Children of East Asian (mainly Chinese) immigrants [ excel even in mediocre Australian schools ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/09/east-asian-school-success-culture-curriculum-teaching ) . This suggests that the root cause of the high educational success of various East Asian countries may not be particularly due to how the schools there are run.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#10_October_2014_%28Educational_success%29

Uber [ plans to do away with human cab drivers ]( http://www.theverge.com/2014/5/28/5758734/uber-will-eventually-replace-all-its-drivers-with-self-driving-cars ) . It would be easy for a non-plutocratic government to prohibit this, and that's what every country ought to do, unless/until every person gets an adequate basic income so people don't need to be employed.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#10_October_2014_%28Human_cab_drivers%29

In the US, [ people with harmless mental illnesses end up in jail ]( http://www.thenation.com/article/181845/mental-illness-homelessness-drug-addiction-do-these-sound-crimes ) unless they are rich. Once jailed, they are [ put in debt for their imprisonment ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2009-jul-oct.html#11%20July%202009%20(Debtors%27%20prison) ) , so they may never be able to get out.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#10_October_2014_%28US_jails_mentally_ill_poor%29

Burmese expatriates in Thailand confessed to killing two British tourists, but now they say they were [ tortured into a false confession ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/09/thailand-backpacker-murders-suspects-confession-retract ) . I believe them.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#10_October_2014_%28False_confessions%29

Despite everything the US government says about encryption in phones, the fact is that [ they still make massive surveillance of everyone easier than before people used them ]( https://firstlook.org/theintercept/?p=6541 ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#10_October_2014_%28Mass_surveillance_of_phone_users%29

Indian environmentalists are suing to block a giant coal mine in Australia which [ would export coal to pollute India ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/09/carmichael-mine-indian-conservation-group-joins-legal-battle-with-adani ) (as well as polluting the whole world with CO2).
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#10_October_2014_%28Giant_coal_mine_in_Australia%29

US citizens: [ call on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council ]( https://secure3.convio.net/gpeace/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1041&autologin=true ) to protect coral and sponge habitat in the Bering Sea.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#10_October_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Protect_coral_and_sponge_habitat%29

[ Australia proposes to imprison journalists and their sources ]( http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/oct/09/anti-terrorism-bill-police-to-get-power-to-secretly-search-suspects-house ) for publishing information about secret searches of people's homes.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Australian_journalists_and_sources%29

Hundreds of thousands of fools [ wanted to risk spreading Ebola to humans to save a dog ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/09/excalibur-spanish-ebola-patient-dog-euthanised ) . Nobody knows whether a dog can pass Ebola to humans, but let's not find out the hard way.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Ebola%29

A pressure campaign (which I supported here) has convinced Lego to cancel its [ marketing collaboration with Shell ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/09/lego-ends-shell-partnership-following-greenpeace-campaign ) . This sort of thing is very important: we need to strip the fossil fuel companies of the little maneuvers that they use to disguise the murderous nature of their plans.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Lego_cancels_Shell_marketing%29

The US has begun [ bombing PISSI fighters attacking Kobani ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/09/battle-for-kobani-rages-us-air-strikes-isis ) . Since then, Kurdish forces have started advancing. PISSI is the Pseudo-Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Defending_Kobani_against_PISSI%29

[ Crypto Wars Redux: Why the FBI's Desire to Unlock Your Private Life Must Be Resisted ]( http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/09/crypto-wars-redux-why-the-fbis-desire-to-unlock-your-private-life-must-be-resisted ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Crypto_Wars_Redux%29

The NSA was asked for a [ list of the information it has disclosed to reporters ]( https://firstlook.org/theintercept/?p=6570 ) . It responded that the list is too secret to show. The NSA is trying to hide its propaganda activities.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28NSA_propaganda_activities%29

The ACLU studied statistics on how Boston thugs searched pedestrians and found a [ gross pattern of racism ]( https://www.aclum.org/stopandfrisk ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Boston_thug_racism%29

