A large part of US bottle water is [ shipped from California ]( http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/08/bottled-water-california-drought ) , which has a severe drought. I just about never buy a bottle of water in the US or other countries where tap water is potable. Why pollute the environment by being a sucker?
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Bottle_water_from_California%29

Amnesty International criticizes the US for [ whitewashing killings of Afghan civilians ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/11/amnesty-international-justice-afghan-civilians-killed-us-soldiers ) . That the Taliban are even worse is no excuse, because they are no standard of comparison.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28US_whitewash_of_killings_of_civilians%29

A new analysis estimates that the Keystone XL planet-roaster pipeline will result in [ 120 million tons of extra annual CO2 emissions ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/11/keystone-xl-carbon-emissions-would-be-four-times-higher-than-us-thought ) , not merely 30 million. This is because it would result in a lower price for oil, which would encourage users to burn oil rather than invest in alternatives. Although this is a small fraction of what the human world emits, it is an investment in increasing the emissions, when what we need to do is invest in decreasing them. We must also end the subsidies for oil. Better an increase in price now, than a big jump in price in 5 years.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Emissions_estimates_for_Keystone_XL%29

Israel's identification of criticism of the occupation of Palestine with antisemitism was meant to suppress the former using the odium of the latter. It worked for a while, but now it has backfired: [ the odium of the occupation is boosting antisemitism ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/11/anti-jewish-hatred-rising-antisemitism-meaning ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Antisemitism_boosted_by_occupation%29

Iran has banned sterilization in a [ campaign to pressure people to have more children ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/11/iran-ban-permanent-contraception-population-growth ) . It will fall most heavily on those who can't afford to travel abroad for an operation. I can understand that people would not want to have children in Iran. What if they are daughters?
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Iran_bans_sterilization%29

[ No Safe Place: How [US] Cities Are Making It Illegal to be Homeless ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/08/11/no-safe-place-how-cities-are-making-it-illegal-be-homeless ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Making_it_illegal_to_be_homeless%29

Can you tell [ which statements were made by Clinton and which by Netanyahu ]( https://firstlook.org/theintercept/?p=3414 ) ?
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Statements_by_Clinton_and_Netanyahu%29

More than 65,000 people in Gaza are homeless because [ their homes were destroyed ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/11/damage-gaza-homes-israel-hamas-conflict ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Over_65000_Gazans_made_homeless%29

Who does the US save, and [ who does the US allow to be oppressed ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/11/iraq-west-hypocrisy-middle-east-yazidi-people ) ?
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Who_does_the_US_save%29

Bullying is bullying, [ on the internet or off it ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/11/self-harm-bullying-blaming-technology-too-easy ) . Perhaps teenagers would self-harm less if our society did not make life so precarious.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Bullying%29

Ukrainian Neo-Nazis, organized as militia units, are [ leading the attack against pro-Russian rebels ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/08/11/nyt-discovers-ukraines-neo-nazis-war ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Ukrainian_Neo-Nazis%29

Spells of heat or rain that lasts for weeks have become [ twice as common since 2000 ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/11/extreme-weather-common-blocking-patterns ) , due to measurable changes in the behavior of the jet streams. All this is due to global heating.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Long_spells_of_heat_or_rain%29

US citizens: [ Tell the USDA ]( https://secure3.convio.net/fww/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1552 ) not to allow 2,4-D resistant corn.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_2%2C4-D_resistant_corn%29

The smallest porpoise species, found in the Sea of California, is facing extinction due to [ gill netting ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/12/mexico-act-smallest-porpoise-vaquita-marina ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Porpoise_species_facing_extinction%29

At the Goldcorp (Canadian) mine in Guatemala, a local man who tried to complain was [ burnt alive by the company thugs ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/andes-to-the-amazon/2014/aug/12/guatemala-gold-mine-protester-beaten-burnt-alive ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Man_burnt_alive_by_thugs%29

The UK [ says it will suspend some arms exports ]( http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/12/british-arms-exports-israel-gaza-block-suspension ) to Israel if Israel resumes fighting in Gaza.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28UKs_arms_exports_to_Israel%29

The thug that shot Michael Brown seems to have fabricated a [ false accusation as an excuse ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/12/ferguson-missouri-shooting-michael-brown-civil-rights-police-brutality ) . Police officers are simply not credible witnesses about such events, because they are accustomed to [ lying in court ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2012-nov-feb.html#07_February_2013_(Testilying_thugs) ) . Ferguson thugs shot protesters and bystanders with [ wooden bullets ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/12/missouri-police-wooden-bullets-protest-michael-brown ) that wound people.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28The_thug_that_shot_Michael_Brown%29

