I just read what may be the best introduction to peace studies I’ve ever seen. It’s calledPeace Lessons, and is a new book by Timothy Braatz. It’s not too fast or too slow, neither obscure nor boring. It does …

Last week, it was widely reported in the mainstream media that the autopsy of a woman who died of pneumonia earlier this year in the state of Washington found that she had been infected with measles, making this the first …

Here we go again. More disturbing news arises about the depth of the U.S. torture program; a few politicians express their disgust at it; the U.S. media complex becomes complicit in the continuation of the program either by their adumbration …

The EU Parliament is voting today on the controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiated between the USA and the EU.

Conflicts of interest have become more the rule than the occasional exception. Even the trusted US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) receives heavy funding from industry.

How this conflict of interest may have affected the organization’s decisions is …

Fox San Francisco transcript, Jul 6, 2015 (emphasis added): Several dead sea mammals found along Ocean Beach — In San Francisco, an unusual and sad sight at Ocean Beach today. That’s where several dead marine mammals washed ashore… …

Last week, in an article on the controversial rainbow flag mural a Palestinian artist painted on Israel’s apartheid wall, the Associated Press made this claim: “A 1951 Jordanian law banning homosexual acts remains in effect in the West Bank, as …

The UN’s World Food Program, funded by world governments, NGOs and corporations like Yum! Brands and Cargill, finds that there’s just too much hunger in the world, so no one should protest a novel form of genetic engineering that …

The wave of joyous solidarity at the Greek “No” vote still resounds across the world today, revealing millions who identify with the struggle and have had enough of being bullied and controlled.

Whether it is Euro bullies, other governments or …

I’m no economist but I have been wondering how Syriza plans to bypass German-imposed austerity as long as it sticks with the euro. Depressed economies recover by devaluing their currency so that they can become more competitive. But Greece is …

There’s something truly disturbing about the fact that British prime minister David Cameron’s efforts to decide how the media refer to the Islamic State are being taken seriously. So seriously, in fact, that 120 MPs have backed the idea that …

US Democrat presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton smeared and vilified the nonviolent Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement in a letter to Israeli-American billionaire Haim Saban.

The BDS movement seeks to pressure Israel to comply with international law and end its …

CURRENT REALITIES:

Wealthiest Tenth (10%) of Americans Own 75% of America; They Draw 40% of All U.S. Income.

Wealthiest Hundredth (1%) of Americans Own 43% of America; They Draw 20% of All U.S. Income

Wealthiest Thousandth (0.1%) …

World’s largest palm oil trading company, Wilmar International Ltd., under scrutiny as communities accuse its suppliers of harassment, deception and rights abuses.

Oil palm giant Wilmar International Ltd. (F34.SI / WLIL.SI) stands accused of resorting to ‘dirty tricks’ …

Washington’s geopolitical strategy when bullying fails is either assassinating independent leaders, color revolutions, military coups or naked aggression.

If Moscow-based independent investigative journalist John Helmer is right, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is a marked man and SYRIZA governance on …

On Monday July 6th, Palestinians and their supporters around the world marked the one year invasion of the Israeli attack on Gaza that ended up lasting fifty one days and costing close to twenty five hundred Palestinian lives.

In Britain …

A number of Israeli generals and political commentators have called on the Netanyahu government to provide military aid to Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in Syria in order to prevent its downfall. It is an unprecedented campaign to “Save the Assad regime”.…

Greece is white, it is European, and therefore eyes of entire Western “progressive” world are now directed towards Athens: will its government dare to default, would Greece leave euro-zone and eventually the European Union? As if the answer to this …

The Greek citizens have delivered a resounding ‘No’ to bailout conditions demanded by creditors in a referendum held on 5^th July. The referendum was announced by Greece’s Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, on 27^th June after bailout talks with …

Washington’s issue with Iran has never been Iran’s nuclear energy program. The notion pushed by the neoconservatives that Iran only had a nuclear energy program (5% uranium enrichment) in order to hide a nuclear weapons program (95+% enrichment) was always …

By Truth and Satire

America is scared and angry at the monster-du-jour. ISIS – another crazy, Jihadist, Muslim group that might unravel the amazing adventure of America that took ten years and trillions of dollars; a ragtag bunch of rebels …

If you think the globalists are pushing pedal to the metal now, you’re absolutely right! Rapid acceleration toward their one world government has humanity on a fateful collision course to Armageddon. Just look at the unfolding events in 2015 so …

In its June 7, 2015 newsletter, the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) is once again repeating a lie that has been perpetuated ever since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan 14 years ago: Afghan women need the military presence of the U.S. …

Translated from French by Jenny Bright

Annexed: Message from Abd-al-Malikal-Houthi to the Resistance, July 2nd, 2015 (English Subtitles)

The Saudi-American war against Yemen, led by a coalition of the richest Gulf monarchies (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, etc. …

Just after 7 PM Greek time on Sunday, I was told that the “No” vote (Gk. Oxi) was winning approximately 60/40. The “opinion polls” showing a dead heat evidently were wrong. Bookies across Europe are reported to be losing their …

I doubt that there will be a Greek exit.