Walmart is pushing [ reducing the hours on 30,000 workers ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/10/08/amid-soaring-profits-walmart-cut-30000-workers-health-insurance ) so as to deny them health insurance. The US laws that associate medical care with employment implement a bad policy. For instance, it is an incentive to replace workers with robots. Companies should pay for people's health care through taxes that would only increase if the company replaces workers with robots. The laws ought to be changed so that everyone gets medical care, regardless of the person's life situation. This does not excuse Walmart's conduct. Ethics are separate from law; taking advantage of a bad law to screw people legally is just as wrong as screwing them illegally.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Walmart_trying_to_cut_health_insurance%29

A train carrying hazardous chemicals [ derailed in the middle of a Canadian town ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/10/08/fiery-derailment-puts-spotlight-hazardous-train-shipments ) . No one was directly injured, but the toxic smoke from the burning chemicals may cause people respiratory problems down the line.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Transport_of_toxic_chemicals_by_rail%29

Amnesty International says that the government of Guatemala, together with Canadian mining companies, provoke resistance by indigenous peoples by [ setting up mines near their homes without consulting them. ]( http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/26695-guatemalan-government-canadian-mining-industry-responsible-for-violent-conflicts )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Resistence_by_indigenous_peoples%29

An experiment on adolescent rats finds that [ heavy sugar consumption made their memory worse ]( http://m.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2014/10/new-study-teens-may-have-memory-trouble-if-they-keep-drinking-soda ) . This does not prove sugar has the same effects on human adolescents, but it might be so. Other studies have found that low-calory sweeteners fool the brain into preparing for sugar, [ causing confusion when the calories do not arrive ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2013-jan-apr.html#02_February_2013_%28Brominated_vegetable_oil_in_Gatorade%29 ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Sugar_consumption_made_memory_worse%29

Turkey is [ denying entry to 10,000 Kurdish civilian refugees trying to flee Kobani ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/10/kobani-srebrenica-un-turkey-syria-isis ) . The US could airdrop ammunition and food to the Kurds fighting for Kobani. Since the plan is already to arm opponents of PISSI, why not these, now?
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Turkey_denying_entry_to_refugees%29

Malala Yousufzai, admired around the world, [ can't return home because of death threats from the Taliban ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/10/malala-yousufzai-pride-pakistan-nobel-peace-prize ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Malala_Yousufzai_can%27t_return_home%29

Farmers and indigenous peoples are protesting the World Bank's support for [ corporate land grabs and "development" that helps business take from the poor ]( http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2014/10/10/farmers-indigenous-peoples-and-ngos-take-streets-ten-cities-demanding-end-world ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Corporate_land_grabs_and_development%29

Walmart's owners support organizations that [ campaign to slow down installation of solar power in the US ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/10/10/report-documents-walmart-heirs-efforts-destroy-rooftop-solar-revolution ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Campaign_to_slow_down_installation_of_solar_power_in_the_US%29

US citizens: call on Congress and Obama to [ limit US war in Syria and Iraq ]( http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/help-the-progressive ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Limit_US_war_in_Syria_and_Iraq%29

The NSA sends agents to [ install spy devices in networks in various countries ]( https://firstlook.org/theintercept/?p=6622 ) , including apparently the US. For the US government to do this to a rather hostile government such as China does not seem wrong to me. Doing this to Germany and South Korea would be a low blow against an ally if it was done without those states' approval (we don't know). If those states approved of the act, it might mean that they are spying massively on their own citizens.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28NSA_sends_agents_to_install_spy_devices%29

The US government says it knows where Sharif Mobley is, but [ refuses to tell his family ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/10/sharif-mobley-yemen-urine-family-us-disappeared ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_October_2014_%28Sharif_Mobley%29

UK mobile phone networks' computers [ provide customers' call records to the state automatically whenever asked ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/10/automatic-police-access-customers-mobile-phone-records-like-cash-machine-ripa-three-ee-vodafone ) , without even checking for a legally valid order. A legally valid order made by thugs, without the need to justify it to anyone, is not morally valid.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#12_October_2014_%28Customers%27_call_records%29

Arguing that putting the local inhabitants or indigenous people in control of forests [ works better than REDD for ending deforestation ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/10/09/climate-change-and-deforestation-will-not-be-solved-trick ) . I see some questionable points. For instance, the danger that the forest's trees may die even if protected exists no matter how we try to protect them. Global heating is killing a lot of pine trees in the US.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#12_October_2014_%28Control_of_forests%29

