endangers women who are brought to a Catholic hospital in an
emergency.
<p>
Hospitals should not be allowed to have such policies.  A hospital is
not a human being, and is not entitled to deny medical care to human
beings based on religion.  So they should be required to permit the
full range of operations for which they have suitable facilities and
staff.  If the Catholic church doesn't like that, it should sell the
hospitals to some other organization.


feed_id: ddafc32ab60beaac3442d09c21fddec6
title: US mining regulations
uri: US-mining-regulations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28US_mining_regulations%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/08/25/disastrous-animas-river-mine-spill-prompts-call-regulatory-reform">Proposing
new US mining regulations</a> to put an end to mining waste spills.
<p>
To adopt these regulations, it will be necessary to defeat the
polluticians.


feed_id: c6eb3701e2edd7a12f784582b767e8ed
title: Ferguson agrees to change policies
uri: Ferguson-agrees-to-change-policies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Ferguson_agrees_to_change_policies%29

content:
<p>
Ferguson has agreed to change 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/25/fresh-start-ferguson-withdraw-thousands-arrest-warrants">some
of the policies that systematically lead poor people into heavy fines
and jail</a>.
<p>
I don't think this means that the recently prosecuted protesters will
be let off.


feed_id: 1461ed7f4f5ae083a49018a303b6491f
title: Biden's support for mass incarceration
uri: Biden-s-support-for-mass-incarceration
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Bidens_support_for_mass_incarceration%29

content:
<p>
Biden was a
<a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/08/joe_biden_presidential_run_why_it_s_a_bad_idea.html">crucial
supporter</a> of mass incarceration and the death penalty.


feed_id: 08ab971ca98609b1b9090090ac1c96a2
title: Prostitution in Alaska
uri: Prostitution-in-Alaska
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Prostitution_in_Alaska%29
content:
<p>
Alaska's law defines prostitution as "sex trafficking" and says that
the prostitute is a victim of that "crime".  As a result, 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2015/08/25/amber-batts-conviction">prostitutes
can be prosecuted for "trafficking" each other, or themselves</a>.
<p>
I don't know whether to describe this law as lying or delusional.


feed_id: 6da53e0ba0a527318b2d14dd19621ed0
title: Thugs who lied to justify brutality
uri: Thugs-who-lied-to-justify-brutality
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Thugs_who_lied_to_justify_brutality%29

content:
<p>
Denver thugs who told lies to justify brutality were 
<a href="http://kdvr.com/2015/08/21/video-evidence-determined-fate-of-denver-officer-in-excessive-force-dispute-fired-after-6-years/">fired
— six years later</a>.
<p>
This is not enough, because they will probably get jobs as thugs
somewhere else.


feed_id: 826f1f9c3759b8983e5ba561624e5faf
title: Republican proposes slavery
uri: Republican-proposes-slavery
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Republican_proposes_slavery%29
content:
<p>
An influential Iowa Republican 
<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/08/22/iowa-gop-kingmaker-has-a-slavery-proposal-for-immigration.html">proposed
to enslave of unauthorized immigrants</a>.
<p>
The US already 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-may-aug.html#25_May_2013_(Free_US_workers_losing_jobs_to_prisoners)">uses
convicts as slave labor</a>, which drives down wages for Americans not
in prison.


feed_id: 1f302247f585fab6792389a1c7882383
title: America's disastrous post-9/11 plans
uri: America-s-disastrous-post-9-11-plans
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Americas_disastrous_post-911_plans%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/28/declassified-cia-documents-reveal-how-disastrous-americas-post-911-plans-really">Declassified
CIA Documents</a> Reveal How Disastrous America's Post-9/11 Plans
Really Were.
<p>
For instance, it is clear that Dubya was seeking an excuse to attack
Iraq even before the unrelated Sep 11 attacks provided an excuse.
<p>
The article ends by counting the "cost" of Dubya's wars, but it seems
to include only the direct monetary costs to the US.  It doesn't count
the <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-jan-apr.html#11_March_2013_(Discouraged_public_attention)">damage
done to Iraq and Iraqis</a>, or the existence of
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#25_July_2015_(Drone_assassinations_and_Iraq_invasion)">PISSI</a>.


feed_id: b0270b0be896078dbd1526dcf19f04be
title: Kicking poor people out of a city
uri: Kicking-poor-people-out-of-a-city
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Kicking_poor_people_out_of_a_city%29

content:
<p>
A novel approach to kicking poor people out of a city: 
<a href="http://www.richmond.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/article_1e729ef1-e597-5962-88c4-3c40d6ee16e9.html">harsh
enforcement of lots of permit requirements</a> on trailer parks where
poor people can afford to live.
<p>
You'd think that they would fine the landlords rather than the people
who live in the trailers.


