Will the DOJ or FCC Stop the AT&T Merger from Creating World’s Largest Media Conglomerate?

Media

Is inequality undermining US democracy? – UpFront

 

White Terrorist Bundy Group Goes Free

E120, e139

Food and Energy Demand Drives 58 Percent Decline in Global Wildlife Populations

 

From: Lorin Hancock, World Wildlife Fund
Published October 28, 2016 07:16 AM RELATED ARTICLES

• Alarming report on the health of our oceans
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• World species dying out like flies says WWF
  May 16, 2008 07:24 AM
• Report: Global Biodiversity Down 30 Percent in 40 Years
  May 15, 2012 08:21 AM
• Putting a value on our Oceans
  April 23, 2015 06:56 AM

Global populations of vertebrates — mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish — have declined by 58 percent between 1970 and 2012, states a new report from World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Animals living in the world’s lakes, rivers, and freshwater systems have experienced the most dramatic population declines, at 81 percent. Because of human activity, the report states that without immediate intervention global wildlife populations could drop two-thirds by 2020.

“This research delivers a wake-up call that for decades we’ve treated our planet as if it’s disposable,” said Carter Roberts, WWF president and CEO. “We created this problem. The good news is that we can fix it. It requires updating our approach to food, energy, transportation, and how we live our lives. We share the same planet. We rely on it for our survival. So we are all responsible for its protection.”

The top threat to wildlife is habitat loss and degradation, driven primarily by increasing demand for food and energy. According to the report, global food production is the leading cause for destruction of habitats and overexploitation of wildlife. Agriculture currently occupies approximately one-third of Earth’s total land area and accounts for 70 percent of all freshwater use.

…(read more).

World has entered new climate reality – UN weather chief | Climate Home – climate change news

Published on 24/10/2016, 10:00am

Global average CO2 concentrations breached symbolic milestone of 400ppm for the first time in 2015, while temperatures soared

Global average temperature in 2015 was the warmest year since modern record-keeping began in 1880, while CO2 concentrations breached 400ppm for the first time. Source: Scientific Visualization Studio/Goddard Space Flight Center

By Karl Mathiesen

The most dangerous greenhouse gas has passed a new milestone, marking the beginning of a new paradigm for the planet and all of those who live upon it.

That was the stark warning of Petteri Taalas, secretary general of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), on Monday.

Releasing the WMO’s annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, Taalas confirmed that the average concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere had slipped above the landmark 400 parts per million for the first time.

Taalas said the unabated rise of global CO2 levels should refocus the minds of politicians and diplomats who have giddily heralded the rapid entry of the Paris climate agreement into law this year.

“The year 2015 ushered in a new era of optimism and climate action with the Paris climate change agreement. But it will also make history as marking a new era of climate change reality with record high greenhouse gas concentrations,” said Taalas.

…(read more).

The Econocracy: The Perils of Leaving Economics to the Experts

One hundred years ago the idea of ‘the economy’ didn’t exist. Now, improving the economy has come to be seen as perhaps the most important task facing modern societies. Politics and policymaking are conducted in the language of economics and economic logic shapes how political issues are thought about and addressed. The result is that the majority of citizens, who cannot speak this language, are locked out of politics while political decisions are increasingly devolved to experts. The econocracy explains how economics came to be seen this way – and the damaging consequences. It opens up the discipline and demonstrates its inner workings to the wider public so that the task of reclaiming democracy can begin.

Join us for the eagerly anticipated launch of our new book The Econocracy: The Perils of Leaving Economics to the Experts at the Old Theatre at the London School of Economics just five minutes walk from Holborn and Temple tube stations and 10 minutes walk from Charing Cross.

We will begin by introducing the Econocracy and then handover to the RSA’s Citizens’ Economic Council and Economy, two really exciting projects that are actively addressing many of the problems we highlight in the book. Then Andy Haldane, Chief Economist at the Bank of England, and author of the foreword for The Econocracy will offer his reflections on the book and the challenge of democratising economics more broadly.

Afterwards we will be going to the LSE Students’ Union just across the road for a drink and it would be wonderful to see you there!

When? Monday 21st November, 6.30pm-9.00pm.
Where? Old Theatre, London School of Economics, London.

