# articles

feed_id: 6c150a9b638aa0296f1ed32aa54c0d20
title: Nicaraguan thugs occupy opposition site
uri: Nicaraguan-thugs-occupy-opposition-site
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Nicaraguan_thugs_occupy_opposition_site%29

content:
<p>Nicaraguan thugs have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/15/nicaragua-police-raid-and-ransack-top-journalists-offices">occupied the headquarters of the opposition news site Confidencial</a>.</p>
<p>The repressive Nicaraguan regime <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/16/ortega-condemned-for-raids-on-ngos-and-media-in-nicaragua">has also shut down a human rights organization</a>, CENIDH.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f998b9f7e76dded6891beab0da1f06ec
title: Florida governor ex-con voting rights
uri: Florida-governor-ex-con-voting-rights
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Florida_governor_ex-con_voting_rights%29

content:
<p><a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/pg4AsUT2Qrw/1810606">The saboteur governor of Florida is trying to disobey the recently adopted voter initiative to restore voting rights to ex-cons</a>. He hopes to get away with this because he will have the chance to pack the Florida supreme court.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 8ded00c607b81cfe39497999b7f92f84
title: Border crossers suffered medical stress
uri: Border-crossers-suffered-medical-stress
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Border_crossers_suffered_medical_stress%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/15/anger-grows-death-guatemalan-migrant-girl-held-us">Border crossers have often suffered great medical stress walking through the desert</a>.  If they are ill, they are likely to need medical attention quickly.  Due to the procedures, they tend to get delay instead. Last week a child died as a result of this delay.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 2ceeb269c537b6badceea47e811fcb93
title: California: DNA retention
uri: California-DNA-retention
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28California%3A_DNA_retention%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.eff.org/press/releases/social-justice-organizations-challenge-retention-dna-collected-hundreds-thousands">Social Justice Organizations Challenge Retention of DNA Collected from Hundreds of Thousands of Innocent Californians</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f5a5ac066737438a4de154fd1dc77cef
title: Supreme court on travel ban
uri: Supreme-court-on-travel-ban
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Supreme_court_on_travel_ban%29
content:
<p><a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/12/travel-ban-waiver-lawsuit/">The Supreme Court validated the bully's partial visa ban for Muslims</a>, but there has to be a system for individuals to apply for exceptions. The bully has not set up such a system, so people are suing.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 276e57659a7f979270833acf83ca46cb
title: Definition of "Antisemitism"
uri: Definition-of-Antisemitism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Definition_of_%2522Antisemitism%2522%29

content:
<p><a href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/neo-nazis-push-israels-bogus-anti-semitism-definition-eu">Neo-nazis push hard for Israel's broad definition of "antisemitism"</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a43a844f01441befa9957e9598e7c5f1
title: Clean water act rollback
uri: Clean-water-act-rollback
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Clean_water_act_rollback%29
content:
<p>The occasionally-connected waterways that <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/15/clean-water-act-rollback-epa/">EPA proposes to deregulate regularly feed pollution into the ones that will still nominally be regulated</a> -- but the change will allow no way to clean up that pollution.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 1e370f6a7a167ccca0b7166c4a1e3f7c
title: Animal feed health warning
uri: Animal-feed-health-warning
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Animal_feed_health_warning%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/15/legal-plastic-content-in-animal-feed-could-harm-human-health-experts-warn">Legal Plastic Content in Animal Feed Could Harm Human Health, Experts Warn</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 266abf2586f3fbb864e3ae4adb9d90d0
title: Amish resist modern tech
uri: Amish-resist-modern-tech
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Amish_resist_modern_tech%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/15/faith-lost-if-adopt-technology-amish-resist-modern-world">The Amish still stand up to pressure to conform to technology</a>.</p>
<p>I think the Amish attitude towards technology is very wise: judge products based on how each one affects people's lives, rather than jumping for convenience into a trap.</p>
<p>I could not believe in their religion, however, and I don't think that there is any virtue in staying out of democratic engagement.</p>
<p>As for large families, that practice endangers the human and wild worlds.  We can tolerate the practice of having many children only so long as few people actually do it.  When there is a movement that grows by having large families in each generation, something is going to stop it.  If we stand aside, that something will be starvation, which is the worst possible choice.</p>
<p>Let's join with the Amish in insisting on using cash.  We can defeat the pressure to be tracked in everything <em>if we start fighting it</em>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4264b02c1d0cd25c79ec90d7ffcf8972
title: A nondemocratic whole
uri: A-nondemocratic-whole
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28A_nondemocratic_whole%29
content:
<p>In the "frankenstate", <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/15/democracy-authoritarianism-media-spotlight-viktor-orban">components of a democratic state are connected up to make a nondemocratic whole</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: d99945df921c06b3b4f24a559552f701
title: Nader on what progressives need to do
uri: Nader-on-what-progressives-need-to-do
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Nader_on_what_progressives_need_to_do%29