feed_id: 55a1370c539404aa9bc522724c04ae6a
title: Protest about racial profiling
uri: Protest-about-racial-profiling
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Protest_about_racial_profiling%29
content:
<p>
A 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/28/protests-force-border-force-to-cancel-press-conference-in-melbourne">campaign
to sweep Melbourne for unauthorized immigrants was cancelled</a> in
response to a protest about racial profiling.


feed_id: 462ffdb656dbb46c30368907cb00aa97
title: Facilitating enslavement of immigrants
uri: Facilitating-enslavement-of-immigrants
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Facilitating_enslavement_of_immigrants%29

content:
<p>
The UK's planned
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/28/slavery-uk-immigration-act-2014-hostile-environment-undocumented-migrants-focus-on-labour-exploitation-flex">repression
against unauthorized immigrants</a> is perfect for facilitating
enslavement of immigrants.


feed_id: 630a5981013cdd24ad63d1b675ab96fe
title: Coal-funded harassment of scientists
uri: Coal-funded-harassment-of-scientists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Coal-funded_harassment_of_scientists%29

content:
<p>
More about how the coal-funded "Energy and Environment Legal
Institute" 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/political-science/2015/aug/28/digging-into-big-coals-climate-connections">harasses
real climate scientists</a>.
<p>
The funded denialists are the other end of the pincers.


feed_id: c029bb954243d996f340a44cce2cdb29
title: UK minister on work
uri: UK-minister-on-work
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28UK_minister_on_work%29
content:
<p>
According to the UK minister in charge of work, working is the best
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2015/aug/28/how-work-cures-all-illness-dwp-ids">remedy
for illness</a>.


feed_id: 971cdd885d4b646c62332e7bcba392b4
title: Gaza
uri: 2015-08-29-Gaza
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Gaza%29
content:
<p>
An 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/on-the-middle-east/2015/aug/28/hopeless-in-gaza">analysis
of the pit Gaza is stuck in</a>, which seems to offer no way out.


feed_id: 3c3880a17b6250a6059521825e3a1e9f
title: Irreproducible results in psychology
uri: Irreproducible-results-in-psychology
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Irreproducible_results_in_psychology%29

content:
<p>
Psychology, and other fields of science, need rules that will reduce
the number of 
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/head-quarters/2015/aug/28/reproducibility-project-psychology-research-hopeless-case-or-pioneering-field">irreproducible
results</a>.
<p>
Papers that can't be reproduced, but which there is no reason to
retract, should be transferred to the Journal of Irreproducible
Results.  The authors should find that quite a deterrent.


feed_id: 13eff9d42f7d098bc0a702ee7137a77f
title: Disenfranchisement of black voters
uri: Disenfranchisement-of-black-voters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Disenfranchisement_of_black_voters%29

content:
<p>
One county in Georgia 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/26/1415772/-Atlanta-GA-Admits-to-Illegally-Disenfranchising-Voters-in-08-12">admitted</a>
to Organized disenfranchisement of black voters, but surely it's not
the only one.
<p>
Whereas Alabama, which requires a driver's license or similar ID to
vote, is 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/25/1415384/-Despite-strict-voter-ID-laws-Alabama-is-in-the-process-of-closing-45-of-49-driver-s-license-offices">talking
about closing most of the driver's license offices</a>.  The wealthy
will be able to afford to get a driver's license.  Pesky poor people
won't.


feed_id: 9dcdbb2df31bb6fb0ea669d507822621
title: Financial companies prey on poor blacks
uri: Financial-companies-prey-on-poor-blacks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Financial_companies_prey_on_poor_blacks%29

content:
<p>
Financial companies
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/26/1415653/-Exposing-a-new-type-of-payday-predator-targeting-inner-cities">prey
on poor US blacks</a>, offering them a small lump sum instead of the
compensation they are due, over a period of years, for having been
brain damaged by lead paint.


feed_id: 65f169c96fcd8d028f5ab5292ae08562
title: The "women" in Ashley Madison data dump
uri: The-women-in-Ashley-Madison-data-dump
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28The_women_in_Ashley_Madison_data_dump%29

content:
<p>
Of the 5-6 million "women" in the Ashley Madison data dump, 
<a href="http://gizmodo.com/almost-none-of-the-women-in-the-ashley-madison-database-1725558944">less
than 10,000 actually used the site to talk with anyone</a>.
Essentially men paid the site for an imaginary opportunity.
<p>
It follows that hardly any of the male users ever arranged an affair
through the site.  (The few that did, probably found a prostitute
rather than a real affair.)
<p>
Moreover, the site was 
<a href="http://gizmodo.com/the-fembots-of-ashley-madison-1726670394">set
up so strongly to bring in men</a> that it almost impeded real women
from making accounts.


feed_id: beb219eaa194d018e8dc2eae972942a8
title: People's metadata traded for spy software
uri: People-s-metadata-traded-for-spy-software
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#28_August_2015_%28Peoples_metadata_traded_for_spy_software%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/08/germany-hands-over-citizens-metadata-in-return-for-nsas-top-spy-software/">Germany
Trades Citizens' Metadata for NSA's Top Spy Software</a>.


