The [ UN reports on the atrocities in Syria ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/27/syria-isis-war-crimes-united-nations-un ) , committed by Assad's army and by ISIS.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28UN_reports_on_the_atrocities_in_Syria%29

Three Vietnamese activists who protested for democracy [ were jailed for "obstructing traffic" ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/27/us-alarm-vietnam-democracy-activists-jailed ) . Did Vietnam bring in thugs from Ferguson? This sounds awfully like what they did to [ some journalists ]( https://www.stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#20_August_2014_%28Journalist_reports_on_his_arrest_in_Ferguson%29 ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Three_Vietnamese_activists_jailed%29

A Koch brothers front group claims that [ net neutrality is "marxist" ]( http://motherboard.vice.com/read/net-neutrality-is-marxist-according-to-this-koch-backed-astroturf-group ) . The Koch brothers figure that any absurd claim will pass for true if they get enough organizations to say it often enough.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Net_neutrality_is_marxist%29

The ban on GMOs in Kaua'i was [ overturned in court ]( http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/08/12579/federal-judge-overturns-kauai-pesticide-and-gmo-law ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Ban_on_GMOs_in_Kaua%27i_overturned%29

US citizens: [ call for protection of monarch butterflies ]( http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-the-us-fish-wildlife?mailing_id=24809&source=s.icn.em.cr&r_by=623500 ) , whose numbers have fallen by 90%. Please don't distort the formerly useful word "decimate". It means killing ten percent of something. (The Romans used this as a punishment for military units that mutinied and then surrendered.) What we have done to the monarch butterflies is far worse than decimation.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Call_for_protection_of_monarch_butterflies%29

Everyone: call on Burger King to [ drop its tax dodging plan ]( http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/burger-king-dont-try ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Call_on_Burger_King_to_drop_tax_dodging_plan%29

New coal-fired electric plants in Europe threatens to [ wipe out all its savings in CO2 emissions ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/27/coal-power-stations-eu-emissions-target ) . If solar power and more advanced batteries catch on, these plants will be [ lost investments ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/27/ubs-investors-renewables-revolution ) . I suspect that the owners are getting a subsidy to build them, or a loan from the state that will never be repaid if the plants become unnecessary.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28New_coal_electric_plants_in_Europe%29

In an Australian state, one party [ proposes to escalate the war on drugs ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/27/victorian-election-labor-promises-harsher-crystal-meth-penalties ) . I think it is a bad idea to use methamphetamine, but the war on drugs does [ worse harm than the drugs ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2009-mar-jun.html#10%20April%202009%20(Legalizing%20drugs%20would%20save%20billions) ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28War_on_drugs_in_Australia%29

The US equivalent of Iraq Body Count has found that US thugs kill about 3 times as many people as the FBI reports — [ around 1100 a year ]( http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/another-much-higher-count-of-police-homicides/ ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Rate_of_killing_by_US_thugs%29

Universities were once considered a way to benefit society by spreading learning and giving the non-rich a path to advance; now they [ mainly maintain the elite status quo ]( https://www.opendemocracy.net/john-holmwood/patrimonial-capitalism-and-end-of-liberal-university ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Universities%29

The UK thugs [ didn't bother investigating the murder of Ricky Reel ]( http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/27/the-police-were-spying-on-me-rather-than-looking-for-rickys-killers-sukhdev-reel ) , apparently for racist motives, because they were too busy investigating his family as they campaigned for a proper investigation of the murder.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28UK_thugs_priorities%29

The indefinite cease-fire in Gaza includes some relaxation of the siege, but [ not entirely ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/27/ceasefire-ends-bombing-gaza-lasting-peace-has-larger-demands ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28The_cease-fire_in_Gaza%29

Suggestion: the US has [ no more obligation to fight Assad in Syria than it has to fight the rulers of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, etc. ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/08/27/lets-treat-assad-fairly-any-other-pro-west-dictator-middle-east ) When Assad faced a campaign of peaceful protests for human rights, that campaign merited support on ethical grounds. Today's situation is totally different. When a violent uprising started in parallel with that campaign, Assad said it was started by Islamists, and that may have been true. Once the fighting started, various Sunni groups, reportedly less fanatical, joined in; but they have been eclipsed by the jihadi groups funded by Saudi Arabia and Qatar. That the US does not have to fight all these dictators does not mean it must or should give them strong support, as it does now. The reasons the US government has stated for supporting so many Arab dictators and monarchs are: to oppose the Soviet Union (obsolete), and to promote stability. Ironically, this practice has had the effect, across decades, of enabling Islamist fanatics to win the support of those who oppose the dictators and monarchs for other reasons.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28US_not_obligated_to_fight_in_Syria%29

Shaker Aamer, held without charges in Guantanamo, is now being [ beaten daily by the guards ]( http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2014/08/27/shaker-aamer-beaten-latest-guantanamo-crackdown ) as punishment for protesting his imprisonment.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Shaker_Aamer_beaten_for_protesting%29

