2019-08-05: Social Media Postees

The Artist as Prophet
Chris Hedges | truthdig.com | 2019-08-05
Where is America headed? As the question is endlessly argued, especially during the presidential campaign, potential answers tend to inhabit political realms. However, Chris Hedges, in this column from May 29, 2017, suggests that we also look elsewhere in seeking answers: to our artists. A new article from Hedges will appear next Monday after he returns from vacation. | The Israeli writer and dissident Uri Avnery asked an Egyptian general how the Egyptians managed to surprise the Israelis when they launched the October 1973 war. The general answered: "Instead of reading the intelligence reports, you should have r…
truthdig.com/articles/the-artist-as-prophet-2/

Stuck abroad: U.S. child begs Trump and Congress to save his life
Aboulfotouh Kandil | peoplesworld.org | 2019-08-05
On Sun., July 7, 2019, Egyptian authorities arrested a U.S. citizen, Reem Desoky, and her child Mustafa Hamed when they arrived at the airport in Cairo. The mother and her son live in Lancaster, Penn. Reem was sent to jail and Mustafa was given to his uncle Noor Desoky. Reem was arrested over Facebook posts, …
peoplesworld.org/article/stuck-abroad-u-s-child-begs-trump-and-congress-to-save-his-life/

Car Explosion Kills 19 at Cancer Institute in Central Cairo
telesurenglish.net | 2019-08-05
At least nineteen people were killed and 30 more were wounded in an explosion resulting from a car crash in central Cairo, Egypt's health ministry said early on Monday. | RELATED: | 'The Saudi Way': Egypt Expatriates Minister Vows to 'Slice up' Critics Living Abroad | According to Egyptian-based media, the powerful explosion near the medical facility was caused by the detonation of an oxygen cylinder that was inside of a car that collided with another vehicle i…
telesurenglish.net/news/Car-Explosion-Kills-19-at-Cancer-Institute-in-Central-Cairo-20190805-0002.html

NPR Shreds Ethics Handbook to Normalize Regime Change in Venezuela
Lucas Koerner | fair.org | 2019-08-05
The Reagan administration in 1982 coerced National Public Radio (NPR) to cover more favorably the US terrorist war then being waged against Nicaragua. | As Greg Grandin writes, Otto Reich, head of the administration's Orwellian propaganda outfit known as the Office of Public Diplomacy, informed the public network that his office had contracted "a special consultant service [to listen] to all NPR programs" on Central America. Dependent on state funding, NPR promptly buckled under pressure, reassigning reporters viewed as "too easy on the Sandinistas," and…
fair.org/home/npr-shreds-ethics-handbook-to-normalize-regime-change-in-venezuela/

Is There a Third Way in Libya? What can Break the Deadlock in Libya's Civil War?
Richard Galustian | globalresearch.ca | 2019-08-05
What can break the deadlock in Libya's civil war? | Ghassan Salame, the UN's point man for Libya began his analysis and brief to the Security Council last week by emphasising that the armed conflict in Libya "shows no signs | …
globalresearch.ca/is-there-a-third-way-in-libya-what-can-break-the-deadlock-in-libyas-civil-war/5685577

Monday's Daily Brief: Independent UN experts on Myanmar, UN chief renounces attacks in US, Libyan airport violence, UN spokesperson on Kashmir, and FAO and Italy on development
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-05
Our main stories today: Myanmar companies bankroll 'brutal operations' of military; UN chief renounces shootings in the United States; 'Repeated indiscriminate' shelling of Libyan airport raises concern; UN voices 'concern' over Kashmir; and new UN agriculture chief reaffirms commitment with Italy on development…
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1043731

The Retainer Solution: the European Union, Libya and Irregular Migration
Binoy Kampmark | counterpunch.org | 2019-08-05
There is a venom in international refugee policy that refuses to go away: officials charged with their tasks, passing on their labours to those who might see the UN Refugee Convention as empty wording, rather than strict injunction carved upon stone. They have all become manifest in the policy of deferral: humanitarian problems are for…
counterpunch.org/2019/08/05/the-retainer-solution-the-european-union-libya-and-irregular-migration/

Rivers of Dust: Water and the Middle East
Conn Hallinan | counterpunch.org | 2019-08-05
Syria and Iraq are at odds with Turkey over the Tigris-Euphrates. Egypt's relations with Sudan and Ethiopia over the Nile are tense. Jordan and the Palestinians accuse Israel of plundering river water to irrigate the Negev Desert and hogging most of the three aquifers that underlie the occupied West Bank.
counterpunch.org/2019/08/05/rivers-of-dust-water-the-middle-east/

