Climate Emergency Panel Madrid University pt2

Nick Breeze

Dec 16, 2019

Ralph Nader on Impeachment: Democrats Should Go After Trump’s Full Corruption, Not Just Ukraine

Democracy Now!

Dec 16, 2019

Donald Trump is set to become the third president to be impeached when the Democrat-controlled House votes Wednesday on two charges related to his attempts to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. The vote will send the charges to the Republican-controlled Senate, which will then hold a trial on whether to remove Trump from office. Witnesses who could be called to testify include former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney. Early Monday, the House Judiciary Committee released its full report on Trump’s impeachment that is nearly 700 pages and explains in four parts the committee’s justification for recommending two articles of impeachment against Trump: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. A new Fox News poll says 54% of Americans want Trump impeached, and 50% want him impeached and removed. We speak with Ralph Nader, longtime consumer advocate, corporate critic and former presidential candidate, who says the articles of impeachment against Trump are “far too narrow and perilous.” Congress has “come forward with a very narrow hand … for the most impeachable president of all time,” he says.

As well as:

• Thought & Work of Ralph Nader
• The Wit and Wisdom of Noam Chomsky

COP25 Was a Failure, But Activists’ Collective Organizing at the Talks Was Unprecedented

Democracy Now!

Dec 16, 2019

The COP25 United Nations climate summit ended in failure Sunday, after negotiators failed to agree to a deal that would limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels — a key goal of the Paris Agreement. Scores of civil society groups condemned governments in the European Union, Australia, Canada and the U.S. for a deal that requires far less action than needed to avert catastrophic climate change. Indigenous leaders and environmentalists blasted the United Nations for marginalizing civil society groups over two weeks of negotiations at the climate summit, while welcoming polluters. For more on the outcome of the U.N. climate summit, we speak with Asad Rehman, executive director of War on Want, and Tasneem Essop, executive director of the Climate Action Network International.

Top Republicans Coordinating with White House on Senate Impeachment Trial

Dec 16, 2019

On Capitol Hill, the House Judiciary Committee has released its report explaining its decision to charge President Trump with two articles of impeachment for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The 658-page report released this morning details Trump’s efforts to withhold military aid in order to pressure Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden. On Wednesday, the full Democratic-controlled House is expected to vote to impeach President Trump, sending the charges to the Republican-controlled Senate, which will then hold a trial on whether to remove Trump from office.

On Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer proposed terms for an evidentiary trial that would start on January 7 and go beyond the investigation conducted by the House. Witnesses who could be called to testify include former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney.

This comes as top Republican senators face calls to recuse themselves from Trump’s impeachment trial. Late last week, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News he was “taking my cues” from the White House. And on Sunday Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was questioned by “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan about coordinating with the White House on impeachment.

Margaret Brennan: “Should Republicans in the Senate really be taking their marching orders from the person being investigated?”

Sen. Lindsey Graham: “You know, I understand the president’s frustration, but I think what’s best for the country is to get — get this thing over with. I am clearly made up my mind. I’m not trying to hide the fact that I have disdain for the accusations in the process.”

We’ll have more on Trump’s impeachment later in the broadcast with Ralph Nader, longtime consumer advocate, corporate critic and former presidential candidate.

Pentagon Investigates Army and Navy Students over “White Power” Gestures

Image Credit: Twitter: @YonderLooky
Dec 16, 2019

Pentagon officials say they’re investigating students at the Army’s West Point Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy after they were filmed flashing “white power” hand gestures at the Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia on Saturday. Army cadets and Navy midshipmen in the stands were seen repeatedly making the signs, which resemble an “OK” gesture, and one such incident was broadcast live by ESPN. Last year the U.S. Coast Guard reprimanded an officer who used a similar hate symbol during a TV broadcast.

U.N. Climate Talks End with Few of the Commitments Needed to Avert Catastrophe

Dec 16, 2019

In Madrid, Spain, the COP25 United Nations climate summit ended in failure Sunday, after negotiators failed to agree to a deal that would limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, above pre-industrial levels — a key goal of the Paris Agreement. Scores of civil society groups condemned governments in the European Union, Australia, Canada and the U.S. for blocking progress at the talks. Alden Meyer, strategy chief at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said, “Never have I seen the almost total disconnect we’ve seen here at COP25 in Madrid between what the science requires and what the climate negotiations are delivering in terms of meaningful action.” Ian Fry, the climate negotiator for the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu — whose existence is threatened by rising sea levels — called out the United States for watering down the final document even though President Trump is withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement.

Ian Fry: “This is an absolute tragedy and a travesty on those affected by the impacts of climate change. There are millions of people all around the world who are already suffering from the impacts of climate change. Denying this fact could be interpreted by some to be a crime against humanity. Thank you.”

Environmentalists and indigenous leaders blasted the United Nations for marginalizing civil society groups over two weeks of negotiations, while welcoming polluters at the climate summit. This is Kera Sherwood-O’Regan, a Maori representative from the Indigenous Peoples Organizations at the COP.

Kera Sherwood-O’Regan: “When you silence us, you deny yourselves learning from our ways, and you continue to sideline those who have real solutions for all communities. We are experts on climate. We are the kaitiaki, the stewards of nature. We know the legitimacy of our voices, and it’s about time that you recognized it, too. Hear our stories. Learn our histories. Stop taking up space with your false solutions and get out of our way.”

We’ll have more on the failures of the COP25 climate summit later in the broadcast.

Our Global Climate Emergency

Paul Beckwith

Streamed live on Dec 13, 2019

Chat with two Peters and Paul but Regina instead of Mary. Peter Wadhams, Peter Carter, Paul Beckwith and Regina Valdez.