| Time |
Event |
| 10:38a |
|
| 10:38a |
Amazon rainforest "tipping point"
*Amazon rainforest could reach ‘tipping point’ by 2050, scientists warn*
*Authors of study call for action to prevent possible collapse of
region's ecosystems and climate impacts that would result.*
I don't think anyone can tell how long it will take for this disaster
to be unstoppable. The question we face is one of how far to press
our luck.
|
| 10:38a |
|
| 10:38a |
|
| 10:38a |
Urgent: Reject Section 702
US citizens: call on Congress to reject section 702 mass surveillance.
I read that one attempt to pass the bill was rejected, but not conclusively.
There will be more attempts.
|
| 10:38a |
Alexei Navalny
Alexei Navalny has died a political prisoner in Russia.
His decision to return to Russia and be imprisoned on political
charges was brave, and in a country with less censorship might have
stimulated opposition to Putin. But it was ineffective, because the
uncensored media and communication that might have galvanized
opposition had all been crushed.
*Alexei Navalny death: protesters gather across Europe to express outrage and
denounce Putin.*
|
| 10:38a |
|
| 10:38a |
Virtual hospital beds
"Virtual hospital beds" can now monitor a patient's recovery
while perse stays at home.
It sounds like a useful idea, for certain patients (not those who
might need a rapid intervention if something goes wrong). Except that
I suspect it is implemented in an unjust way, depending on nonfree
software plus connection to the internet.
If that is the case, I'd have to refuse to allow it in my home.
It would be easy to implement such a monitoring system with free
software. But I expect that the NHS never even thought about the
issue.
|
| 10:38a |
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| 10:38a |
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| 10:38a |
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| 10:38a |
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| 10:38a |
"Preaching to the choir" in politics
Robert Reich explains why "preaching to the choir" in politics is
useful and worth while.
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| 10:38a |
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| 10:38a |
|
| 10:38a |
Hugo awards and Chinese censorship
*Leaked emails reveal organizers of leading science fiction and fantasy
awards (the Hugo awards) [excluded] works of a "sensitive political nature"*
to cater to Chinese censorship.
The World Science Fiction Society should change its rules so that
Worldcon cannot be held in a country that would impose political
censorship on books to be sold, discussed, shown or judged at the
event. Teams bidding to hold a future Worldcon should have to
sign and publish an affirmation to this effect.
I understand, of course, that bidders cannot take responsibility for
stopping the sate from censoring Worldcon. But I think bidders in
countries that impose political censorship would hesitate to sign such
an affirmation, and that would achieve the goal of protecting Worldcon
from being held in one.
|
| 10:38a |
|
| 6:43p |
Basic status of Julian Assange
*We have seen
Assange’s plight in a UK prison, but extraditing him this week would be a disaster for us all.*
|
| 6:43p |
Assange's final appeal, UK
*Global media freedom at risk as Julian Assange back in UK court
facing
possible extradition to USA.*
The US is the prime mover of imprisoning Assange, but the UK is responsible for its willingness
to extradite people for acts of journalism. It is doing so under
a treaty
that the UK ratified but the US never did. It demonstrates the subservience of the UK.
The substance of the treaty is outrageous because it agrees to extradite to the US for actions
that are not crimes under UK law. That discards a basic principle of extradition known as
"dual criminality": that country A should not extradite a person to country C for an act that is
a crime in country unless that act is also a crime in country A. This principle spares country
A from becoming an accessory to country C's repression.
We used to envision the Soviet Union or China as playing the role of
country C, but in this case the US plays that role.
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| 6:43p |
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| 6:43p |
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