Everyone: call on McDonalds to [ pledge to reject palm oil made from deforestation ]( https://secure3.convio.net/ucs/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=4257 ) . I have never eaten at McDonalds, because I don't need to repeat someone else's mistake in order to learn from it. McDonalds makes fast food — food for not eating.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_palm_oil_made_from_deforestation%29

US citizens: call on the FCC to [ reject the Comcast-TWC merger ]( http://act.presente.org/sign/twcomcast/ ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_the_Comcast-TWC_merger%29

The public school reality that white Americans won't see: cuts in spending, especially on schools in poor neighborhoods, [ track the children (mostly minority groups) into bad lives ]( http://educationopportunitynetwork.org/back-to-schools-white-people-cannot-see/ ) (or [ prison ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#11_June_2014_(Imprisonment_of_US_teenagers) ) ). The various "education reform" programs that the US has seen since 2000 in effect pretend to compensate for these cuts with burdensome handwaving. The result is that poor American children have been forced into what we might call [ "reform school" ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2014-mar-jun.html#09_April_2014_(US_Common_Core) ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#23_August_2014_%28Public_school_spending_cuts%29

The UN human rights chief says the Security Council's ineffectiveness on Syria caused [ hundreds of thousands of deaths ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/22/un-human-rights-commissioner-attacks-security-council-syria-navi-pillay ) . However, there is was [ no proper action the Security Council could have taken in regard to Syria ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2011-jul-oct.html#05_August_2011_(Syrian_Regime) ) , even if it had not been paralyzed between the US and Russia. The US and UK are now being drawn by necessity into [ allying with Assad in Syria against ISIS ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/22/iraqi-kurdish-forces-attacks-recapture-towns-isis ) . The only chance for supporting opposition to Assad with good results was when the opposition was not jihadi. I think Saudi Arabia and Qatar are to blame for the [ jihadists in Syria ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2014-mar-jun.html#26_April_2014_(The_overthrow_of_Assad) ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#23_August_2014_%28The_Security_Council_and_Syria%29

India has [ censored a film about the assassination of Indira Gandhi ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/22/india-indira-gandhi-assassination-film-violent-protest ) because of the political slant of certain scenes. This shows [ where the UK will get to if it continues down the path of political censorship ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#23_August_2014_(UK_censorship_in_politics) ) . A censorship board that does its job "honestly" is a bigger threat to human rights than one that can be bribed not to censor.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#23_August_2014_%28India_censors_film%29

The school-to-prison pipeline at work: a student in South Carolina was suspended from school, then arrested, for writing a [ story about shooting a pet dinosaur ]( http://www.nbc12.com/story/26319685/cops-summerville-high-school-student-arrested-after-writing-threatening-message-on-assignment#.U_TP-L15fAN.twitter ) . The thugs say he was arrested for his reaction when the thugs threatened him. Of course, being threatened by armed thugs who [ can put you in prison by lying about you ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2004-may-aug.html#06%20July%202004%20(Police%20Tyrants) ) is enough to rattle most anyone. It takes training and experience to avoid giving them something they can twist into an excuse to put you in the wrong.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#23_August_2014_%28School-to-prison_pipeline%29

Pranksters accused of painting the side of a building in Moscow are [ threatened with 7 years in prison ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/22/four-accused-painting-moscow-building-star-ukraine-colours-face-jail ) . They say they did not do the painting, but the more important point is that whoever did the painting should not be imprisoned.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Pranksters_threatened_with_prison%29

A Palestinian mortar rocket [ killed an Israeli child ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/22/bomb-gaza-kills-child-four-israel ) . Firing mortars at towns is a war crime, just like the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Mortar_fired_into_town_kills_child%29

A teacher in the US was [ punished for allowing students to reenact two controversial killings ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/22/alabama-teacher-michael-brown-trayvon-martin-suspended-students ) , which the students themselves selected as important current events. I don't see why students should not learn about these events in that way.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Student_reenactment_of_killings%29