US citizens: call on the Senate to [ resist the NRA and approve Vivek Murthy as Surgeon General ]( http://act.credoaction.com/sign/nra_ebola_murthy ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#12_October_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Approve_Vivek_Murthy_as_Surgeon_General%29

Manuel Velez was convicted of murder because [ the public defender didn't bother to investigate the evidence that proved he was innocent ]( http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2014/10/08/innocent-man-released-prison-after-nine-years-four-death-row ) . The cruel prosecutors gave him a choice between a new trial (on charges already known to be false), which would probably have meant keeping him in jail for a year or two, and pleading guilty to a smaller false charge. Evidently they are more interested in pretending they are never wrong than in justice. The main cause of these repeated injustices is that we don't have enough public defenders in the US. They can't possibly do a proper job for so many clients. Most of the time they advise clients to make a deal and accept a lesser charge, whether it is true or not.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#12_October_2014_%28Public_defense_failure%29

Philadelphia students went on strike [ in solidarity with their teachers ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/10/08/students-walk-out-after-attack-union-defends-public-education ) , whose contract was cancelled.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#12_October_2014_%28Philadelphia_students_strike%29

Large protests around Mexico [ demand release of the 43 students disappeared by thugs ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/09/mexico-protests-student-teachers-missing ) . It looks like the thugs murdered them, but this is not yet certain.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#12_October_2014_%28Mexico_protests%29

Agricultural workers in the UK are [ >stripped of their passports and their pay, and gouged on rent ]( http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/oct/08/wisbech-migrant-workers-exploited-gangmasters-eastern-europe ) . This is a world-wide pattern, much like what happens to [ construction workers in Qatar ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2013-nov-feb.html#17_February_2014_(Deaths_of_construction_workers_in_Qatar_due_to_abusive_conditions) ) . A government that doesn't want to let businesses exploit people could adopt laws that make it harder to get away with this. One approach would be to make the farms directly liable for how the temp agency treats the temporary workers. It would help to prosecute the executives and staff of the temp agency, as well as the agency, for any wrongdoing; I can't tell from the article whether this is already done.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#12_October_2014_%28UK_agricultural_workers_exploited%29

The European Commission is [ inventing strained legalistic excuses ]( https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/michael-efler/how-european-commission-is-trying-to-smother-debate-on-ttip ) to block a referendum opposing the TTIP.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#12_October_2014_%28TTIP%29

Big US banks once again face [ criminal charges ]( http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/big-banks-face-another-round-of-u-s-charges/?_php=true&_type=blogs&hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=LedeSum&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0 ) , but the executives will probably get off unscathed yet again.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#12_October_2014_%28Big_banks_face_criminal_charges%29

Kurds fleeing into Turkey have been [ arrested without charges ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/08/syrians-fleeing-kobani-ypg-suspicion-turkey ) and accused of fighting PISSI. It's unlikely to be true, since some of them are children. However, if some of them really did fight PISSI, it is disgusting to punish anyone for that.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#12_October_2014_%28Arrest_of_Kurds_in_Turkey%29

Local pollution in parts of the Great Barrier Reef [ impedes photosynthesis, which leads to higher CO2 levels locally ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/10/great-barrier-reef-a-massive-chemistry-experiment-gone-wrong ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#13_October_2014_%28Local_pollution_in_parts_of_the_Great_Barrier_Reef%29

For the first time, the US government [ has officially informed 13 Americans whether they are on the No Fly List ]( http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2014/10/11/first-government-officially-tells-aclu-clients-their-no-fly-list-status ) . This is just a small step towards justice. The No Fly List is a deprivation of rights. The US government should not be allowed to put anyone on this list without a trial.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#13_October_2014_%28No_Fly_List%29

In the US today, parents who would dare resist overprotecting their children [ face threats from other parents ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/10/11/operation-kid-freedom-making-our-communities-safe-children-take-risks ) . When I was six years old, I walked 5 blocks to school in Manhattan. Not that I was unusual — this is how everyone got to school. We all knew how to cross streets. We all understood traffic lights, since there were traffic lights at every intersection.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#13_October_2014_%28Overprotecting_children%29

British workers are [ experiencing the biggest decrease in standard of living in 150 years ]( http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/oct/11/british-pay-squeeze-worst-150-years-tuc-study ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#13_October_2014_%28Biggest_decrease_in_standard_of_living%29

