Walmart is [ dumping the cost of new uniforms on its workers ]( http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/17/1330399/-Walmart-finds-a-new-way-to-exploit-workers-with-a-new-dress-code ) by calling the uniforms a "dress code".
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_September_2014_%28Walmart_dumps_cost_of_uniforms_on_workers%29

The thug who accosted Danielle Watts had no legal basis to do so, and he handcuffed for [ calmly exercising the legal rights everyone is supposed to have in the US ]( http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/15/1329845/-Daniele-Watts-Wasn-t-Detained-for-Prostitution-it-s-Much-Worse-than-That ) . Three cheers for Danielle Watts!
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_September_2014_%28Home_of_the_brave%29

ISIS released a video calling on supporters to [ kill non-Muslims in Australia, Canada, Europe and the US ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/islamic-states-call-to-kill-westerners-has-terrorism-experts-divided ) . It is a valid point that this video shows ISIS does not have the power to carry out such attacks itself. A more important point becomes visible when we consider why ISIS made this statement. They can't help knowing that it will inflame war-fever in those countries, so that must be their aim. They must want those countries to engage in an overt war that will boost support for ISIS among the people it rules. They are telling us, enemies they can barely touch, to "come out and fight like a man" so they can profit from that mistake. One Australian politician [ questions the logic of trying to destroy ISIS by war. ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/islamic-state-labor-mp-says-rational-debate-drowned-out-by-drums-of-war ) "We must curb our instinctive reaction and look at the root causes." Jordan's participation in the attack on ISIS in Syria was a [ good move for Obama ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/arab-allies-helping-us-fight-isis ) , since it will undermine ISIS's message to Sunnis.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28ISIS_released_video%29

China sentenced Ilham Tohti to [ life in prison for publishing political views ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/xinjiang-china-court-ilham-tohti-muslim-uighur-life-in-prison ) . The US is not in a position to sneer at China, given what it continues to do in Guantanamo.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Life_in_prison_for_publishing_political_views%29

29 single mothers, made homeless by the UK's crush-the-poor policies and threatened with being sent 200 miles away, [ have occupied a boarded-up building in their town ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/23/real-politics-empty-london-housing-estate ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Single_mothers_occupied_boarded-up_building%29

Queensland is [ returning 20,000 square km of land to aboriginal traditional owners ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/cape-york-land-handover-to-traditional-owners-repairs-a-historical-wrong ) . Europeans took the land of Australia from the aboriginal peoples, and it is right to give some of it back. However, I do not approve of the aboriginal culture's idea that major aspects of that culture, its laws in effect, should be the property of small groups. Secret law is not law. It does [ far more harm in Obama's hands ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#01_July_2014_%28Drone_assassination_memo%29 ) , or the [ Australian government's hands ]( https://www.stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Preventative_detention%29 ) , than in the aboriginal people's hands, because the latter have comparatively little power. It is wrong in principle nonetheless.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Queensland_returning_land_to_aboriginal_traditional_owners%29

Western Australia killed an aboriginal woman by [ jailing her for unpaid parking tickets and denying her medical care ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/death-in-custody-over-unpaid-parking-fines-independent-inquiry-urged ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Western_Australia_killed_an_aboriginal_woman%29

Australia's government plans to [ increase exports of fossil fuels and uranium ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/23/energy-superpower-coalitions-grand-fossil-fuel-plan-for-australia ) , effectively aiming to push the rest of the world to cause global heating disaster.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Exports_of_fossil_fuels_and_uranium%29

The global economy [ needs to cut its carbon intensity by 6% per year from now till 2100 ]( http://pwc.co.uk/assets/pdf/low-carbon-economy-index-2014.pdf ) to avoid more than 2 degrees of heating. And that's assuming good luck, that we don't hit an unexpected positive feedback that sends heating shootin ahead.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Global_economy_needs_to_cut_its_carbon_intensity%29

The UK may [ sneak secretly into a ground war in Iraq using commando groups ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/defence-and-security-blog/2014/sep/22/sas-iraq-syria ) , while imposing new secrecy rules to thwart democracy.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28UK_may_sneak_secretly_into_a_ground_war_in_Iraq%29

