How the Wireless Industry Convinced the Public Cellphones Are Safe & Cherry-Picked Research on Risks

Democracy Now!
Published on Apr 5, 2018

https://democracynow.org – Ninety-five out of every 100 American adults owns a cellphone today. And worldwide, three out of four adults now have cellphone access. The wireless industry is one of the fastest-growing on Earth, raking in annual sales of $440 billion in 2016. But are cellphones safe? A new investigation by The Nation suggests that’s a question that cellphone giants prefer you don’t ask. We speak with Mark Hertsgaard, The Nation’s environment correspondent and investigative editor. His report, co-authored with Mark Dowie, is headlined “How Big Wireless Made Us Think That Cell Phones Are Safe.”

Seven Plowshares Activists Arrested Protesting at U.S. Nuclear Sub Base

Apr 05, 2018

Seven Catholic Plowshares activists were arrested early this morning while staging a protest inside the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia—the largest nuclear submarine base in the world. The activists entered the base on Wednesday night on the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s assassination. They were armed with just hammers, crime tape and baby bottles containing their own blood. The activists said they were following the prophet Isaiah’s command to “beat swords into plowshares.” They hung banners inside the base reading “Nuclear weapons: illegal–immoral.” They were also carrying a statement that quoted Martin Luther King describing the United States as “the greatest purveyor of violence in the world.” Among those arrested were the Catholic priest Steve Kelly; Martha Hennessy, the granddaughter of Dorothy Day; Carmen Trotta of New York Catholic Worker; Clare Grady of Ithaca Catholic Worker; and Elizabeth McAlister, who co-founded Jonah House in Baltimore with her late husband Phil Berrigan.

10,000 March in Memphis to Honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Apr 05, 2018

More than 10,000 people marched in Memphis Wednesday to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the 50th anniversary of his assassination. At 6:01 p.m., a moment of silence was held, then bells tolled 39 times, once for each year he lived. Gatherings were held across Memphis featuring associates of King as well as today’s civil rights leaders, who said King’s dream has still not been realized. This is the Reverend William Barber, who’s leading the new Poor People’s Campaign.

Rev. William Barber: “Black people are shot in the street by police, and others—and many other people die from low wealth and low income. Nothing would be more tragic than for us now, so we must be the resurrection.”

California Democratic Congressmember Barbara Lee was also in Memphis for the anniversary of King’s assassination.

Rep. Barbara Lee: “Each and every one of us must be engaged to be that light that outshines this darkness of chaos coming from the White House. And we must show the world that while an assassin’s bullet killed the dreamer on this sacred ground, on this day 50 years ago, he did not kill the dream.”

Sinclair Producer Quits, Accuses Trump-Linked Network of “Obvious Bias”

Apr 05, 2018

A producer at a Nebraska TV station owned by the right-wing Sinclair Broadcast Group has resigned over what he described as the company’s “obvious bias.” Justin Simmons says he resigned from KHGI last week. Sinclair has faced widespread criticism for ordering news anchors at scores of its affiliate stations to recite nearly identical “must-read” commentaries warning of the dangers of “fake news” in language that echoes President Trump’s rhetoric. Aaron Weiss, a former Sinclair news director, told CNN that he feels Sinclair is almost forcing local news anchors to lie to their viewers.

Aaron Weiss: “So my heart goes out to all of those anchors, who were forced to basically do what is the equivalent of a proof-of-life hostage video.”

Harvard Celebrates Earth Day | Sustainability at Harvard

 

Working With Scott Pruitt : NPR

April 4, 20185:09 AM ET
Heard on Morning Edition

Political pressure is building on Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt. Lawyer David Rivkin worked with Pruitt and talks with NPR’s David Greene.

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

Scott Pruitt, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, is facing pressure to resign after reports that he spent taxpayer money on lavish trips and first-class travel. Democrats want to investigate reports that Pruitt rented a condo linked to a fossil fuel lobbyist at a bargain price. And even Republicans are joining in. Congressman Carlos Curbelo of Florida called Pruitt’s conduct, quote, “an embarrassment.”

Let’s bring in someone who knows Scott Pruitt well. David Rivkin is a conservative commentator and a constitutional lawyer who served under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He also worked alongside Pruitt for years representing Oklahoma when Pruitt was that state’s attorney general. Mr. Rivkin, welcome.

…(read more).