The Obama regime, obedient to the banksters as usual, fined Goldman Sachs for fraud, but [ will allow Goldman Sachs to deduct the fine from its taxes ]( http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2014/08/27/last-weeks-other-big-bank-settlement-also-shifts-burden-taxpayers ) and recover 1/3 of it.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Obama_regimes_obedience_to_banksters%29

The question of whether to intervene in Iraq includes questions about [ what sort of intervention it would be, and with what goal ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/28/debate-over-military-intervention-isis-iraq-too-simplistic ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Whether_to_intervene_in_Iraq%29

Not all safety advice constitutes [ victim-blaming ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/28/culture-rape-victim-blame-too-far ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Safety_advice_and_victim-blaming%29

The Ukrainian army says that the [ Russian army has invaded ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/28/ukraine-russian-fighting-second-front-mariupol ) and is attacking the city of Mariupol, after weeks of bombardment from Russian territory. It appears that Putin has decided on a real covert war of conquest, [ not the provocation/distraction from Crimea that I thought this was ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2014-mar-jun.html#23_March_2014_(Russia_aggrees_to_European_monitoring_mission) ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Putins_covert_war_of_conquest%29

The Australian government's next excuse to step on the downtrodden: [ punishing those who miss a job interview ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/28/abbott-government-bid-tighten-excuses-missing-job-interviews-fails-australia ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Stepping_on_the_downtrodden%29

Renewable energy now [ generates 22% of electricity ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/28/renewable-energy-capacity-grows-fastest-ever-pace ) , but politicians are working hard to slow the growth rate. When you compare the cost of renewable energy subsidies with the damage global heating will do, the former is clearly less. It's also much less than the fossil fuel subsidies, which the same politicians don't complain about. Clearly that cost is not the real reason. I think the reason for this is fossil fuel company money.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Renewable_energy%29

How the US government's [ basic error ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2014/aug/28/state-department-underestimates-keystone-carbon-pollution ) leads to underestimating the CO2 emissions from Keystone XL.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Estimated_emissions_from_Keystone_XL%29

Market Basket's old CEO, that customers and workers supported, [ has returned ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/28/market-basket-ceo-supermarket-standoff ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Market_Baskets_old_CEO_returns%29

Australia's next offensive for the fossil fuel companies is to [ eliminate new spending on conversion to renewable energy ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/28/renewable-energy-target-review-calls-scheme-closed-new-entrants ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Australias_spending_on_energy%29

Muslim and Jewish leaders in Britain say, [ let's export peace to Gaza ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/28/britain-muslims-jews-export-peace-gaza ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Export_peace_to_Gaza%29

Elizabeth Warren is [ right wing ]( https://firstlook.org/theintercept/?p=3902 ) in regard to Israel's occupation of Palestine.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Warren_on_Israels_occupation%29

A prohibition on cohabitation, effectively Mormon polygamous marriages though not saying so, has been [ overturned in a court ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/28/utah-strikes-down-polygamy-ban-sister-wives ) . There is a secular polyamory community, which I support. We believe that polyamorous relationships are legitimate; we know they can be happy, and don't lead particularly to problems. I see no valid grounds for the prohibition that was just overturned. However, the critics of Mormon polygamy say it is a system of oppression of women and children. Are they right? If so, how can those facts be reconciled with secular polyamorous experience? Are these relationships bad in a hidden way? Is there a crucial difference, that causes secular polyamory to have better results than Mormon ones? Is it a matter of different ways of judging whether a relationship is good or bad?
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Prohibition_on_cohabitation_overturned%29

ISIS [ killed 200 Syrian soldiers that it had captured ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/28/islamic-state-kills-150-captured-troops-syria-activists ) , according to its supporters. Even supposing the report is inaccurate, it shows what ISIS would like to do.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Captured_soldiers_killed_by_ISIS%29

Victims of US-managed kidnaping and torture [ call on Obama to release the Senate's torture investigation report ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/28/us-rendition-obama-torture-report ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Senates_torture_investigation_report%29

Due to global heating, a brain-eating amoeba is [ spreading north from Louisiana ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/28/louisiana-residents-naegleria-fowleri-water-supply-precaution ) . Getting just one in your nose can be fatal.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Brain-eating_amoeba%29

The GMO industry is [ trying to get Reuters journalist Carey Gillam fired or transferred ]( http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_30590.cfm ) , part of a general pattern of trying to silence criticism.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28GMO_industry_trying_to_silence_criticism%29

Syrian rebels have [ taken UN peacekeepers hostage ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/29/syria-rebels-filipino-un-peacekeepers-golan-heights ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28UN_peacekeepers_taken_hostage%29

US citizens: [ tell Hillary Clinton ]( http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/hillary-clinton-its-time ) to stop supporting Monsanto and GMOs.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#29_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_support_for_Monsanto%29

