Daily Archives: December 24, 2019

2019-12-24: News Headlines

Brenda Norrell (2019-12-24). Blood Memory Rising, Book Review of Standing with Standing Rock. indybay.org 'Standing with Standing Rock,' is an encyclopedia of resistance, which chronicles the Water Protector movement from the first run to Washington, and on to the camps, and the surveillance by TigerSwan, to the ultimate international divestment campaign. In its 29 chapters are poetry, essays and discussions of Indigenous rights and Treaties.

Yumna Patel (2019-12-23). BDS Movement: Boris Johnson's BDS Ban Recalls Margaret Thatcher's Support of Apartheid South Africa. globalresearch.ca The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement hit back at UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plans to ban public authorities from participating in the international movement boycotting Israeli goods. | "Boris Johnson's government, like the anti-Palestinian Trump administration, is more …

Ben White (2019-12-23). Is the UK Government Set to Define the Boycott of Israel as 'Antisemitic'? globalresearch.ca One of the first bills to be introduced by Britain's new Conservative government will reportedly stop "local authorities from boycotting individual companies", a move described as targeting the Palestinian-led boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. | The Conservative Party election manifesto

Daniel Immerwahr (2019-12-23). Decolonization and the Pursuit of an Egalitarian International Order. thenation.com Decolonization and the Pursuit of an Egalitarian International Order…

RT (2019-12-23). 'I've got a lot of problems with you people': Rand Paul unloads on Washington in Festivus Twitter tirade. rt.com Government waste, neocon warmongers, and the ongoing impeachment circus: Senator Rand Paul is mad about a lot of things, and channeled his inner Seinfeld to air his grievances with the world. | Republican Senator Rand Paul (Kentucky) celebrates the fictional December 23 holiday of Festivus – immortalized by 'Seinfeld' in 1997 – with an annual "airing of grievances." After releasing his annual ' Festivus Report' on government overspending last week, the deficit-hawk Senator took to Twitter on Monday to air some more p…

teleSUR (2019-12-22). Child Labor Behind Chocolate Ferrero Rocher: UK Rights Group. telesurenglish.net The hazelnuts used by the chocolate company Ferrero in its products, including the famous Ferrero Rocher, and sold across the world for Christmas, may have been harvested by children working in the agricultural sector in Turkey, human rights campaigners denounced Friday. | RELATED: | Outrage as 2 McDonald's Employees Found Electrocuted in Peru | The Guardian reported that interviews with child workers filmed by United Kingdom campaigning group WeMove Europe and the Centre for C…

Staff (2019-12-20). Activists Demand a Migrant Justice Platform as Democratic Candidates Discuss Immigration in Debate. democracynow.org Protesters for immigrant rights demonstrated outside the Democratic debate Thursday in Los Angeles, displaying a banner that read "Migrant Justice on Day One" and demanding a moratorium on deportations and immigrant worker protections. We look at how the candidates responded, with Erika Andiola, chief advocacy officer for RAICES, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services. "I'm really happy that immigration came up this time around," she notes. "In the past few debates, the issue didn't even come up."

Staff (2019-12-20). 11 Pro Impeachment Activists Arrested at McConnell's Office. therealnews.com By The People is a grassroots group that has been pushing for impeachment for a long time. Instead of taking a pause to celebrate victory, they showed up at Senator McConnell's office to demand that the Senate take the charges against Trump seriously. Watch Marc Steiner interview By The People volunteer Adiel Pollydore about the…

Medea Benjamin (2019-12-20). The Real Lesson of Afghanistan? Regime Change Does Not Work. mintpressnews.com The debacle in Afghanistan is only one case in a fundamentally flawed U.S. policy with worldwide consequences. New quasi-governments installed by U.S. "regime change" in country after country have proven more corrupt, less legitimate and less able to control their nation's territory than the ones the U.S. has destroyed.

Tom Anderson (2019-12-20). BDS movement defiant after Tories announce anti-boycott measures and threaten international solidarity. thecanary.co Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaigners have responded defiantly to Tory plans to pass an anti-BDS law. | The law is a threat to any international solidarity campaign which seeks to boycott companies or products because of the state policies of another country. As such, it presents a threat to international solidarity efforts as a whole. | Boycotting Israeli apartheid: | BDS is an international movement calling for a boycott of Israeli goods. It also calls for grassroots groups to initiate boycott campaigns against companies complicit in Israel…

splcenter (2019-12-20). Investigation: Washington State Rep. Matt Shea Poses Threat of 'Political Violence' Against U.S. splcenter.org Washington state Rep. Matt Shea has been vocal about his support for antigovernment and anti-public lands activists in the West, and a new report alleges those activities pose a threat of "political violence" against the U.S. government.

