(2021-12-21). United States and Israeli Intransigence vis-à -vis Iran. dissidentvoice.org 
In 2015, the United States signed what is popularly referred to as the JCPOA (the joint comprehensive plan of action) a deal involving Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) designed to limit the capacity of Iran to develop nuclear weapons. In exchange for their signature, the …
(2021-12-21). UK Imperialism Tightens its Grasp on Venezuela's Gold. orinocotribune.com The case of the Venezuelan gold seized by the United Kingdom continues to develop as the UK Supreme Court ruled earlier today that the case should now be referred to the Commercial Court. The UK Supreme Court stated that it could not contradict the decision of the country's Executive, which alarmingly—and in a contradictory fashion—continues to recognize former deputy Juan Guaidó as "interim president." | The UK Supreme Court explained in its ruling that the UK courts cannot contradict the government, which claims to recognize the self-proclaimed president and not the Constitutional President, Nicolás…
(2021-12-21). Why activists need art to create social change. nationofchange.org The authors of a new book on artistic activism discuss the importance of fighting on the terrain of popular culture to reach a mass audience.
(2021-12-21). "Shut Down Those Tanks": Anger Grows in Hawaii After U.S. Navy Fuel Site Contaminates Water. democracynow.org 
The United States Navy is facing growing calls to permanently shut down one of their fuel storage facilities in Hawaii after a petroleum leak contaminated the water supply that serves over 90,000 families around the naval base of Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu. The storage site, called the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, has long been protested by environmental activists in part because of its location just 100 feet above the primary groundwater aquifer for Honolulu and the rest of Oahu. We speak with two Native Hawaiian guests: civil rights lawyer Camille Kalama and Kamanamaikalani Beamer, a former comm…
(2021-12-21). Gabriel Boric Win in Chile Is "Huge Victory" for Social Movements That Fought Off Far-Right Threat. democracynow.org 
Former student activist and leftist Gabriel Boric will become Chile's youngest president after easily defeating the far-right candidate José Antonio Kast with over 55% of the vote. Boric has vowed to fight for progressive social reforms and overhaul the neoliberal economic policies left by the U.S.-backed dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet. We speak with Chilean writer Pablo Abufom and feminist activist Javiera Manzi, who say Boric's victory signals an opening for progressive policy in Chile and Latin America more broadly.
(2021-12-21). Iran, Saudi Arabia FMs hold brief meeting in Pakistan. moderndiplomacy.eu The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia held a brief meeting in Islamabad on Sunday on the sidelines of a regional summit on Afghanistan, the spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry said. Speaking during a presser on Monday, Saeed Khatibzadeh said, "The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia had a brief meeting on the …
(2021-12-21). The diplomatic waltz rounds of the United Arab Emirates. moderndiplomacy.eu Abu Dhabi sets aside differences between the seven United Arab Emirates (Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, Dubai and Fujairah) for rapprochement with Iran, in line with its bilateral dialogue with other countries in the region. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has initiated a process of rapprochement with Iran. In the …
(2021-12-21). US and Israel Oppose Rapprochement of UAE and Iran. journal-neo.org 
The aspiration of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to become an essential independent geopolitical player in the Middle East is perceived with great wariness and jealousy in Washington and Tel Aviv, openly not wishing to release Abu Dhabi "from their ranks." Of particular concern to the USA and Israel was the announcement on November 30 …
(2021-12-21). President Maduro Congratulates Chile's Next President Gabriel Boric. orinocotribune.com 
Gabriel Boric was elected as president of Chile by the Apruebo Dignidad coalition. The 35-year old former student leader is the youngest president in the history of the country. In his term as a deputy, and during his campaign, Boric raised the issues of inclusion, decentralization and equal rights as cornerstones of his electoral campaign but questioned Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, repeating a familiar US and European imperialist narrative. | When the results were announced, Boric was immediately congratulated by his counterparts through the region. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro celebrated the election…
(2021-12-21). Venezuela Mourns Earle Herrera, Mentor for Journalists & Remarkable Chavista. orinocotribune.com 
Through his Twitter account, Venezuelan Minister for Communication and Information Freddy àëáñez announced the passing of prominent journalist and remarkable Chavista Earle Herrera. "I am very sorry for the death of Earle Herrera, an institution in journalism, a lucid man and faithful to ideas," wrote àëáñez. "His articles accompanied us with humor and intelligence on sunny and rainy days, and now with his silence he will continue to demand more from us. Until we meet again, maestro." | Born in El Tigrito, Anzoátegui state, on April 23, 1949, Herrera was an outstanding professor at the Central Universit…