Australia has ordered some sort of [ "preventative detention" ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/indefinite-ban-reporting-counter-terrorism-preventative-detention-order ) for people associated in some way with an alleged terror plot. Everyone is forbidden to publish any information about what is going on, including (it appears) the names of the people imprisoned. Are those people's friends talking about their absence?
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Preventative_detention%29

Republicans in Georgia are [ blocking 51,000 voter registrations ]( http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/18/1330565/-GA-SOS-suppressing-51-000-voter-registrations-because?detail=email ) , apparently because they are from minority groups.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Republicans_blocking_voter_registrations%29

The Urgent Case [ for a Ban on Fracking ]( http://act.foodandwaterwatch.org/site/R?i=DLoIHQbXC3T9kaHZxjo-kg ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Ban_on_Fracking%29

A courageous Australian MP calls for former prime minister Howard to be [ prosecuted by the ICC for starting a war based on lies ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/22/howard-should-be-tried-for-conspiracy-to-commit-mass-says-andrew-wilkie ) . Hear, hear!
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Courageous_Australian_MP%29

Extending unemployment benefits [ has no effect on when or whether people get back to work ]( http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/12/1329302/-Republicans-Caught-in-A-Colossal-Lie-About-Unemployment-Benefits ) . But it sure helps them avoid living in the street unless/until they get work again. What does help get people work is government spending directed in ways that create a lot of jobs — not spending on banks or weapons. For instance, unemployment benefits feed money into the economy, and the recipients are sure to spend it right away on job-creating activities. Almost 40% of potentially employed people in the US are not working, because there aren't jobs for them. Most of them are in some degree of hardship. Automation is likely to make this a lot worse. The solution is a [ basic income for everyone ]( http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/brain20140916 ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_September_2014_%28Employment%29

Coping with the effects of global heating is leaving some poor countries [ short of funds for health care and education ]( http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/sep/22/poor-nations-climate-change-budget-health-education ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_September_2014_%28Effects_of_global_heating_on_the_poor%29

Australia has been [ cutting the budget for intelligence agencies ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/22/australias-national-security-at-risk-from-spy-agency-funding-cuts ) . Proposed [ attacks on human rights ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#20_August_2014_(New_counter-terrorism_proposals_in_Australia) ) are apparently meant to compensate for that.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Australia_cutting_intel_budget%29

Hong Kong students have called a week of [ strikes to demand democratic elections ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/22/hong-kong-students-democracy-protest ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Hong_Kong_students_protest%29

Private US colleges are [ demanding more money from poor families while offering scholarships to the wealthy ]( http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-18/colleges-make-low-income-families-pay-more-than-ever ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Private_US_college_tuition%29

[ 400,000 people joined in the climate march ]( http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2014/09/22/largest-global-call-climate-action-history ) in New York City. This was followed by the [ Flood Wall Street protest ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/22/flood-wall-street-protest-arrest-police-climate-change-new-york ) . The protesters couldn't get inside the stock exchanges, but pointed out that the ocean will get in, unless we stop the global heating that raises sea level.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28400%2C000_people_march_in_NYC%29

The Committee to Protect Journalists [ rebuked the Obama regime again ]( http://cpj.org/2014/09/cpj-urges-us-mitigate-threats-journalism-newsgathering.php ) for its harassment and prosecution of journalists.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Harassment_of_US_journalists%29

The [ spying-industrial complex ]( http://whatsupic.com/news-politics-usa/5-companies46873874.html ) : 5 companies that get contracts from US intelligence agencies and continually exaggerate the danger of terrorism. Terrorists do exist, but the threat they pose to Americans is minute compared with the danger of cars, smoking, and the plutocratic regime that leaves tens of millions of Americans with no health care except the emergency room. Terrorism hype is striking Australia too, and being used as the [ excuse to attack civil liberties there ]( https://firstlook.org/theintercept/?p=5325 ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28The_spying-industrial_complex%29

Obama says [ administrative measures ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/22/obama-target-firms-us-taxes ) will close the "tax inversion" loophole. It will be good to shut it this way, but that ought to be firmed up in law.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28The_tax_inversion_loophole%29