US right-wing racists are [ raising funds to support the thug that killed Michael Brown ]( http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/08/darren-wilson-donors-racist-ferguson ) , cheering on the killing of more blacks.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Racists_cheer_killing_of_blacks%29

Most of the Russian "humanitarian aid" trucks entered Ukraine [ without inspection ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/22/russian-convoy-crosses-border-ukraine-without-permission ) . Putin would never go to such trouble for humanitarian purposes. This must have some harmful motive.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Russian_humanitarian_aid%29

Privatization in Britain has followed the path of privatization in Russia, leading to an [ immense transfer of wealth to the new owners ]( http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/22/sale-of-century-privatisation-scam ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Privatization_in_Britain%29

The US is [ not giving much information ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/21/information-scarce-warnings-mount-us-expands-war-iraq ) about its fighting in Iraq. Drone weapons turn out to be convenient for suppressing journalism. In Dubya's invasion of Iraq, the Bush forces pressured nearly all journalists to "embed", which both limited their movements and pressured them to bias their coverage. But there's not even room for an embedded reporter in a drone.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28US_fighting_in_Iraq%29

[ Why Hollywood treats abortions as shocking and shameful ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/22/hollywood-stance-abortion-1980s-liberal-obvious-childa ) — in contrast to the 1980s, when it treated them as no big deal.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Hollywood_treatment_of_abortions%29

Shi'ite fanatics attacked a Sunni mosque in Iraq, [ killing almost 100 people ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/22/shia-attack-sunni-mosque-iraq ) . Aside from being an atrocity, this will help ISIS gain support and commit atrocities.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Fanatics_attack_mosque_in_Iraq%29

Uri Avnery on [ why Israel wants to keep fighting in Gaza ]( http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/channels/avnery/1408715198/ ) . Avnery suspects that the three rockets supposedly launched from Gaza weren't really launched from Gaza.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Why_Israel_wants_to_keep_fighting_in_Gaza%29

US citizens: Sign [ this petition ]( http://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=10264 ) to stop providing heavy weapons to thugs.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_No_heavy_weapons_for_thugs%29

Everyone: [ tell Google ]( http://shpg.org/170/9039 ) to stop supporting ALEC. ALEC lobbies for damaging laws in US states and cities, but you don't need to be a US citizen to put pressure on Google.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_End_Googles_support_for_ALEC%29

The UK must [ nationalize the trains; privatizing them was wrong ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/24/stop-picking-passengers-pockets-renationalise-britains-trains ) . Privatization of a government service is generally harmful unless it allows the public to buy from a free competitive market. Otherwise, the private owners increase their profits by shafting the public, the workers, or both.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28UK_must_nationalize_the_trains%29

US citizens: Americans, comment to the EPA to [ support regulation of pollution from oil refineries ]( https://secure.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=14108 ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Support_regulation_of_pollution_from_oil_refineries%29

US citizens: call on the Fish and Wildlife Service to [ list the northern long-eared bat as an endangered species ]( https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2783 ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_List_the_northern_long-eared_bat_as_endangered%29

Two different ocean cycles coincided in [ sinking Earth's acquired heat for the past decade ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/21/global-warming-slowdown-answer-lies-in-depths-of-atlantic-study-finds ) , so that the atmosphere didn't warm all that much.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Ocean_cycles_coincided_in_sinking_Earth%27s_acquired_heat%29

[ Ferguson relates to net neutrality ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/08/21/fergusons-about-net-neutrality-too ) , which enables people to spread the word about what the thugs are doing. It also relates to censorship by Facebook and [ now Twitter too ]( https://www.stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#15_June_2014_%28Twitter_Is_Censoring_Us%29 ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Ferguson_relates_to_net_neutrality%29

What Britain would have [ if it had avoided Tony B'liar ]( http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/24/old-labour-better-new-britain-roy-hattersley-tony-blair ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28What_Britain_would_have_if_it_had_avoided_Tony_B%27liar%29