The Ethanol Lie . . . aka “The Ethanol Effect”

SteveAllen635

Uploaded on Sep 16, 2008

Ethanol Lie: While visiting a remote village in southern Ecuador this summer, an old woman suddenly approached us in distress. We were shocked to discover whats happening there because we are using corn for fuel in the US.

The old woman’s name is Lastenia Correa Aponte. This video is HER STORY.

***** For more information go to: http://www.ethanol-lie.com *****

Using Food for fuel: We didn’t intend to make a video focused on corn ethanol or congress’ energy policy but that’s where this story led us. It seems that when we burn food to run our cars it affects the whole world!

In the past, it was cheaper for countries like Ecuador to import corn from the US. But after congress mandated increased biofuels, the price of corn went up, and Ecuador faced food shortages. Thats why peasants are burning tropical forests to plant corn. This deforestation is actually INCREASING global warming.

This video shows a rare dry tropical forest in Ecuador with over 800 bird species. But unfortunately this biodiversity-hotspot may be lost to cornfields.

Also see: Energy Policy Act 2005; HR6 Energy Independence Security Act 2007; E85.

The Ethanol Effect – Preview +

Detroit Public TV

Published on Jan 14, 2016

David Biello introduces the documentary, “The Ethanol Effect”, which investigates the opportunities and challenges of using ethanol for fuel. Watch the full episode at http://theethanoleffect.org

Food-Matters

Full sequence:

22. Detroit Public TV
    In Washington, two of the heavyweight energy lobbyists are the Renewable Fuels Association and the American Petroleum …

    1:01

    Caro – The Ethanol Effect

    Detroit Public TV
    POET Ethanol Plant helped rejuvenate the local economy in the small town of Caro, Michigan.

    

    1:37

    Solar Collector Panels | The Ethanol Effect

    Detroit Public TV
    The Ethanol Effect host David Biello talks with farmer Keith Dittrich about his unusual solar collectors – corn.

    

    0:51

    The Ethanol Effect – Preview

    Detroit Public TV
    David Biello, Science curator at “TED Talks” introduces a new documentary, ‘The Ethanol Effect’ investigating the opportunities …

    

    0:53

    The Ethanol Effect Trailer | The Ethanol Effect

    Detroit Public TV
    Ethanol. It’s America’s Renewable Fuel… Ethanol. But there are trade-offs! More ethanol means using less oil. But that means …

    

    0:55

    Jason Hill On Ethanol | The Ethanol Effect

    Detroit Public TV
    Jason Hill of the University of Minnesota testified before Congress about ethanol. Even though he comes from a leading corn …

    

    1:26

    The Candidates – The Ethanol Effect – Beyond the Light Switch IV clip

    Detroit Public TV
    According to David Biello, if Ted Cruz – arch enemy of the ethanol lobby – captures the Republican nomination, he will find …

    

    0:37

    What Is Ethanol – The Ethanol Effect

    Detroit Public TV
    David Biello, Senior Reporter of Energy and Environment for Scientific American, explains the technology used to make ethanol.

    

    1:43

    A Solution | The Ethanol Effect

    Detroit Public TV
    We’ve got a lot of choices to make. What to drive? Gasoline? Electric? But what about more ethanol? E85? Detroit Public …

    

    1:54

    Captain Paul On Lake Erie | The Ethanol Effect

    Detroit Public TV
    Intrepid Detroit Public Television correspondent David Biello embarks on a fishing tour on Lake Erie and gets a look at what big …

    

    1:45

    How Do You Make Ethanol? | The Ethanol Effect

    Detroit Public TV
    Hooch. Moonshine. Making alcohol goes back to the beginning of human time. But making alcohol, in this case ethanol on a mass …

    

    1:40

    Trump Hearts Ethanol | The Ethanol Effect

    Detroit Public TV
    Where do the Presidential candidates stand on energy and particularly on fuel ethanol? Finally, Do Hillary and Donald agree?

    

    0:58

    The Ogallala Aquifer | The Ethanol Effect

    Detroit Public TV
    How much water does it take to grow an ear of corn? Lots. How much corn does it take to make a gallon of ethanol? Lots and lots.