The US started air strikes against ISIS in Syria, including in the city of [ Raqaa ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/us-launches-air-strikes-against-isis-targets-in-syria ) , with [ cooperation from Jordan ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/arab-allies-helping-us-fight-isis ) . An announcement on CNN said, "A military official said the strikes are meant to target the ability of the terror group to command and control, resupply and train." There is nothing wrong with those goals in principle, but this means the attacks are not against troops in the field — and therefore are likely to kill civilians. If the people living in Raqaa resent ISIS and wish they could kick ISIS out, they will welcome these attacks; if some of them are killed, they will consider that a necessary evil and blame ISIS. But if they don't resent ISIS, they will blame the US for those deaths, and give ISIS more support.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28US_air_strikes_against_ISIS%29

Google has [ broken with ALEC ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/23/google-to-cut-ties-with-rightwing-lobby-group-over-climate-change-lies ) . Being willing to work with ALEC even over some other issue suggests a moral blindness.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Google_breaks_with_ALEC%29

The US is now [ allied with Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/obama-hails-arab-allies-isis-syrian-air-strikes ) , in fighting in Syria. It makes strategic sense to ally with Sunni monarchies to undermine the claims of ISIS to the loyalty of Sunnis. But I can't understand how anyone can be "proud to stand shoulder to shoulder" with these vicious regimes. Saudi Arabia [ beheads people regularly ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2011-jul-oct.html#11_August_2011_(Beheading_Fuels_Backlash) ) , and oppresses women almost as badly as ISIS does. As for Bahrain, remember the protests and the [ massacres ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2010-nov-feb.html#20%20February%202011%20(Protesters%20attacked) ) ?
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28US_allied_with_vicious_regimes%29

Israeli soldiers found the two Palestinians that were suspected of kidnaping and murdering three Israeli teenagers, and [ killed them ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/israel-kills-palestinian-suspects-teenagers-murder ) . Why weren't they arrested instead? Maybe they fought and made it impossible to arrest them. Or maybe the Israelis preferred to kill them.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#24_September_2014_%28Israeli_soldiers_kill_suspects%29

An Italian town's last-ditch effort to help the unemployed people is to [ give some of them funds to try to emigrate ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/sardinian-town-novel-way-cut-unemployment-pay-people-to-leave ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28Unemployment_in_Italy%29

Spain's right-wing government has given up on [ attacking abortion rights ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/spain-abandons-plan-introduce-tough-new-abortion-laws ) . However, it has already made a large fraction of Spaniards poor, and attacked the right to protest.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28Spains_right-wing_govt%29

[ Interviews with civilians ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/raqqa-residents-divided-us-air-strikes-isis-syria ) in Raqqa about the US airstrikes there.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28US_airstrikes_in_Raqqa%29

Dinesh D'Souza [ confessed to laundering donations ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/dinesh-dsouza-guilty-sentenced-campaign-finance-service ) for right-wing political campaigns.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28Right-wing_donations_laundered%29

Plutocrat-imposed poverty in the UK shows up in children: half the children of the age to start school are [ not mentally developed enough ]( http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/sep/23/half-children-reception-unready-school ) . Their parents are too short of money to do what the children need. The Tory Party has condemned those children to a life of backwardness, but Labour says it will make only marginal improvements.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28UK_children_retarded_by_poverty%29

China awarded Duck Duck Go its most prestigious internet medal: [ censorship ]( http://www.techinasia.com/duckduckgo-joins-google-blocked-china/ ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28Duck_Duck_Go_gains_prestige%29

Turkey [ will participate in fighting ISIS ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/turkey-us-air-strikes-isis-syria-erdogan ) . This support is clearly useful, but even though Turkey's government is not as bad as Saudi Arabia's or Bahrain's or Qatar's, it is still Islamist and an [ enemy of human rights ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2012-nov-feb.html#22_January_2013_(Human_rights_lawyers_arrested_in_Turkey) ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28Turkey_to_fight_ISIS%29

Australia is trying to make asylum seekers go to Papua New Guinea, including some who are gay — [ but they would be persecuted there ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/24/gay-asylum-seekers-manus-island-fear-persecution-png ) . It [ plans to force them to Cambodia ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/24/asylum-seekers-morrison-will-sign-resettlement-deal-with-cambodia ) instead.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28Australias_plans_for_asylum_seekers%29

Tasmania's proposed law, meant to crush protests against logging, [ will exclude places such as stores and public areas ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/24/tasmania-to-overhaul-draconian-anti-protest-laws-aimed-at-forestry ) . But it will still be aimed at forests, factories, and farms, so it is still unacceptable.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28Tasmanias_proposed_anti-protest_laws%29