Freed MOVE members welcomed in Brooklyn, N.Y
Monica Moorehead | workers.org | 2019-08-04
Long-time MOVE supporter, Orie Lumumba, organized a welcome-home reception on July 27 for Janine Africa, Janet Africa and Eddie Africa, members of the MOVE communal family. These fighters for environmental justice and for revolution were falsely arrested and convicted in 1978 for killing a white cop in Philadelphia, when their . . . | Continue reading Freed MOVE members welcomed in Brooklyn, N.Y. at Workers.org…
workers.org/2019/08/04/freed-move-members-welcomed-in-brooklyn-n-y/

Security Council gravely concerned by Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, demands immediate end to violence hampering response
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-02
The UN Security Council on Friday expressed grave concern about the current Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and stressed the urgency of broad cooperation in the response, as "the disease could spread rapidly, including to neighbouring countries, possibly having serious humanitarian consequences and impacting regional stability."
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1043651

Friday's Daily Brief: Security Council Ebola response, UNICEF chief on 'devastating week' for children in Middle East and North Africa, climate and migration links
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-02
Our main stories today: Security Council concern over DRC Ebola outbreak, head of UNICEF deplores 'devastating week' for children in MENA region, climate crisis to have 'extensive' effect on human settlement…
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1043661

The Retainer Solution: The European Union, Libya and Irregular Migration
Binoy Kampmark | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-08-02
There is a venom in international refugee policy that refuses to go away: officials charged with their tasks, passing on their labours to those who might see the UN Refugee Convention as empty wording, rather than strict injunction carved upon stone. They have all become manifest in the policy of deferral: humanitarian problems are for …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/08/the-retainer-solution-the-european-union-libya-and-irregular-migration/

Pentagon testing 'spy balloons' across Midwest for 'persistent' domestic surveillance
rt.com | 2019-08-02
The Pentagon is testing a new surveillance technology, using American citizens as guinea pigs. Test flying dozens of high-altitude 'spy balloons' over the Midwest, the project has alarmed privacy advocates and rights groups. | …
rt.com/usa/465694-pentagon-spy-balloon-tests/

South Africa: Transforming community protests into an uprising
susan_p | greenleft.org.au | 2019-08-02
There were protests galore in the build up to South Africa's May 8 national elections, which coincided with the 25th anniversary of the people's victory against Apartheid. Protests occurred in many parts of the country but predominately in Gauteng, the nation's industrial heartland, and in the Western Cape, with its legacy of colonialism. | The correlation of protests and elections is not new in South Africa. What was new, however, was the ferocity and proliferation of the protests. The images of chaos in the country's urban working class townships during the elections implied that there was a crisis underlying S…
greenleft.org.au/content/south-africa-transforming-community-protests-uprising

Boycott HP products to show solidarity with Palestinians
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2019-08-02
Not many people know about the role of IT giant HP in Israel's grave violations of Palestinian rights and its system of military occupation, racial segregation and oppression. | Just as many companies profited from the South African Apartheid regime, HP is today profiting from Israel's apartheid policies towards Palestinians. It supplies Israel with technology, equipment and information that is used in its ongoing violations of Palestinians' rights. | July marked a year since Israel adopted its Jewish "nation-state" law, giving constitutional status to its apartheid policies towards Palestinian citizens of Israel…
greenleft.org.au/content/boycott-hp-products-show-solidarity-palestinians

Homage to OSPAAAL, the organisation of solidarity for the peoples of Asia, Africa, and Latin America
Vijay Prashad | mronline.org | 2019-08-02
Dear Friends, Greetings from the desk of the Tricontinental: Institute of Social Research. A few days ago, the 9th Asia Pacific Regional Conference of Solidarity with Cuba came to a close. At the final meeting, Prachanda–the co-chair of the Nepal Communist Party–articulated a sentiment that is shared by billions of people around the world. Cuba, he said, 'is […] | Source…
mronline.org/2019/08/02/homage-to-ospaaal-the-organisation-of-solidarity-for-the-peoples-of-asia-africa-and-latin-america/