The Canary (2019-12-20). The Home Office is causing 'additional trauma' to Windrush victims. thecanary.co Compensation payments for victims of the Windrush scandal are taking too long to be paid, campaigners have claimed as they hit out at the "slow and onerous" Home Office process.The Black Cultural Archives (BCA) group, lawyers acting on behalf of some victims and other activists said they are yet to speak to any victims who have received a final payout, with many waiting months for a response.Organisations and lawyers representing around 100 victims criticised the way claims need to be submitted, telling the PA news agency the complicated process was causing further "trauma".The Home Office said it was "wrong to c…

Staff (2019-12-18). Activists Cheer Approval of Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants in New York, New Jersey. democracynow.org People in New York and New Jersey are celebrating two victories for immigrants' rights. In New York, thousands of undocumented people waited in line for hours at Departments of Motor Vehicles on Monday to apply for a driver's license, as the "Green Light Law" went into effect six months after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed it. The law allows undocumented people to apply for a driver's license using alternative forms of identification instead of providing a Social Security Number. Meanwhile, in the neighboring state of New Jersey, state lawmakers also passed a bill Monday to allow undocumented people to app…

The Grayzone (2019-12-17). US Venezuelan embassy protectors denied right to fair trial. thegrayzone.com Four US activists protecting Venezuela's embassy in Washington, DC face prison time after the Trump administration illegally arrested them. And now…

Staff (2019-12-16). COP25 Was a Failure, But Activists' Collective Organizing at the Talks Was Unprecedented. democracynow.org 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.

Staff (2019-12-16). Trump's Executive Order on Anti-Semitism Attacks Free Speech, Palestinians, and Jews. therealnews.com Dima Khalidi discusses the legal and civil society ramifications of President Trump's executive order adopting the controversial IHRA working definition on antisemitism, defining Judaism as a race or nationality, which would threaten free speech on US campuses and sow divisions among US Jews, and criminalize the BDS movement.

Staff (2019-12-13). COP25: Developing Countries Charge Ahead with Bold Climate Plans as Rich Countries Drag Their Feet. democracynow.org As this year's United Nations climate summit wraps up in Madrid, Spain, many activists, scientists, indigenous and grassroots climate leaders say that rich countries most responsible for the climate emergency have spent the talks dialing back ambition and blocking progress. This comes as deadly droughts, flooding, cyclones and wildfires rage around the world. This week, more than 70 developing countries have announced they will accelerate their climate plans, and 72 countries have signed onto goals to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. But major emitters Australia, China, India, Brazil and Saudi Arabia have…

Hatewatch Staff and Rachel Janik (2019-12-06). Trump Officials Address Event Featuring Anti-LGBTQ Activists. splcenter.org A conference ostensibly meant to showcase "family policy" reveals how anti-LGBTQ groups have embraced strong-family rhetoric to push their agenda of intolerance.

Susan Price (2019-12-06). Scores of Papua activists across Indonesia await trial for treason. greenleft.org.au self-determination James BalowskiIssue 1248 Indonesia West Papua Indonesian occupation of West PapuaDecember 7, 2019Surya Anta Ginting, the national spokesperson for the pro-…

Kathy Kelly (2019-12-02). Trident is the Crime. zcomm.org The U.S. nuclear weapon arsenal creates anguish, fear and futility worldwide. Yet "holy ground" exists as activists work toward abolition of nuclear weapons…

Moon Of Alabama (2019-11-19). There Are Riots In Iran And The Usual Suspect Are On It. thelastamericanvagabond.com There are a few riots in Iran and Amnesty International is on it: Amnesty International @amnesty — 15: 50 UTC ∑ Nov 19, 2019 At least 106 protesters in 21 cities have been killed in #Iran, according to reports we have received. Verified video footage, eyewitness testimony & information gathered from activists outside Iran reveal a harrowing …

Hatewatch Staff (2019-11-13). Evangelical Franklin Graham Addresses Anti-LGBTQ Hate Group's Event. splcenter.org Influential evangelical leader Franklin Graham has continued his anti-LGBTQ associations by speaking to a hate group that brands "trans" activists as guilty of harming children.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-11-01). Venezuelan Leftist Parties and Unions Stage Protest, Demand Gov't Answers. venezuelanalysis.com Dozens of activists demanded better wages and respect for collective bargaining rights.