The US may be funding compensation for civilians killed in Yemen while [ refusing to admit killing them ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/19/yemeni-governments-payouts-evidence-civilians-killed-us-drone-attack ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28US_compensation_for_civilians_killed_in_Yemen%29

Australia's proposal for increased surveillance is written so broadly that the spy agency would be [ allowed to access any computer on the internet ]( http://www.zdnet.com/au/new-powers-could-give-asio-a-warrant-for-the-entire-internet-7000032715/?s_cid=e551&ttag=e551&ftag=TRE7ed2633 ) . The governmenyt says wiping out privacy is supposed to be legitimate because "we're protecting you". The usual stupid excuse of tyrants.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Australia%27s_proposal_for_increased_surveillance%29

A Hamas representative living in Turkey said that Hamas was [ responsible for kidnaping and killing three Israeli teenagers ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/21/hamas-kidnapping-three-israeli-teenagers-saleh-al-arouri-qassam-brigades ) . However, there are doubts about whether the Hamas leadership really ordered the kidnaping is not clear.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28The_kidnaping_and_killing_of_three_Israeli_teenagers%29

The Lac Mégantic oil train explosion was [ a disaster waiting to happen ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/20/corporate-profits-trumped-public-safety-lac-megantic ) , due to weak safety rules granted to railroad magnates by an evidenly corrupted government.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28The_Lac_Megantic_oil_train_explosion%29

Everyone: tell Starbucks to [ offer employees a fair and predictable work week ]( https://www.coworker.org/petitions/starbucks-employees-need-a-fair-workweek ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_A_fair_and_predictable_work_week%29

The Center for Media and Democracy, which often reports on ALEC's lobbying, believes that [ a right-wing operative is trying to do a hatchet job. ]( http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/08/12575/cmd-and-target-attack-journalism ) He's the one who destroyed ACORN by publishing a misleading video.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#24_August_2014_%28Right-Wing_operative_trying_to_do_a_hatchet_job%29

[ Ferguson's Black Community Must Not Be Given the Same 'Justice' As Trayvon Martin ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/22/ferguson-black-community-justice-elusive-michael-brown ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Fergusons_black_community%29

Despite Abbott's mystification, [ his policies ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/southern-crossroads/2014/aug/22/tony-abbott-climate-denial-weathervane-nihilism ) clearly reflect the intention to push global heating to the max.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Abbott_to_push_global_heating%29

A thug from the vicinity of Ferguson was "relieved of duty" after it was seen that he had made a [ bigoted right-wing speech ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/22/police-officer-video-relieved-black-people-ferguson-dan-page ) in an organization primarily of thugs and soldiers. The thug has not been fired.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Ferguson_thug_relieved_of_duty%29

US thugs are [ campaigning ]( http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/21/swat-lobby-takes-a-shot-at-congress.html ) to continue receiving military weapons and gear.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28US_thugs_want_more_military_weapons%29

Satellite observations show that the melting of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets has [ doubled since 2009 ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/24/incredible-polar-ice-loss-cryosat-antarctica-greenland ) . Don't buy land within a few meters of sea level!
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Melting_of_ice_sheets%29

A lousy US university has imposed [ censorship on network access ]( http://betabeat.com/2014/08/university-bans-social-medial-political-content-and-wikipedia-pages-on-dorm-wifi/ ) for students and others on campus.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28US_university_imposes_censorship%29

The Obama regime [ argues in court that the Nuremberg trials are legally irrelevant ]( http://www.globalresearch.ca/iraq-war-u-s-argues-nuremberg-irrelevant-to-immunity-of-bush-officials/5396665 ) to the culpability of Bush and his officials for the crime of aggressive war. It is easy for US law to define US officials as legally immune from prosecution for whatever crime it may be. The moral argument is harder for them to win.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Obama_regime_argues_Nuremberg_irrelevant%29