    

    1:05

    How To Make Ethanol – The Ethanol Effect

    Detroit Public TV
    Christopher Bausch, Director of Business Development at POET, explains the process of creating ethanol.

    

    1:17

    Emily Cassidy On Ethanol | The Ethanol Effect

    Detroit Public TV
    Environmental Working Group researcher Emily Cassidy is, well, an environmentalist based in Washington. She’s weighed all the …

    

    1:44

    Caro, Michigan | The Ethanol Effect

    Detroit Public TV
    Michigan. The lower part of the state looks like a mitten. And over there in the middle, to the right is “the Thumb”. In the center of …

23. 25 videos
    

    The Ethanol Effect

    Detroit Public TV

24. 2:00

Ethanol: Bad for the Planet? | The Ethanol Effect

Detroit Public TV
A field of corn in summer looks green, but is it being green? There are upsides and downsides to Big Agriculture. Trade-offs as …

0:31

The Ethanol Effect WORLD Channel promo

Detroit Public TV
Ethanol. It’s America’s Renewable Fuel… Ethanol. But there are trade-offs! More ethanol means using less oil. But that means …

Dried Distillers Grains | The Ethanol Effect

Detroit Public TV

With the production of ethanol made from corn come valuable byproducts. They’re called dried distillers grains. That’s cattle feed

 

0:46

Jean Jennings On Ethanol | The Ethanol Effect

Detroit Public TV

One of Detroit’s top automotive reporters, Jean Jennings knows cars, inside and out, style and performance. Especially …

0:12

Jeff Broin on Electric Cars | The Ethanol Effect

Detroit Public TV

Ethanol is the emerging power player on America’s energy scene and POET is the leading producer of ethanol in the US.

2:26

What is the RFS? | The Ethanol Effect

Detroit Public TV

How did ethanol get in our gasoline? Thank the government. What more do you need to know? You need to know about the …

2:18

Food Versus Fuel | The Ethanol Effect

Detroit Public TV

Corn flakes, corn syrup, tortillas… that’s food! Ethanol… that’s fuel. Food or fuel? Or both? What should we do? David Biello of …

1:26

The Ethanol Effect: Nascar

Detroit Public TV

1:14

NASCAR | The Ethanol Effect

Detroit Public TV

NASCAR, a sport that owes its start to moonshine. That’s ethanol! And now NASCAR, what with all its promotional tie-ins, ethanol …

0:23

David Yepsen On Ethanol | The Ethanol Effect

Detroit Public TV

The dean of Iowa political reporters, David Yepsen, now with the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University …

6:32

The Ethanol Lie . . . aka “The Ethanol Effect”

SteveAllen635

Ethanol Lie: While visiting a remote village in southern Ecuador this summer, an old woman suddenly approached us in distress.

Noam Chomsky: THE LYING elites GAME (1991)

AlternativeViewTV

Uploaded on Mar 10, 2011

¤ Alternative Views
441: THE LYING ELITES (PART I) (1991)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternat…
http://tinyurl.com/64ukq5h

One of America’s leading radical intellectuals, Professor Emeritus
Noam Chomsky of MIT–co-author of “Manufacturing Consent”–gives a speech
on how the American people are highly propagandized and manipulated by the government and the press, so that the elites who control the US political and economic system can govern as they wish without democratic interference. He shows that the resulting US foreign policy has been to brutalize much of the world, particularly the Third World.

Recorded March, 1989
Copyright April, 1991

¤ Noam Chomsky
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noam_Cho…
http://www.chomsky.info/

This movie is part of the collection: Alternative Views

Producer: Frank Morrow
Production Company: Alternative Information Network
Audio/Visual: sound, color
Language: English

Creative Commons license: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States

Paying for carbon pollution? Why some environmentalists don’t support this sta te tax

PBS NewsHour

Published on Oct 20, 2016

In Washington state, economist Yoram Bauman is leading a campaign to cut carbon emissions by imposing a revenue-neutral carbon tax. Everyone would have to pay, but instead of creating more revenue, existing taxes like the state sales tax would be cut. Economics correspondent Paul Solman reports that the opponents and proponents of the measure are not who you might expect.