Daily Archives: November 6, 2011

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How Wall Street Occupied America

The Nation

by Bill Moyers

This article is adapted from a speech Bill Moyers gave in October at Public Citizen’s fortieth-anniversary gala.

During the prairie revolt that swept the Great Plains in 1890, populist orator Mary Elizabeth Lease exclaimed, “Wall Street owns the country…. Money rules…. Our laws are the output of a system which clothes rascals in robes and honesty in rags. The [political] parties lie to us and the political speakers mislead us.”  She should see us now. John Boehner calls on the bankers, holds out his cup and offers them total obeisance from the House majority if only they fill it. Barack Obama criticizes bankers as “fat cats,” then invites them to dine at a pricey New York restaurant where the tasting menu runs to $195 a person. Continue reading How Wall Street Occupied America →

Brazil

Women work to protect forests

Study finds that Brazilian women increase protection of natural resources.

Latin America Press

Even though women in the Brazilian Amazon are largely dependent on forested land for food and medicine for their communities, they have long played a background role in comparison with their male counterparts in decisions such as the use of the land and ability for activities such as extractive industries, according to a recent study by the Center for International Forestry Research, or CIFOR, and the National Council of Rubber Tappers. Continue reading Women work to protect forests →

Peru

Forced sterilization cases reopened

Prosecutors launch probe into Fujimori-era crimes.

Latin America Press

Peruvian Attorney General’s Office launched Oct. 21 an investigation into the forced sterilization of thousands of women, mostly indigenous women from the country’s highlands, during the 1990-2000 government of Alberto Fujimori. The cases were reopened after the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, a branch of the Organization of American States, found that crimes against humanity might have been committed, meaning that the crimes cannot be prescribed. Continue reading Forced sterilization cases reopened →

USA

Who Are the 99%? Ways to Teach About Occupy Wall Street

NY Times: The Learning Network

The NY Times Learning Network has bundled an impressive package of activities to teach your students about Occupy Wall Street.  Get your students warmed up with a quiz that matches campaign slogans with organizations. Choose from 10 activities to suit your curriculum and learning objectives. Standout activities include: “Debate the Movement’s Potential,” “Investigate the Role of Digital Tools,” Compare Wall Street with Other Movements, and “Brand the Movement” (a look at OWS logos).

 

Click here for NY Times Learning Network “Who are the 99%?” lessons

 

Environment

Earth Grab: Geopiracy, The New Biomassters and Capturing Climate Genes

Pambazuka News

It has now been 50 years since a human being first glimpsed the whole of Planet Earth, shimmering alone in the blackness of space. “The earth is blue. How wonderful. It is amazing,” reported Yuri Gagarin as the planet appeared in his porthole for the first time on 12 April 1961. Environmentalists subsequently argued that seeing the Earth as small and fragile, rather than large and unfathomable, would transform humanity’s relationship with our common home and give renewed impetus to the movement to save nature – and for some it did. Continue reading Earth Grab: Geopiracy, The New Biomassters and Capturing Climate Genes →