The reason it is so unpleasant to deal with Comcast is that [ call center staff are under pressure to sell something ]( http://www.theverge.com/2014/8/19/6028059/training-materials-show-how-comcast-pushes-customer-service-reps-to ) , regardless of the purpose of the call.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Unpleasantness_of_Comcast%29

The ACLU says that [ the First Amendment was "suspended" in Ferguson ]( http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/aclu-first-amendment-suspended-ferguson ) ; the right to protest, or report on protest, was loaded with impossible requirements. It points out that journalism in the US is [ under general attack ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/08/21/journalism-under-attack-and-not-just-ferguson ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Suspension_of_the_First_Amendment%29

Genetically engineered eucalyptus trees won't directly hurt people, but they have the potential to do [ great ecological harm ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/21/us-brazil-nearing-approval-genetically-engineered-trees ) and encourage land grabs.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28GE_eucalyptus_trees%29

[ From Gaza to Ferguson: Exposing the Toolbox of Racist Repression ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/08/22/gaza-ferguson-exposing-toolbox-racist-repression ) . The US has seen cycles of racial segregation and desegregation in different areas. Segregated areas for blacks tend to be ruled by whites, with thugs that [ repress the black inhabitants on various pretexts ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/24/michael-brown-ferguson-race-mission ) . Ferguson became poor, where people can barely get by from week to week and people can't afford education, as a [ result of companies' moving manufacturing out of the US ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/21/ferguson-community-suffers-clashes-jobs-equality ) . Being poor, they are continually harassed by the US legal system, which in 2013 delivered [ three warrants per household ]( http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2014/08/ferguson-and-the-debtors-prison.html ) in the town.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Racist_repression%29

Islamists took control of Tripoli, bringing about the [ semipermanent fracture of Libya ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/24/libya-capital-under-islamist-control-tripoli-airport-seized-operation-dawn ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Tripoli_under_Islamist_control%29

Israel [ completely destroyed ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/24/israel-airstrikes-destroy-gaza-buildings ) two large buildings in Gaza, saying that Hamas was using space in them. One of them had 44 apartments. Hamas should not have used one of them for warlike activities — if indeed it did so; I would not take Israel's word for that. But if Hamas did so, that doesn't excuse destroying the building.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Israel_destroys_two_large_buildings%29

The black citizens of Ferguson [ do not expect justice for Michael Brown ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/24/ferguson-residents-michael-brown-shooting ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28No_expectation_of_justice_for_Brown%29

Economic growth used to require more energy use, but now it is possible to invest in energy efficiency leading to [ growth with less energy use ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/24/growth-enemy-planet-gdp-burning-fossil-fuels-technology ) . Many governments don't do that, because they have surrendered to the fossil fuel companies, which won't permit it.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Economic_growth_with_less_energy_use%29

[ Austerity Has Made Europe's Depression Longer Than In The 1930s ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/08/24/austerity-has-made-europes-depression-longer-1930s ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Austerity_in_Europe%29

[ Beijing Independent Film Festival Shut Down by Chinese Authorities ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/24/beijing-independent-film-festival-shut-down-china-freedom ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Chinese_film_festival_shut_down%29

Various states and parties in the Muslim world are [ declaring their opposition to ISIS ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/24/isis-al-qaida-failure-to-address-extremism ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Opposition_to_ISIS%29

The government of India has [ permitted the entry of GMOs, disregarding its own laws over and over ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/08/24/gmos-monsanto-and-galileo-syndrome ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28India_has_permitted_the_entry_of_GMOs%29

The head of the Missouri Republican Party thinks it is [ shameful that voter registration booths have been set up in Ferguson ]( http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/19/1323015/-Missouri-GOP-Outraged-About-Voter-Registration-Booths-In-Ferguson?detail=email ) . Republicans can't count on [ voter-suppression laws ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2011-nov-feb.html#19_December_2011_%28Voter-Suppression_Laws%29 ) to prevent black citizens from voting; some of them will succeed in voting if they try.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_August_2014_%28Voter_registration_booths_in_Ferguson%29