| Time |
Event |
| 2:56p |
Starmer's "green revolution"
Starmer Labour has pledged a "green revolution" based on spending 22
billion UKP on carbon capture plants, which have never worked
effectively.
This was the response to fossil fuel industry lobbying.
Carbon capture may not be effective, but fossil fuel lobbying
is quite effective with Labour.
It is certainly possible to spend that much money on building them,
if you don't mind that they many not do much to reduce emissions.
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| 2:56p |
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| 2:56p |
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| 2:56p |
Global food/water crisis
*More than half the world's food production will be at risk of failure
within the next 25 years as a rapidly accelerating water crisis grips
the planet, unless urgent action is taken to conserve water resources
and end the destruction of the ecosystems on which our fresh water
depends, experts have warned in a landmark review.*
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| 2:56p |
Alabama barred from purging non-citizens before election
*US judge bars Alabama from purging thousands of voters before election.*
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| 2:56p |
New York big oil charges
New York State prosecutors propose to charge big oil companies with
reckless endangerment for knowingly taking a big risk of fueling
devastating hurricanes, rains and fires.
I wonder what the penalty would be if they are convicted.
What sort of penalty could be imposed that would help end global heating?
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| 2:56p |
Urgent: Stop US aid to Israel
US citizens: phone your congresscritter and ask per to insist
that the US cannot help Israel attack Iran unless Congress votes to
authorize it. And then to argue and vote against authorizing it.
If you phone, please spread the word!
Main Switchboard: +1-202-224-3121
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| 2:56p |
Yahya Sinwar killed
The Israeli army has killed HAMAS leader Yahya Sinwar.
I forecast that his death will not change the military situation in
Gaza. Normally the killing of leaders of underground military
campaigns does not eliminate the campaigns, not if they have the
popular support needed to recruit new fighters. They will appoint
someone else as leader.
Killing Sinwar, personally, was completely justified given that he was
at large and fighting. He launched the terrorist attacks of 7 Oct
2023. However, his personal deserts are a secondary issue, given
what else was at stake.
The 42,000 (and perhaps tens of thousands more) killed in Gaza were
mostly civilians and Israel's little-discriminate killing of them
could not be excused by fighting HAMAS.
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| 2:56p |
Gaza aid letter
US cabinet ministers sent Netanyahu a letter demanding Israel
reach specific targets in allowing more aid into Gaza, with
a deadline, and suggesting that the US will enforce the Leahy law.
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| 2:56p |
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| 2:56p |
Lawsuit to prevent hiding toxic chemicals
The regulation of toxic chemicals in the US is hamstrung by laws that
enable companies to keep their use and their presence in any place
secret.
The selfish interest of those who keep trade secrets is rational but
antisocial. In many cases the only harm it does is to hold back the
general advance of technology. But sometimes it does really nasty
things. For digital hardware and software, it often gives companies a
way to subjugate their users. Regarding use of toxic chemicals, it
endangers public health.
Why would legislators pass laws to "protect" companies instead of
protecting the people they harm? I suspect it is partly because these
companies are influential and the legislators seek their support,
and partly because the legislators ask them for campaign funds.
But it is also partly the result of the mindset of "trickle down", which
assumes that the only way to get more funds for the state is to
let increase the size of the economy by letting companies have what
they want. Unfortunately, what they want is often to be allowed to
harm the public.
Most Democrats in Congress got corrupted this way in the 80s and 90s.
(The exceptions are the progressive Democrats.) Now in the UK
Starmer is guiding Labour into that sort of corruption.
Clearly our laws should say that any public need to know about the
presence of toxic substances in a business facility overrides the
desire to keep them secret.
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| 2:57p |
Bail bond industry
Bail funds are charities that raise bail for people accused of crimes
who are offered bail but can't afford it. Bail bond companies and the
insurance companies that serve them are trying to outlaw those funds,
not overtly but Bail funds are charities that raise bail for people accused of crimes
who are offered bail but can't afford it. Bail bond companies and the
insurance companies that serve them are trying to outlaw those funds,
not overtly but sneakily by imposing regulations that would be nearly impossible to satisfy.
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| 2:57p |
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| 2:57p |
Criticizing by stock trading
[Posting again with the correct link his time]
In China, there seems to be only one way to criticize the government
which is not forbidden: by stock trading.
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| 2:57p |
I'm looking for information about Sam's Club
I'm looking for some basic information about Sam's Club. If you have
ever bought anything there, you probably know the answers. If you'd
like to have a brief email conversation, please send me email,
at the gnu web site with address rms.
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