The Pentagon is trying to [ paint the Vietnam War as a glorious triumph ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/10/10/pentagon-accused-whitewashing-history-vietnam-war-era ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#13_October_2014_%28Vietnam_War%29

Saudi Arabia, always tyrannical, is now [ systematically repressing anyone that endorses human rights ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/10/10/saudi-arabia-unleashing-systematic-and-ruthless-repression-against-dissenters-report ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#13_October_2014_%28Saudi_Arabia_repressing_anyone_that_endorses_human_rights%29

Citizens of Europe and the US: [ take action against TTIP ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/10/11/time-end-corporate-trade-regimes-global-attack-democracy ) (This Treaty Is Plutocratic).
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#13_October_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Take_action_against_TTIP%29

Facebook now combines "Like" button tracking data with data from Facebook itself to get [ even more information about people's digital activities ]( https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/10/facebook-increases-its-tracking-reach-atlas-and-users-have-little-choice-about-it ) . Facebook does not tell other companies the identities of users, but they can identify users based on data they get elsewhere. "Like" button surveillance even [ tracks people who are not useds of Facebook (i.e., never had a Facebook account). ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2011-sep-dec.html#14_October_2011_%28Facebook_Like%29 ) However, you can block "Like" button tracking with the GNU browser, [ IceCat ]( http://www.gnu.org/software/icecat ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#13_October_2014_%28Facebook_to_get_even_more_info_on_digital_activities%29

Cuba has [ sent more doctors to fight Ebola than any other country ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/12/cuba-leads-fights-against-ebola-africa ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#13_October_2014_%28Cuba_fighting_Ebola%29

The UK will [ require a court order to get journalists' phone records ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/12/police-ripa-powers-journalists-surveillance ) . That is a small step in the right direction. I have to ask, however, who this will apply to. On the internet, anyone can be a journalist. In addition, journalists reporting on ticklish issues such as government snooping must arrange to communicate with their sources in a way that can't be tracked.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#13_October_2014_%28Court_order_to_get_journalists%27_phone_records%29

Everyone: Call on Obama to [ pressure Turkey to let Kurds cross the border ]( http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/obama-press-turkey-to ) , whether to defend Kobani or escape from massacre there.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#13_October_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Pressure_Turkey_to_let_Kurds_cross_the_border%29

US citizens: call on Congress to [ pass the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act. ]( http://act.credoaction.com/sign/pass_the_family_act )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#13_October_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Pass_the_Family_and_Medical_Insurance_Leave_Act%29

UK thug chiefs insist on [ allowing thugs to confer to coordinate their testimony. ]( http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/oct/11/mark-duggan-met-police-can-confer-on-fatal-shooting-statements )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#13_October_2014_%28Allowing_thugs_to_confer_to_coordinate_testimony%29

Adobe "digital editions" spy system [ sends users' complete reading logs to Amazon ]( http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/10/adobes-e-book-reader-sends-your-reading-logs-back-to-adobe-in-plain-text/ ) . Adobe says this is legitimate because users agree to it in the EULA, but pressuring people to click "Ok, spy on me" does not excuse it. This article focuses on the fact that the NSA can watch this data passing on the net, avoiding the need to use the PAT RIOT act to collect it directly from Adobe. It legitimizes the snooping by saying that's needed to enforce DRM, which legitimizes DRM too. According to the article's view, all this would be fine, if only Adobe didn't also leak everyone's dossier. As a defense of readers' rights, this is pitifully weak. [ DRM, being evil itself ]( http://DefectiveByDesign.org ) , can't justify anything.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#09_October_2014_%28Adobe%27s_digital_editions_spy_system%29

The Netherlands has renovated 300,000 apartments so that they [ don't need fossil fuel or external electricity ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/10/uk-looks-to-dutch-model-to-make-100000-homes-carbon-neutral-by-2020 ) , and 100,000 will be renovated in the UK. This scheme is very good, but its scale is minuscule: 100,000 homes in a country of 64 million people is a drop in the bucket. Its significance is to show that humanity can still save itself from global heating disaster, if it can overcome plutocracy to do similar things on a large scale.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#13_October_2014_%28Carbon-neutral_homes%29