China pledged to publish soon a [ schedule for capping and reducing greenhouse gas emissions ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/chinas-choice/2014/sep/24/china-pledges-to-cut-emissions-at-un-climate-summit ) . If China goes through with this, [ the US had better do it too ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/24/five-ways-ban-ki-moons-summit-has-changed-international-climate-politics-forever ) . Most of the increase in greenhouse gas emissions comes from [ China, the US, and India ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2014/sep/24/record-year-for-fossil-fuel-emissions-declared-pushes-carbon-budget-to-the-brink ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28China_promises_cap_on_greenhouse_gas%29

A thug in Seattle expressed his hostility to another official by [ giving 80 people fines for smoking marijuana ]( http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Prosecutor-to-drop-all-Seattle-marijuana-tickets-276204811.html ) , apparently illegally.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28Fines_issued_by_thug_in_rage%29

Taking metaphors seriously is [ no way to understand an important issue such as global heating ]( http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/015994.html ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28Metaphors_and_global_heating%29

[ Trying again ]( http://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/sep/24/pakistani-citizen-uk-torture-case ) to hold British soldiers in the Bush forces responsible for torture carried out in cahoots with the US government.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28Attempt_to_hold_torturers_responsible%29

Scientists must [ resist the idea that science is above politics and that they ought to be apolitical ]( http://www.theguardian.com/science/the-h-word/2014/sep/24/martyrs-science-history-galileo-nazi ) . Today, several areas of science tie directly to the most important political issues of our age, including global heating, privacy, and toxic agricultural practices.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28Science_and_political_issues%29

Two Republican legislators [ criticized a Democratic candidate for "plagiarizing" part of the text of a policy proposal ]( http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/09/12606/wi-alec-plagiarists-criticize-burke-copying-jobs-plan ) . The same two Republicans did not hesitate to copy a nasty ALEC model bill and present it as their own work. The concept of plagiarism is not applicable to policy proposals and laws. It would be total folly to refrain from advocating a good policy just because someone else has advocated it before.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28Plagiarism_of_policy_proposals%29

A mass protest in Tokyo [ against restarting nuclear power plants ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/09/23/remember-fukushima-thousands-rally-against-nuclear-restart-japan ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28Mass_protest_in_Tokyo%29

Greenpeace protesters in the UK [ blocked a coal train ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/09/23/fifty-activists-and-polar-bear-halt-uk-coal-train ) and packed the coal into bags saying to return it to Putin.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#25_September_2014_%28Protesters_block_UK_coal_train%29

The US and Kiribati [ will create vast marine reserves in the Pacific ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/25/barack-obama-worlds-largest-ocean-reserve-pacific ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#26_September_2014_%28Marine_reserves_in_the_Pacific%29

Google gave money to Stanford for research, but made Stanford accept the condition [ not to use it to fund privacy research ]( http://www.propublica.org/article/stanford-promises-not-to-use-google-money-for-privacy-research ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#26_September_2014_%28Privacy_research%29

Kidnaping and killing three Israeli teenagers was a horrible crime, by every day standards, but Israel used it as an [ excuse to commit a crime 400 times as big ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/24/guardian-view-human-economic-political-costs-gaza-war ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#26_September_2014_%28Israeli_crime%29

The thugs that shot John Crawford, while he carried a BB-gun he was about to buy, [ will not be prosecuted ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/24/walmart-shooting-grand-jury-declines-indict-john-crawford ) . The US legal system, through a combination of its official rules and its unstated prejdices, empowers thugs to shoot innocent black men from time to time, and to harass them continually.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#26_September_2014_%28Thugs_will_not_be_prosecuted%29

Palo Alto's electricity [ is carbon-neutral ]( http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_juice/2014/09/palo_alto_power_supply_how_the_home_of_stanford_became_carbon_neutral.html ) , and cheap compared with the rest of California. However, that doesn't include the cars; there is still a long way to go.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#26_September_2014_%28Palo_Alto%27s_electricity%29

Everyone: call on Myriad Genetics to [ stop trying to patent mutant human genes ]( http://action.sumofus.org/a/australia-breast-cancer-myriad-genetic/ ) . Of course, what is really needed is a law to eliminate all such patents in Australia, that's no reason not to pressure the companies that try to exploit the existing bad law.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#26_September_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_trying_to_patent_mutant_human_genes%29