2019-12-24: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

Blood Memory Rising, Book Review of Standing with Standing Rock
Brenda Norrell | indybay.org | 2019-12-24
'Standing with Standing Rock,' is an encyclopedia of resistance, which chronicles the Water Protector movement from the first run to Washington, and on to the camps, and the surveillance by TigerSwan, to the ultimate international divestment campaign. In its 29 chapters are poetry, essays and discussions of Indigenous rights and Treaties.
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/12/20/1882904…

BDS Movement: Boris Johnson's BDS Ban Recalls Margaret Thatcher's Support of Apartheid South Africa
Yumna Patel | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-23
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement hit back at UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plans to ban public authorities from participating in the international movement boycotting Israeli goods. | …
globalresearch.ca/bds-movement-boris-johnson-bds-ban-recalls-margaret-thatcher-support-apartheid-south-africa/5698452

Is the UK Government Set to Define the Boycott of Israel as 'Antisemitic'?
Ben White | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-23
One of the first bills to be introduced by Britain's new Conservative government will reportedly stop "local authorities from boycotting individual companies", a move described as targeting the Palestinian-led boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. | The Conservative Party election manifesto…
globalresearch.ca/uk-government-set-define-boycott-israel-antisemitic/5698456

Decolonization and the Pursuit of an Egalitarian International Order
Daniel Immerwahr | thenation.com | 2019-12-23
Decolonization and the Pursuit of an Egalitarian International Order…
thenation.com/article/adom-getachew-worl…

'I've got a lot of problems with you people': Rand Paul unloads on Washington in Festivus Twitter tirade
rt.com | 2019-12-23
Government waste, neocon warmongers, and the ongoing impeachment circus: Senator Rand Paul is mad about a lot of things, and channeled his inner Seinfeld to air his grievances with the world. | Republican Senator Rand Paul (Kentucky) celebrates the fictional December 23 holiday of Festivus – immortalized by 'Seinfeld' in 1997 – with an annual "airing of grievances." After releasing his annual ' Festivus Report' on government overspending last week, the deficit-hawk Senator took to Twitter on Monday to air some more p…
rt.com/usa/476693-rand-paul-festivus-gri…

Child Labor Behind Chocolate Ferrero Rocher: UK Rights Group
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-22
The hazelnuts used by the chocolate company Ferrero in its products, including the famous Ferrero Rocher, and sold across the world for Christmas, may have been harvested by children working in the agricultural sector in Turkey, human rights campaigners denounced Friday. | RELATED: | Outrage as 2 McDonald's Employees Found Electrocuted in Peru | The Guardian reported that interviews with child workers filmed by United Kingdom campaigning group WeMove Europe and the Centre for C…
telesurenglish.net/news/Chocolate-Compan…

The Real Lesson of Afghanistan? Regime Change Does Not Work
Medea Benjamin | mintpressnews.com | 2019-12-20
The debacle in Afghanistan is only one case in a fundamentally flawed U.S. policy with worldwide consequences. New quasi-governments installed by U.S. "regime change" in country after country have proven more corrupt, less legitimate and less able to control their nation's territory than the ones the U.S. has destroyed.
mintpressnews.com/real-lesson-afghanista…

BDS movement defiant after Tories announce anti-boycott measures and threaten international solidarity
Tom Anderson | thecanary.co | 2019-12-20
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaigners have responded defiantly to Tory plans to pass an anti-BDS law. | The law is a threat to any international solidarity campaign which seeks to boycott companies or products because of the state policies of another country. As such, it presents a threat to international solidarity efforts as a whole. | Boycotting Israeli apartheid: | BDS is an international movement calling for a boycott of Israeli goods. It also calls for grassroots groups to initiate boycott campaigns against companies complicit in Israel…
thecanary.co/opinion/2019/12/20/bds-movement-defiant-after-tories-announce-anti-boycott-measures-and-threaten-international-solidarity/

Investigation: Washington State Rep. Matt Shea Poses Threat of 'Political Violence' Against U.S
splcenter.org | 2019-12-20
Washington state Rep. Matt Shea has been vocal about his support for antigovernment and anti-public lands activists in the West, and a new report alleges those activities pose a threat of "political violence" against the U.S. government.
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/12/20/inves…