content:
<p>Ralph Nader: <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/14/are-new-congressional-progressives-real-use-these-yardsticks-find-out?cd-origin=rss">what progressives in the House of Representatives need to do if they are to be progressive in deed as well as in words</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f6ef7b3beab423ea295e5791a7b9a035
title: US: Obama's medical insurance law ruled unconstitutional
uri: US-Obama-s-medical-insurance-law-ruled-unconstitutional
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28US%3A_Obama%27s_medical_insurance_law_ruled_unconstitutional%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/14/judge-rules-obama-healthcare-law-unconstitutional">A US court ruled that Obama's medical insurance law is unconstitutional due to a change imposed last year by Republicans</a>.</p>
<p>Tens of millions of Americans will lose their medical coverage if the Supreme Court approves this, and millions will be killed by it if it continues.</p>
<p>I hope this strengthens the campaign for Medicare for All in the 2020 election.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: af194b6b0658d64b29c0debce0388f59
title: Wolves of Wall Street
uri: Wolves-of-Wall-Street
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Wolves_of_Wall_Street%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/14/no-labels-and-problem-solvers-are-wolves-wall-street-sheeps-clothing?cd-origin=rss">"No Labels" and the ‘Problem Solvers’ are Wolves of Wall Street in Sheep’s Clothing</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5bf1bb6db05f2a188befbfbd167ff950
title: Department of Education canceling debts
uri: Department-of-Education-canceling-debts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Department_of_Education_canceling_debts%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/14/good-first-step-devos-forced-cancel-150m-student-loan-debt-thousands-scammed-profit?cd-origin=rss">DeVos's attempt to cheat the students that were swindled by for-profit colleges was defeated by a court order</a>.  The Department of Education is now canceling their debts.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 996073cea207103c9644af6953d43446
title: Truth about privatization
uri: Truth-about-privatization
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Truth_about_privatization%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/14/truth-about-privatization?cd-origin=rss">Five rules for when to refuse to privatize public activity</a>.</p>
<p>In the cases where we have already privatized something that should not have been privatized, we should not cling to the mistaken decision.  We should make the activity a public function again.  This goes especially for charter schools.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 640da7ff923708dcd1aec7f5a5d0ce62
title: Poland climate conference has sticking point
uri: Poland-climate-conference-has-sticking-point
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Poland_climate_conference_has_sticking_point%29

content:
<p>The Poland climate conference has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/14/cutting-emissions-proves-a-sticking-point-at-poland-climate-conference">been unable to reach agreement on the one decision that actually matters: cutting greenhouse gas emissions</a>.</p>
<p>This is not surprising given that several powerful countries, including the US, are opposed to that goal.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 97b85108e75ec9a46565e533339defd7
title: Gilets Jaunes progressive stance
uri: Gilets-Jaunes-progressive-stance
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Gilets_Jaunes_progressive_stance%29

content:
<p>Many of the gilets jaunes now <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/14/voices-of-the-yellow-vests-we-are-just-here-calmly-getting-tear-gassed/">protesting in Paris are taking a specifically progressive stance</a>, calling for redistributing the wealth.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 1fd5a247f949f000014d453f1acc5f77
title: Sander's words distorted
uri: Sander-s-words-distorted
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Sander%27s_words_distorted%29
content:
<p>"Centrist" plutocratists keep trying to distort Sanders' words to make it appear that he isn't committed to fighting racism.  <a href="https://jacobinmag.com/2018/12/bernie-sanders-racial-justice-presidential-campaign/">This article explains the depth of his commitment</a>.</p>
<p>I am very impressed with it.  Especially because he doesn't let "diversity" among the well-off replace the goal of justice for everyone.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 0fe39446161162b8ab6fb7663bad7fb2
title: Only socialism can make capitalism stable and democratic
uri: Only-socialism-can-make-capitalism-stable-and-democratic
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Only_socialism_can_make_capitalism_stable_and_democratic%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/13/can-socialism-save-democracy?cd-origin=rss">Only socialism can make capitalism stable and keep it democratic</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 03b6f23bf78dbc2cf0da0d7211cfe3d1
title: Poland: clings to coal
uri: Poland-clings-to-coal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Poland%3A_clings_to_coal%29
content:
<p>Poland as an example of a country that clings to coal, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/14/poland-wean-coal-climate">and is even planning to invest in new coal facilities</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c1ecfd4ef56df82dd352ab5b78687fe3
title: Salafi Arabia and Houthis cease fire
uri: Salafi-Arabia-and-Houthis-cease-fire
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Salafi_Arabia_and_Houthis_cease_fire%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/14/yemen-ceasefire-hope-gives-way-to-concerns-about-implementation">Salafi Arabia and the Houthis agreed to a cease fire in Hodeida</a>. The question is whether it will really take hold.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: bd35cef635c631003d12792d9e2dd1f9
title: Amendment to bill to allow churches to support political candidates
uri: Amendment-to-bill-to-allow-churches-to-support-political-candidates
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28Amendment_to_bill_to_allow_churches_to_support_political_candidates%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/13/johnson-amendment-repeal-would-drag-churches-and-charities-down-muck-politics?cd-origin=rss">Republicans are trying to allow churches to support political candidates</a>.  They have put it into a large bill so that it will be difficult to stop,</p>
<p>They know that the main support from churches will be for them, from the churches attended by their fanatical, bigoted, extremist supporters.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: eae6cc769f4f1bd369ba45d41afc900d
title: UK: commercials to be regulated
uri: UK-commercials-to-be-regulated
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_%28UK%3A_commercials_to_be_regulated%29