The Greek referendum, in which the Greek government’s position easily prevailed, tells the troika (EU Commission, European Central Bank, IMF, with of course Washington as the puppet master) that the Greek …

Washington obstructionism leaves Iran nuclear talks deadlocked as another deadline approaches for resolving remaining issues. Years of standoff persist.

Obama wants a one-way deal on his terms – demanding unreasonable Iranian concessions, raising the bar continually for more, wanting Iran …

Greece is the pearl of the Mediterranean, the place generations of foreigners from Lord Byron to Graves to Fowles have fallen in love with. From philosophy to feta, from history to yoghurt, from poetry to honey they provided the …

The Greeks voted “no” and should be applauded for their valor!  Knowingly or not, their no vote has added extra cards to their hand.  They now have more options than they would have had with a yes vote.  In fact, …

“Surveillance companies like Hacking Team have shown they are incapable of responsibly regulating themselves, putting profit over ethics time after time.”

Eric King, Deputy Director Privacy International, Jul 7, 2015

What goes around can come around with inexorable force.  An …

Okay, now that we have all celebrated the beautiful Greek “NO!” to the EU plutocracy, we need to get real again and look at the Empire’s options.  Or, in fact, at the Empire’s option (with no ‘s’ at the end).…

August, 2015 marks 70 years since the atomic bomb was dropped on the civilian population of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On the evening of May 22, 2015, after almost a month of grueling and intensive debates and negotiations, The United Nations …

This incisive article by Professor Rodrigue Tremblay  (image right) on the nature of the Greek economic crisis was written four years ago.

In response to recent developments, the author has written an update, which is published below.

.

July 6, …

Obama heads Washington’s lunatic fringe – a criminal gang waging endless wars, deploring peace, and pursuing phony war on terrorism to advance their imperial aims while at the same time threatening humanity’s survival.

Flanked by Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Joint …

Image: Reuters/Yaser Al-Khodor

As the SAS is reportedly given free rein in Syria, the former head of Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism unit says Britain should put home grown extremists on charter flights to Islamic State territory rather than let them ‘fester’ …

Washington, D.C. – On April 20, 2012, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta formally established a new Department of Defense spy organization — the Defense Clandestine Service (DCS). That memo marked yet another in the multiple starts, stops, and reversals in …

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton sent a letter to media mogul Haim Saban, a mega-donor, assuring him that she would make countering the global Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel a priority. She invoked a recent terrorist attack …

Greeks Line Up to Receive Their Daily Rations of Cash from ATM Machine

Greece has two things in common with bankrupt or teetering parts of the United States: it took advice and money from Wall Street while paying huge fees; …

The US government will continue its military intervention in Iraq and Syria indefinitely while ramping up its “counterterrorism” operations both overseas and within the US, President Barack Obama made clear in public remarks at the Pentagon Monday.

Flanked by a …

Global stock exchanges appear to have weathered the initial shock wave from the powerful “no” vote in the Greek referendum, largely in the belief that the Syriza-led government is even more anxious to secure an agreement with the European Union …

Did you notice that Greece’s creditors are not rushing to offer the Greeks a new deal in the wake of the stunning referendum result on Sunday?  In fact, it is being reported that the initial reaction to the “no” vote …

Ten years ago On the 7th of July 2005 London was hit by a series of explosions. You probably think you know what happened that day. But you don’t. The police have, from the onset of their investigation, chosen to …

“The rules curbing emissions of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants began to take effect in April. But the court said by a 5-4 vote Monday that the EPA failed to take their cost into account when the agency

Cuba: Message from Raúl Castro to Prime Minister of Greece

Compañero Alexis Tsipras

Prime Minister

Hellenic Republic

Havana, July 5, 2015

Esteemed Prime Minister:

I extend to you my most sincere congratulations on the ‘NO’ victory achieved in the …

On July 1st, the White House, Joint Chiefs of Staff, issued “The National Military Strategy of the United States of America 2015” (officially dated June 2015), and at its top is:

“U.S. ENDURING NATIONAL INTERESTS: The security of the United …

Unions have a decision to make: organize or die. It’s that simple. These are the only two options now that the Supreme Court announced it would hear the case “Friedrichs v. California Teacher Association.”

The court intends to take aim …

Congratulations! – With a resounding “OXI” = “No” – with 61% the Greek rejected the troika imposed austerity. They joined a majority of economists worldwide, including from the IMF, who also know that austerity doesn’t help recovery – and certainly …

A month after attacking Game of Thrones, Democratic senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri shifted her attack from fiction to her very real fellow senator, Bernie Sanders. She took the Independent senator from Vermont to task for having the …

Declining oil and commodity prices impact states in Africa and the Middle East

2015 is the year that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were scheduled to reach certain objectives in the reduction of poverty and the improvement of living standards …

The World Medical Association (WMA) has publicly condemned the sweeping new censorship law imposed on all staff, including medical professionals, at Australia’s refugee detention camps.