feed_id: 7e3f36422aed8d9b8331115e14740029
title: Mass incarceration in the US
uri: Mass-incarceration-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#29_August_2015_%28Mass_incarceration_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>
Senator Cory Booker about
<a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/crime/2015/08/cory_booker_interview_the_new_jersey_senator_on_how_to_end_mass_incarceration.single.html">how
to reduce mass incarceration</a> in the US.
<p>
Many poor Americans spend are in jail because they can't pay fines.
Ferguson and many other US cities have set up this system to extract
money from the poor because the rich have imposed Republican governments
(often by cheating —
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#18_April_2015_(Republican_gerrymandering)">gerrymandering</a> or
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-mar-jun.html#01_April_2014_(Voter_suppression_laws)">blocking
Democrats from voting</a>) and thus cut the taxes that fall on them.
<p>
Taxing the rich and businesses more will thus help reduce mass
incarceration.


feed_id: bb0fec951d22f3079593bde247db8f34
title: Counterprotest for Planned Parenthood
uri: Counterprotest-for-Planned-Parenthood
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#29_August_2015_%28Counterprotest_for_Planned_Parenthood%29

content:
<p>
The Satanic Temple staged a counterprotest to
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/25/1415364/-The-Satanic-Temple-interrupts-pro-life-national-day-of-protest">denounce
the lies of Christian extremists that protested against Planned
Parenthood</a>.
<p>
I am not merely "pro-choice", I am pro-abortion.  For many women who
get pregnant, abortion is a lifesaver, literally or figuratively.  In
addition, it avoids exacerbating human
<a href="https://stallman.org/articles/children.html">overpopulation</a>.


feed_id: 19e94f854caa70b9bb8df12a9d699139
title: Armed drones for thugs
uri: Armed-drones-for-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#29_August_2015_%28Armed_drones_for_thugs%29
content:
<p>
North Dakota has permitted thugs to fire not-usually-lethal weapons
from drones, due to the
<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/08/26/first-state-legalizes-armed-drones-for-cops-thanks-to-a-lobbyist.html">efforts
of a drone manufacturer's lobby</a>.
<p>
This increases militarization of thugs, which we rather
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#17_February_2015_(SWAT)">need
to decrease</a>.


feed_id: abaebb947c58f592cc48091844b216fd
title: Security theater at movie theaters
uri: Security-theater-at-movie-theaters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#29_August_2015_%28Security_theater_at_movie_theaters%29

content:
<p>
Some movie theaters in the US will present
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150820/12445332019/tsa-movies-theater-chain-looks-to-bring-security-theater-to-movie-theater.shtml">security
theater</a> as well as movies.
<p>
The security theater may occasionally keep out a few killers, those
who don't have specific plans — but they'd be just as happy to
shoot people waiting on line to be searched.


feed_id: 40068aea1dcf9cfc685e2991655f7f8f
title: Thugs defy court order, arrest activists
uri: Thugs-defy-court-order-arrest-activists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#29_August_2015_%28Thugs_defy_court_order%2C_arrest_activists%29

content:
<p>
Denver thugs defied a court order by
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2015/08/27/denver-police-continue-harassing-july-nu">arresting
activists of the Fully Informed Jury Association and seizing their
pamphlets as well as their table and other property</a>.


feed_id: aaf89968fda67e2eece85b00b3daba6d
title: Thugs fired for making false accusations
uri: Thugs-fired-for-making-false-accusations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#29_August_2015_%28Thugs_fired_for_making_false_accusations%29

content:
<p>
Two thugs have been fired after their
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/26/1415635/-Two-Seattle-police-officers-fired-after-body-camera-worn-by-bus-driver-catches-them-in-a-huge-lie">accusations
against a Seattle bus driver were proved false</a>.  The driver had
made a recording.
<p>
The article shows several acts that were wrong.  First of all, the
thugs' false accusations were wrong.  Mere firing is not enough
punishment for thugs that make false accusations.  They deserve prison
for that.
<p>
It is also wrong, and cruel, to try to kick sleeping homeless people
off a bus onto the street.  The company is wrong to have that policy
and the driver was personally wrong for trying to implement it.  I
have to salute those thugs for refusing to help.  (Not that this
excuses making false accusations.)
<p>
Meanwhile, the article makes a perverse fuss about using the word
"fucking".  What difference does it make if the driver said "fucking"?
Are bus drivers in Seattle punished for saying that?  Next they will
be punished for saying, "artichoke", "sidewalk" or "disappointed".  If
the thugs got the driver in some sort of trouble based on this
chickenshit "accusation", the thugs are to blame, but especially
whoever listened to the accusation and tried to hurt the driver is
also to blame.