Ten years on, crisis in Nigeria 'far from over'; UN and humanitarian partners urge support for millions still affected
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-01
Ten years after the start of a violent insurgency in north-east Nigeria plunged the country into a humanitarian crisis that is "still far from over", the United Nations and its aid partners have underscored the need to "collectively redouble efforts" to help the most vulnerable.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1043581

Wednesday's Daily Brief: World Breastfeeding Week kickoff, Second Ebola death on DR Congo's eastern border,‚ÄØUN chief lauds climate activist Thunberg, Afghan bus attack, and outgoing UN agriculture chief hands over reigns
United Nations | un.org | 2019-07-31
Our main stories today cover: ‚ÄØWorld Breastfeeding Week kickoff, Ebola on DR Congo side of Rwandan border, 15-year-old Greta Thunberg to said to UN climate summit, UN chief condemns deadly Afghan bus attack and UN agriculture agency chief marks last day.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/07/1043561

UN working 'intensively' to stop Ebola in eastern DR Congo, following second case in major border town
United Nations | un.org | 2019-07-31
Senior UN officials tasked with controlling the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have responded to Tuesday's confirmation of a second case of Ebola in Goma, a major trading town in the vast country's restive east, near the border with neighbouring Rwanda, which resulted in the death of the patient.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/07/1043501

Headlines for July 31, 2019
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-31
Sens. Sanders and Warren Tout Progressive Vision for 2020 as 2nd Democratic Debate Kicks Off, Detroit Activists Call on 2020 Dems to Tackle Pollution, Implement Green New Deal, North Korea Launches 2nd Ballistic Missile Test in Under a Week, 130 Hunger-Striking Prisoners in Egypt Decry Inhumane Treatment, Senators Question DOD Nominee John Hyten over Sexual Assault Accusations, Virginia Delegate Protests Trump Speech: "You Can't Send Us Back!", House Report Says Trump Adviser Ran Campaign Speech by UAE, Saudi Officials, California Bill Requires Presidential Candidates to Disclose 5 Years of Tax Returns, 2 Chicago…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/31/headlines

FROM THE FIELD: Turning waste into a business in the slums of Yaoundé, Cameroon
United Nations | un.org | 2019-07-31
The increasing volume and complexity of waste associated with modern economies is posing a serious risk to ecosystems and human health. Every year, an estimated 11.2 billion tons of solid waste are collected worldwide, according to the UN Environment Programme.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/07/1043541

Headlines for July 30, 2019
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-30
Gilroy, CA Shooter Touted White Supremacist Text, Posted Racist Content Before Massacre, Trump Renews Attacks on Rep. Cummings, Lashes Out at Al Sharpton, Senate Fails to Override Trump Vetoes on Bills Blocking Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia, Saudi Air Raids Kill At Least 10 in Northern Yemen, 5 Teenage Students Killed by Security Forces in Sudan, Brazil: At Least 57 Killed in Prison Riot, 164 Environmental Activists Killed in 2018, Indigenous Activists Protest Real Estate Development in New Zealand, Greenland's Ice Sheet at Risk of Record Melting, CNN and MSNBC to Host Climate Crisis-Centered Events, Kamala Harris R…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/30/headlines

With Libyans now 'fighting the wars of others' inside their own country, UN envoy urges Security Council action to end violence
United Nations | un.org | 2019-07-29
Fighting in Libya "shows no signs of abating", the head of the United Nations Support Mission (UNSMIL), told the Security Council on Monday, painting a grim picture of worsening humanitarian conditions, and warning that the instability and influx of foreign weapons is fueling a proxy war in the north African country.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/07/1043381

Monday's Daily Brief: Nigeria massacre, Libya shelling condemned; recycled plastic used to build classrooms in Cà¥te d'Ivoire
United Nations | un.org | 2019-07-29
Our main stories today: UN chief and senior UN official condemn the 'terrible massacre' in Nigeria that left some 65 dead, and the shelling of a hospital in Libya that killed medical workers; UN Secretary-General António Guterres reacts to a deadly landslide in China; recycled plastic waste is used to build classrooms in Cà¥te d'Ivoire; and scouts are urged to become human rights defenders.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/07/1043371

The Dangerous Austerity Politics of the Washington Post
Dean Baker | fair.org | 2019-07-29
Washington Post ( 7/17/19) | The Washington Post ( 7/17/19) ran a column this month by Maya MacGuineas, the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, one of the many pro-austerity organizations that received generous funding from the…
fair.org/home/the-dangerous-austerity-politics-of-the-washington-post/