1.3 Americans have died per day from fighting wars, since 2001. [ 120 die per day from lack of medical care ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/08/11/our-health-care-dead-matter-less-war-dead ) . Why don't the latter get as much concern?
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28US_deaths_from_lack_of_medical_care%29

The UK government is firmly determined to [ "reform" welfare to the point where the poor will starve ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/12/iain-duncan-smith-welfare-reform-benefits ) , and claims that they are great for the poor.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28UK_welfare_reform%29

A [ curfew in Baltimore ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/12/-sp-baltimore-city-council-youth-curfew ) seems to presume that anyone under 16 who is out at night is being neglected by her parents.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Curfew_in_Baltimore%29

A CIA and NSA-funded company made a report claiming that al Qa'ida learned about resisting tracking from the Snowden revelations, though in fact it was developing countermeasures [ years before ]( https://firstlook.org/theintercept/?p=3295 ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28CIA_and_NSA-funded_report%29

In the US today, if you're black or Latino, [ having a thug assume you're committing a crime is a rite of passage ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/12/mike-brown-ferguson-shooting-police-black ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Being_black_or_Latino_in_the_US%29

The seed library in Pennsylvania may in fact be legal, but [ these laws need to be changed to protect sharing of nonpatented seeds ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/08/11/setting-record-straight-legality-seed-libraries ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Seed_library%29

Authoritarian Erdogan [ won the election for president of Turkey ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/12/erdogan-turkey-president-surprising-rise-new-left ) , by less than was expected.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Authoritarian_wins_Turkish_election%29

Ukraine says that Russia's "humanitarian aid" convoy [ will be allowed into Ukraine if the Red Cross inspects and approves its contents ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/12/ukraine-will-admit-russian-aid-convoy-despite-trojan-horse-fears ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#12_August_2014_%28Russias_humanitarian_aid_convoy%29

Uri Avnery: the war between Israel and Hamas has come out a draw, and now Israel [ has to negotiate with Hamas ]( http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/channels/avnery/1407502014/ ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#13_August_2014_%28War_between_Israel_and_Hamas_a_draw%29

The Obama regime is citing the supposed "threat of terrorism" as a reason to keep undocumented migrants in prison rather than release them [ while their cases are heard ]( http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/08/12563/obama-moms-and-kids-are-national-security-threat-because-911 ) . Because I believe in equal rights, I don't think that this is even worse for being applied to women and children. It is equally bad to do this to men.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#13_August_2014_%28Undocumented_migrants_in_prison%29

Some Australian cities [ allow businesses to vote in local elections ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/12/sydney-rife-with-corruption-if-business-more-votes ) . This is the logical progression from the Corporations United decision [ * ]( #corporations_united ) . In fact, why allow mere humans to vote at all? Allowing businesses to appoint officials directly is the logical end of plutocracy. * The organization is officially called "Citizens United", but I prefer to call it what it is rather than repeat its falsehood.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#13_August_2014_%28Businesses_allowed_to_vote%29

Human Rights Watch accuses the Egyptian army of [ intentionally massacring protesting Morsi supporters ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/12/egypt-massacre-rabaa-intentional-human-rights-watch ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#13_August_2014_%28The_massacre_of_protesters_in_Egypt%29

The UK government quashed torture lawsuits by saying that admitting the facts would embarrass the US. Then it began [ lobbying the CIA to stop the US Senate from acknowledging the torture ]( http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2014/04/uk-moves-to-block-us-senate-report-to-protect-blair-straw-and-dearlove/ ) , because if it did, that would pull the rug out from under the UK's self-serving argument.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#13_August_2014_%28UK_and_US_torture_collusion%29

US citizens: [ call on state governors ]( http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/prison-transfers ) to stop transferring prisoners to private prisons out of state.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#13_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_private_prison_transfers%29

US citizens: [ call on the SEC ]( http://vk.rootstrikers.org/petitions/36?n=1598962.394FAb ) to adopt the rule to make publicly traded corporations declare political spending.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#13_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Corporate_political_spending_rule%29

US citizens: [ call on the EPA ]( http://action.foe.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=16222 ) to make power plant CO 2 rules tighter.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#13_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Tighten_power_plant_CO2_rules%29

Chinese research seeks to develop a computer system to [ detect people who are feeling stress, so as to arrest them. ]( http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/chinese-scientists-invent-mini-camera-that-scans-crowds-possible-terrorists-1460782 ) Knowing about this system of surveillance will make some people feel stressed.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28A_computer_system_to_detect_people_who_are_feeling_stress%29

Israel agreed to allow Gaza a seaport, but has [ violated the agreement thus far. ]( http://972mag.com/why-the-gaza-port-matters/95239/ ) Maybe EU control of shipping offers a compromise to open commerce and travel by sea.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Gaza_a_seaport%29