The “Border Force Act” was passed on May 14 with the support of both the …

Washington wants all independent governments toppled – regime change by US-orchestrated color revolutions, coups or naked aggression.

Ecuador is in the eye of the storm. Obama’s earlier 2010 attempt to forcibly unseat popular President Rafael Correa failed.

He’s trying again. …

Image: F-15 Eagles from the 493rd Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, taxi to the runway during the final day of Anatolian Eagle June 18, 2015, at 3rd Main Jet Base, Turkey. The 493rd FS received the 2014 …

This article was first published in November 2013

Image: IMF director Christine Lagarde meets with Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos on July 25, 2011. Photo: International Monetary Fund. Used under Creative Commons license.

Where: Greece.

Why: Already heavily in debt …

Gary Hart was a good senator, an independent person.  Consequently, he was eliminated with a sexual scandal.  Better to go that way than with an airplane crash or a frame-up that leads to prison like happened to US Rep. George …

“And I shall wear the creditors’ loathing with pride.” Yanis Varoufakis, Jul 6, 2015

It was always going to be difficult for Greece’s Yanis Varoufakis to remain in his post after Sunday’s victory for the Syriza coalition.  Seemingly playing his …

This article was published before the Greeks voted “no” in the referendum on austerity.

Alexander Tsipras, the prime minister of Greece, has called a national referendum this Sunday to call the bluff of the European Union and International Monetary Fund …

ISIS has been developing its presence in the Caucasus within the territory of the Russian Federation. On June 23, 2015 ISIS announced the creation of a new governorate, called Wilayat Qawqaz in Russia’s North Caucasus, after several senior militants in …

Greeks massively voted NO to austerity. Now what?

No one can really tell what will come out of the upcoming negotiations with the Troika (International Monetary Fund, European Commission, European Central Bank). Meanwhile Austrians are signing a petition to leave …

Image: Alexis Tsipras, leader of Greece’s Syriza party. (Photo credit: FrangiscoDer)

The usual narrative of the Greek economic tragedy is that the country is paying for its past profligacy, but there is deeper back story of political repression fueled by …

The language the Guardian and all other corporate media have been using about Syriza’s victory at the weekend against draconian EU-imposed austerity is revealing. Here are some examples of the subtle but effective framing from the paper’s front page today:…

The Israeli government believes it is locked in an epic struggle to save Israel from the growing movement calling for an international boycott. Benjamin Netanyahu warns that Israel must “rebrand” itself to avoid pariah status. Ordinary Israelis are therefore being …

Image: © Flickr/ Kelly B

Standard reporting on the document misses a few key details that make the strategy even more dangerous than people initially realize.

Image: Confederate battle flag flying on the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse.

Whenever there’s a suggestion that the Confederate battle flag should be retired to museums or that the name of Confederate President Jefferson Davis should be removed from …

Image: A section of the demonstration on Syntagma square on Sunday

Thousands gathered on Syntagma Square in Athens on Sunday evening following a resounding rejection of the austerity proposals of the European Union and International Monetary Fund. More than 61 …

Edward Snowden didn’t just expose the possibility that state surveillance may have intruded into the lives of British citizens. He actually accused U.K. authorities of operating a system where ”anything goes,” and new details revealed this week confirm …

With the financial crisis in Greece reaching a fevered pitch, many have wondered what might happen to the European Union if their most debt riddled member jumps ship. Will it cause a domino effect of defaulting nations, equally interested in …

New reporting reveals that the Obama administration spied on German journalists. (Photo: Patrick Lauke/flickr/cc)

While previous revelations showed that German officials have been the target of U.S. government spying, new reporting indicates that German press was targeted as well.…

Typical public radio board members: 66 percent of NPR affiliate board members have the same gender, 72 percent have the same ethnicity and 75 percent represent the same social class as these gentlemen.

For a public radio service, NPR is …

Want to understand how bee-killing neonicotinoids (a class of insecticide) work in less than two minutes, and why you should care that the EPA does nothing to reverse the damage that these pesticides have done to our pollinating insects? Watch …

Image: Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis.(Reuters / Alkis Konstantinidis)

After securing a ‘no’ vote at Greek referendum on bailout, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis resigned, saying it would help Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras negotiate a better deal with foreign creditors.

“Soon …

Obamacare is the name given a law that says you must buy overpriced private health insurance from companies that fund election campaigns. Yes, it’s got some lipstick on it, but compared to a civilized healthcare system like other wealthy nations …

At long last, following years of delay, the U.S. government has finally admitted that it poisoned its own troops in Vietnam decades ago through the mass use of the herbicide known as “Agent Orange.”

In recent days, federal officials agreed …

The Armed Forces must be prepared to use Facebook and Twitter to spread “lies” to help fight ISIL,  a senior British military commander has said. 

Gen Sir Richard Barrons, Commander of Joint Forces Command, said the West is lagging behind …

Sunday evening in Greece should have been time for celebrations. “No” votes won decisively with over a 61% majority.

Phony corporate media polls showed the “yes” camp prevailing – to discourage “no” supporters from voting as well as swing undecided …