The Home Office is causing 'additional trauma' to Windrush victims
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-12-20
Compensation payments for victims of the Windrush scandal are taking too long to be paid, campaigners have claimed as they hit out at the "slow and onerous" Home Office process.The Black Cultural Archives (BCA) group, lawyers acting on behalf of some victims and other activists said they are yet to speak to any victims who have received a final payout, with many waiting months for a response.Organisations and lawyers representing around 100 victims criticised the way claims need to be submitted, telling the PA news agency the complicated process was causing further "trauma".The Home Office said it was "wrong to c…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2019/12/20/the-home-office-is-causing-additional-trauma-to-windrush-victims/

11 Pro Impeachment Activists Arrested at McConnell's Office
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-12-20
By The People is a grassroots group that has been pushing for impeachment for a long time. Instead of taking a pause to celebrate victory, they showed up at Senator McConnell's office to demand that the Senate take the charges against Trump seriously. Watch Marc Steiner interview By The People volunteer Adiel Pollydore about the…
therealnews.com/stories/11-pro-impeachme…

Activists Demand a Migrant Justice Platform as Democratic Candidates Discuss Immigration in Debate
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-12-20
Protesters for immigrant rights demonstrated outside the Democratic debate Thursday in Los Angeles, displaying a banner that read "Migrant Justice on Day One" and demanding a moratorium on deportations and immigrant worker protections. We look at how the candidates responded, with Erika Andiola, chief advocacy officer for RAICES, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services. "I'm really happy that immigration came up this time around," she notes. "In the past few debates, the issue didn't even come up."
www.democracynow.org/2019/12/20/democrat…

Activists Cheer Approval of Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants in New York, New Jersey
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-12-18
People in New York and New Jersey are celebrating two victories for immigrants' rights. In New York, thousands of undocumented people waited in line for hours at Departments of Motor Vehicles on Monday to apply for a driver's license, as the "Green Light Law" went into effect six months after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed it. The law allows undocumented people to apply for a driver's license using alternative forms of identification instead of providing a Social Security Number. Meanwhile, in the neighboring state of New Jersey, state lawmakers also passed a bill Monday to allow undocumented people to app…
www.democracynow.org/2019/12/18/newyork_…

US Venezuelan embassy protectors denied right to fair trial
The Grayzone | thegrayzone.com | 2019-12-17
Four US activists protecting Venezuela's embassy in Washington, DC face prison time after the Trump administration illegally arrested them. And now…
thegrayzone.com/2019/12/16/venezuelan-em…

Trump's Executive Order on Anti-Semitism Attacks Free Speech, Palestinians, and Jews
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-12-16
Dima Khalidi discusses the legal and civil society ramifications of President Trump's executive order adopting the controversial IHRA working definition on antisemitism, defining Judaism as a race or nationality, which would threaten free speech on US campuses and sow divisions among US Jews, and criminalize the BDS movement.
therealnews.com/stories/trumps-executive…

COP25 Was a Failure, But Activists' Collective Organizing at the Talks Was Unprecedented
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-12-16
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.
www.democracynow.org/2019/12/16/cop25_fa…

COP25: Developing Countries Charge Ahead with Bold Climate Plans as Rich Countries Drag Their Feet
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-12-13
As this year's United Nations climate summit wraps up in Madrid, Spain, many activists, scientists, indigenous and grassroots climate leaders say that rich countries most responsible for the climate emergency have spent the talks dialing back ambition and blocking progress. This comes as deadly droughts, flooding, cyclones and wildfires rage around the world. This week, more than 70 developing countries have announced they will accelerate their climate plans, and 72 countries have signed onto goals to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. But major emitters Australia, China, India, Brazil and Saudi Arabia have…
www.democracynow.org/2019/12/13/cop25_de…

Trump Officials Address Event Featuring Anti-LGBTQ Activists
Hatewatch Staff and Rachel Janik | splcenter.org | 2019-12-06
A conference ostensibly meant to showcase "family policy" reveals how anti-LGBTQ groups have embraced strong-family rhetoric to push their agenda of intolerance.
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/12/06/trump…

Scores of Papua activists across Indonesia await trial for treason
Susan Price | greenleft.org.au | 2019-12-06
self-determination James BalowskiIssue 1248 Indonesia West Papua Indonesian occupation of West PapuaDecember 7, 2019Surya Anta Ginting, the national spokesperson for the pro-…
greenleft.org.au/content/scores-papua-activists-across-indonesia-await-trial-treason

Trident is the Crime
Kathy Kelly | zcomm.org | 2019-12-02
The U.S. nuclear weapon arsenal creates anguish, fear and futility worldwide. Yet "holy ground" exists as activists work toward abolition of nuclear weapons…
zcomm.org/zmagazine/trident-is-the-crime…