E-Cigarettes Should Be Called [ 'Nicotine Sticks' to Curb Appeal ]( http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/aug/29/e-cigarettes-nicotine-sticks-curb-appeal ) , Experts Say. I suggest calling them "nicotine inhalers" and designing them to look like the inhalers for other drugs — totally un-cool.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28E-Cigarettes_Should_Be_Called_%27Nicotine_Sticks%27%29

The number of manatees in Florida has increased greatly since they were protected, so the question is whether to [ designate them as "threatened" rather than "endangered" ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/29/manatees-florida-endangeres-species-review ) . A species can't survive if its habitat is wiped out. The US often protects one endearing endangered species as a way of protecting the whole ecosystem, including many other species, that it lives in. It seems that manatees are an example of this. The existing restrictions enable manatees to coexist with human water activities, but this redesignation would permit land development that could wipe out all of them.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28Number_of_manatees_in_Florida_has_increased_greatly%29

Plutocrats want the benefits of socialism for them, plus [ "small government" to strand the rest of us ]( http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/29/socialism-for-the-rich ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28Plutocrats_want_socialism_for_them%29

Hong Kong has launched accusations of bribery [ against a media mogul that campaigns for democracy ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/28/anti-corruption-raid-jimmy-lai-home-media-pro-democracy ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28Hong_Kong_has_launched_accusations_of_bribery%29

The UK says that [ Russia has sent 80 tanks and lots of soldiers into Ukraine ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/29/russia-100-battle-tanks-ukraine-uk-tells-united-nations ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28UK_says_Russia_sent_80_tanks_and_lots_of_soldiers_into_Ukraine%29

US sanctions against Iran [ continue to make necessary medicines unavailable there ]( http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/aug/29/iranian-film-director-attacks-us-sanctions-rakhshan-bani-etemad ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28US_sanctions_against_Iran%29

The libertarian ideology stubbornly [ opposes all solutions to problems such as public health and global heating ]( http://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2014/aug/29/libertarian-ideology-natural-enemy-science ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28The_libertarian_ideology%29

On US TV, the political "debate" shows [ don't invite, or even mention, union leaders ]( http://fair.org/take-action/media-advisories/labor-almost-invisible-on-tv-talk/ ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28US_political_debate_shows%29

US citizens: call on state officials to [ ditch ALEC ]( http://site.pfaw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ALEC_Lawmakers_USAction ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Ditch_ALEC%29

Ferguson protesters and bystanders attacked by thugs have [ sued the thug department for 40 million dollars ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/29/ferguson-protesters-lawsuit-police-excessive-force ) . I hope they win, but if they do, they will only get compensation from the city. The guilty won't be punished.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28Ferguson_thug_department_sued%29

Intelligence agencies [ have every reason to overestimate ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/29/trust-terror-threat-rating-intelligence-agencies ) the danger of terrorism. Not to mention that it provides an excuse to do to us what they want to do anyway: spy on everyone's communications and movements.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28Overestimation_of_terrorism_danger%29

ISIS uses [ waterboarding on prisoners ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/28/modeling-cia-torture-isis-waterboarded-those-it-captured-report ) , following the US example.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28ISIS_uses_waterboarding%29

The ICC says that it can investigate war crimes in Gaza [ if it gets a request from the government of Palestine ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/29/icc-gaza-hague-court-investigate-war-crimes-palestine ) . I don't know whether it really needs that request or is passing the buck. I am sure the US is putting pressure on Palestine not to give the ICC jurisdiction.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28Investigation_of_war_crimes_in_Gaza%29

[ Intimidation by Imran Khan's opposition party ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/29/pakistan-opposition-fights-geo-tv-stationa ) is driving a Pakistani TV station mostly off the air.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28Pakistani_TV_station_driven_off_air%29

Some major social networks [ tend to silence a dissenting few ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/28/the-internet-is-a-cesspit-of-conflict-right-no-its-an-engine-of-consensus ) , on any issue. This is why it helps us greatly if you insist on calling the GNU/Linux system "GNU/Linux" and refuse to be intimidated by those who erroneously call it "Linux".
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28Social_networks_silence_dissenters%29

Many US thug departments are [ planning to deploy drones ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/26/activists-sound-alarm-more-police-departments-consider-using-drones ) , perhaps with infrared cameras to see what the eye could not (such as, whether someone is home). We certainly can't trust thugs to follow rules, or laws.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28US_thugs_plan_to_deploy_drones%29

US citizens: call for an end to [ tax write-offs on penalties to corporations ]( https://secure3.convio.net/engage/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=11825 ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_End_corporate_tax_write-offs%29

Republican candidates for the senate met with rich donors and [ confessed their undying gratitude and loyalty to the money ]( http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=B6I6e8oZZZ3t2vkNcPsx-g ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#30_August_2014_%28Republican_loyalty_to_money%29