The DEA [ bribed an Amtrak secretary for 20 years to get passenger name records ]( http://www.whittierdailynews.com/general-news/20140811/dea-improperly-paid-854460-for-amtrak-passenger-lists ) rather than try to subpoena them. I refuse to take Amtrak because it demands passengers show ID. Please join me in taking buses that don't demand ID instead of Amtrak for the distances for which ground transport is possible.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28DEA_bribed_an_Amtrak_secretary_for_20_years_%29

Right wing demonstrators in Israel [ boast of killing all the children in Gaza ]( http://freehaifa.wordpress.com/2014/08/10/zionist-demo-in-haifa-in-gaza-there-is-no-studying-there-are-no-children-left/ ) . (That is not in fact the case, but apparently they wish it were.) A peace demonstration was banned, [ but hundreds came anyway. ]( http://972mag.com/nstt_feeditem/hundreds-in-tel-aviv-defy-police-ban-to-protest-gaza-war/ )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Right_wing_demonstrators_in_Israel%29

Hamas has always [ used its tunnels against Israeli soldiers, not against civilians ]( http://972mag.com/were-gaza-tunnels-built-to-harm-israeli-civilians/95279/ ) . The article also mentions several Israeli claims about the tunnels that were erroneous or fabricated.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Gaza_tunnels%29

More than ever before, [ Israel represses both Jews and Arabs that oppose the war ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/11/midst-war-israel-clamps-down-internal-dissent ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Israel_represses_both_Jews_and_Arabs_that_oppose_the_war%29

Confirmation: Nixon and Kissenger [ sabotaged a cease-fire in Vietnam in order for Nixon to win the presidential election of 1968 ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/08/12/george-will-confirms-nixons-vietnam-treason ) . Whether this literally constitutes treason, or just a betrayal, I am not sure. I've seen accusations that Reagan's men sabotaged an agreement with Iran to free the US hostages in 1980 so that he would win the presidential election that year. I don't know whether this is true, but he certainly betrayed his country later by ransoming hostages Iran-supported Lebanese kidnapers by selling arms to Iran.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Nixon_and_Kissenger_sabotaged_a_cease-fire_in_Vietnam%29

Professor Schabas, appointed to lead a UN investigation of war crimes in Gaza, has said that [ Netanyahu deserves to face the International Court ]( http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=19405 ) . The information given does not justify the conclusion that Schabas is anti-Israel, but does suggest he has a preconceived view of the issue to be investigated. I agree with view, but his having it in advance may mean the investigation is biased.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Netanyahu_deserves_to_face_the_International_Court%29

It occurs to me that Putin may have provoked the rebellion in eastern Ukraine with the goal of firing up Russians to support him while he imposes [ Chinese-style censorship on the internet in Russia ]( https://www.stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#11_August_2014_%28All_users_of_internet_cafes_to_show_their_identity%29 ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Putin%27s_rebellion%29

US citizens: Tell Congress you [ object to letting company reps choose their staff. ]( http://action.citizen.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=12550 )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Object_letting_company_reps_choose_staff%29

Satellite observations find that the amount of water vapor in the upper troposphere [ has increased over 30 years, as climate models predict global heating to cause. ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2014/aug/13/global-warming-moistening-the-atmosphere )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Water_vapor_in_the_upper_troposphere_has_increased%29

The current outbreak of Ebola virus continues spreading because of [ fundamental problems in the medical system in Sierra Leone ]( http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2014/aug/13/ebola-epidemic-poor-facilities-distrust-healthcare ) which result in lots of avoidable deaths from less exotic diseases.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Ebola_virus_outbreak%29

Guatemala's president, formerly a general who implemented US-backed repression has [ hired a US lobbyist to get more military "aid" from the US ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/08/13/cold-warrior-criticizes-cold-war-and-drug-war-hires-cold-warrior-promote-drug-war ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Guatemalan_president_hires_US_lobbyist%29

Snowden says that Syria's disconnection from the internet was due to a [ mistake that the NSA made while trying to install spy software ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/13/snowden-nsa-syria-internet-outage-civil-war ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Syrias_disconnection_from_internet%29

Nitrous oxide, as sold on the street, is hardly dangerous at all, so why [ so much effort to get rid of it ]( http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/aug/13/brick-lane-is-the-uks-laughing-gas-megastore-but-for-how-long ) ? Perhaps it is unsightly, like a hungry homeless person. Cities try to ban them, too.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Nitrous_oxide%29

[ Egypt Is in the Grip of a Violent Tyranny — with the West's Backing ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/13/egypt-violent-tyranny-bloodshed-west-complicit ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Tyranny_in_Egypt_backed_by_the_West%29

US citizens: [ call on Congress ]( https://secure3.convio.net/fww/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=241 ) to ban fracking.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#14_August_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Ban_fracking%29