(2021-12-21). Venezuela condemns British Supreme court ruling to maintain blockade on gold. peoplesdispatch.org The Central Bank of Venezuela has been engaged in a legal battle to recover 31 tons of public gold deposited at the Bank of England…
(2021-12-20). Yemen and Afghanistan Face Unprecedented Famine — Crimes of Mass Starvation. journal-neo.org 
Sounding the alarm this December Nicholas Papachrysostomou, MSF head of mission in Yemen made clear that well beyond the many casualties War claimed over the past seven years, famine weighs much heavier on the war-torn nation, a fate Afghanistan unfortunately shares. "A nearly seven-year long conflict has badly affected the country's economy and weakened an …
(2021-12-20). Speaking Truth to Empire about Metaverse and Civil Liberties. warisacrime.org Speaking Truth to Empire on KFCF 88.1 FM independently owned and locally operated since 1975 in Fresno, Dan Yaseen interviews John Whitehead, an attorney and author who has written, debated and practiced widely in the area of constitutional law and human rights. Whitehead's concern for the persecuted and oppressed led him, in 1982, to establish …
(2021-12-20). Youth election observers share Nicaragua experience at D.C. event. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Challenging the narrative parroted by U.S. corporate media about Nicaragua's November elections was the focus of an event here on Sunday, Dec. 12 Solidarity activists and friends from the D.C. metropolitan area gathered for a session co-hosted by the Friends of Latin America and the Claudia Jones School for Political Education. Youth observers who participated …
(2021-12-20). Extinction Rebellion Blockade To Protest Nationality And Borders Bill. popularresistance.org The activists locked themselves to each other and to the property's gates from about 7am on Monday. The protesters, from XR Scotland and XR Glasgow, are calling on the UK government "to end its hostile environment policy towards migrants". They said the demonstration has been organized in response to home secretary Priti Patel's Nationality and Borders Bill passing through the House Of Commons.
(2021-12-20). Extinction Rebellion Block Home Office Building To Protest Nationality And Borders Bill. popularresistance.org The activists locked themselves to each other and to the property's gates from about 7am on Monday. The protesters, from XR Scotland and XR Glasgow, are calling on the UK government "to end its hostile environment policy towards migrants". They said the demonstration has been organized in response to home secretary Priti Patel's Nationality and Borders Bill passing through the House Of Commons.
(2021-12-20). West Complicit in Arming Chile to Violate Mapuche Rights. towardfreedom.org Between former U.S.-backed dictator Augusto Pinochet's terror laws being used to criminalize Mapuche elders and activists, the United States and the United Kingdom arming Chile's security forces, and the failure of international agencies to treat the Mapuche conflict with urgency, the West appears complicit in the genocide of the Mapuche people.
(2021-12-20). On Contact: America's War Machine. popularresistance.org Chris Hedges discusses with Andrew Cockburn his new book, 'The Spoils of War — Power, Profit and the American War Machine'. | Cockburn's book lays bare the naked lust for profit that is behind America's endless wars and bloated military budget. The American war machine, he writes, can only be understood in terms of the "private passions" and "interests" of those who control it — principally, a passionate interest in making money.
(2021-12-20). 'Fortress Conservation' Is Driving Us From Our Homes. popularresistance.org Kaziranga is also a World Heritage site recognized by UNESCO and listed as a global hotspot of biodiversity by the IUCN. However, all that is under threat thanks to an increasingly militarized form of conservation. This is being promoted by the Indian Forest Department, in a feudal, colonial setup, assisted by large international and national NGOs. A flawed and exploitative idea has emerged: the plan to turn 30 per cent of the world's surface into Protected Areas by 2030 (30×30). This idea, being pushed by the IUCN, has been greenwashed, whitewashed and sold to the world, alongside 'nature-based solutions' (NBS),…
(2021-12-20). "The Cuban Soberana vaccine is not due to a miracle but the consequence of political decisions" peoplesdispatch.org From November 15 to 25, 35 Italian volunteers participated in a clinical trial on the Soberana vaccine in Havana, Cuba. Thanks to its public and high quality biotechnological research and health care system, the Caribbean island is the only low-income country worldwide to have made its own COVID-19 vaccines…
(2021-12-20). UK Gold Ruling Based on 'Illegal Interference' in Venezuela. venezuelanalysis.com "Juan Guaido has never been elected president of Venezuela and his recognition as such is itself a crime," argued international law expert Dock Currie.