As GOP Candidates Question Climate Change, Texas & Oklahoma Hit by Devastating Floods Killing 2

Democracy Now!

Published on May 29, 2015

http://democracynow.org – Severe storms that began last week in Texas and Oklahoma have killed at least 23 people, and the damage is so extensive that Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared nearly 40 counties disaster areas. In Houston, many highways turned into waterways, and more than a thousand cars were submerged under water. President Obama has pledged federal assistance to help the state recover, but cleanup efforts were stalled Thursday as thunderstorms continued. The historic floods in Texas come as the state is just ending an extreme drought. Meanwhile, several possible Republican presidential candidates are questioning climate change. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has talked about “global warming alarmists.” Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has said “climate change has been co-opted by the hard-core left.”

Global Climate Change
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JUST OIL? THE DISTRIBUTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF OIL PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION

This review presents existing data and research on the global distribution of the impacts of oil production and consumption. The review describes and analyzes the environmental, social, and health impacts of oil extraction, transport, refining, and consumption, with a particular focus on the distribution of these burdens among socioeconomic and ethnic groups, communities, countries, and ecosystems. An environmental justice framework is used to analyze the processes influencing the distribution of harmful effects from oil production and use. A critical evaluation of current research and recommendations for future data collection and analysis on the distributional and procedural impacts of oil production and consumption conclude the review. Global Climate Change Environment Ethics Environment Justice

More than 4,000 migrants rescued in 24 hours in Mediterranean

euronews (in English)

Published on May 30, 2015

In the space of just 24 hours more than 4,200 migrants have been rescued from boats in the Mediterranean. It marks a new high in the numbers desperate to reach European shores this year.

The Italian coastguard said distress calls were released from 22 boats off the coast of Libya and Italy, and 17 bodies were recovered. Ships from Italy, Germany, Ireland, Belgium and Britain took part in the rescue operation.

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Are China’s ambitions in the South China Sea a threat?

Al Jazeera English

Published on May 30, 2015

US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter voiced deep concerns about the scale of Beijing’s island building in the South China Sea.This comes after the Pentagon revealed that China had put two artillery vehicles on one of the artificial islands it’s building.Presenter: Folly Bah

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How Ashton Carter differs from Obama’s past defense secretaries

PBS NewsHour

Published on Dec 5, 2014

President Obama announced that Pentagon veteran Ashton Carter will be his nominee to succeed Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense. From the White House, Carter pledged his “most candid” strategic and military advice if he is confirmed. Judy Woodruff gets reaction from retired Brig. Gen. David McGinnis, a former Defense Department official, and Foreign Policy’s David Rothkopf.

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Senator Elizabeth Warren is mad as hell at the influence of money in Washington DC

Re/code

Published on May 29, 2015

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts is tired of Washington being in the grip of big money and lobbyists. She thinks things need to change. Now.

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US calls for land reclamation ‘halt’ in South China Sea – BBC News

The US has called for an “immediate and lasting halt” to land reclamation in disputed areas of the South China Sea.

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter told the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that China’s actions in the area were “out of step” with international rules.

China claims almost the whole of the South China Sea, resulting in overlapping claims with its neighbours.

Chinese officials have described US remarks on the South China Sea as “groundless and not constructive”.

Other countries have accused China of illegally taking land to create artificial islands with facilities that could potentially be for military use.

…(read more).

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WW3 may start soon, Soros warns, unless US loosens up on China

RT

Published on May 22, 2015

There’s a warning that World War 3 will erupt in just a few years – unless the US financial system loosens up on China. Billionaire investor George Soros says America needs to let Beijing join the global currency basket, or the consequences could prove catastrophic.

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Warren Exposes How Obama is Wrong on TPP

The Big Picture RT

Published on May 19, 2015

Neil Sroka, Democracy for America joins Thom Hartmann. President Obama hopes that Congress will give him “fast-track” trade authority this week. But one senator wants Americans to remember the record of broken promises in free trade agreements…wow.

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It’s Illegal to Disclose the Details of “Obamatrade”

The Big Picture RT

Published on May 21, 2015

Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL, 9th district) joins Thom. The President says that critics of the Transpacific Partnership need to be more specific with their objections. But there’s a good reason no one is commenting on the deal’s details.

Global Climate Change
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