content:
<p>TV ads in the UK <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/dec/14/uk-advertising-watchdog-to-crack-down-on-sexist-stereotypers">will be regulated so that they don't sharply promote gender stereotypes</a>.</p>
<p>I think this is a legitimate policy.  To apply it to the publications of a person would be a denial of freedom of speech, but that does not morally apply to commercial advertising.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 56587ea5f69aed953af66b032df0d0e6
title: Urgent: Highest tax bracket
uri: Urgent-Highest-tax-bracket
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Highest_tax_bracket%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/ocasio-cortez_taxes">call
for</a> setting the highest tax bracket at 70% or more.
</p>
<p>
To make this truly effective requires closing loopholes for dodging
taxes, but it is nonetheless a good thing to do.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 93d65d3616efe383caa730ffadd0b08b
title: Urgent: Tax the rich
uri: Urgent-Tax-the-rich
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Tax_the_rich%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/aoc-tax-rich/">call
on Congress</a> to tax the rich and back the Green New Deal.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: d3e566795241ac7b27393738ef6a86b3
title: NATO members
uri: NATO-members
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28NATO_members%29
content:
<p>
The bullshitter previously condemned NATO, but now he wants to invite
Poland and Hungary to join &mdash; because it is
an <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/21/fort-trump-poland-another-dangerous-delusional-idea">opportunity
for arms sales</a>.
<p>
Extending NATO closer to Russia would be foolish.  It is much safer to
have a buffer zone at the border with another power.  The Roman empire
did this for its first century of existence, and it was a very effective
strategy for reducing conflict.


feed_id: 19759b8bba0fe022bdebc96139cc9522
title: Green New Deal committee
uri: Green-New-Deal-committee
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28Green_New_Deal_committee%29
content:
<p>
The Democratic Party leaders in Congress have agreed to set up a Green
New Deal committee.  Now they
are <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/21/deep-lack-moral-clarity-and-courage-pelosi-accused-moving-kill-green-new-deal">giving
control of it</a> to plutocratists who won't let it achieve anything.


feed_id: 118cf87df573391024067f1a8b1da64e
title: Soldiers with HIV
uri: Soldiers-with-HIV
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28Soldiers_with_HIV%29
content:
<p>
The numbskull
has <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/further/2018/12/20/stigma-not-science-and-then-they-came-military-hiv">had
two soldiers discharged</a> because they have suppressed HIV
infections.
<p>
This is a method of spreading propaganda to his supporters:
inculcating in them disgust and fear towards people that have
suppressed HIV?


feed_id: c926dc9e09c2f39ebf802312547e90cb
title: Facebook data access
uri: Facebook-data-access
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28Facebook_data_access%29
content:
<p>
Facebook secretly let other
companies <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/20/facebook-violating-privacy-mark-zuckerberg">access
personal data</a> of Facebook's useds.  Why?
<p>
Siva Vaidhyanathan argues that the aim was (1) to give the other
companies an interest in defending Facebook against regulation, and
(2) because they would encourage their customers to give more of their
personal data to Facebook.
<p>
I think Facebook should be eliminated entirely and replaced with an
index of people.  People would create records in the index under their
names.  Your record &mdash; if you make one &mdash; would give other
people a way to contact you through various methods of messaging.
<p>
You could include a small amount of information about yourself to help
people tell if you are the person they are seeking to contact, rather
than another person with a similar name.  Their messages to you would
carry various contact coordinates in case you decide to respond.
<p>
It would do nothing more than that.  It would not be allowed to do
anything more, or have a special relationship with any other
communication system.
<p>
This would provide a chance to decentralize the web again &mdash; but
taking advantage of that chance would require other changes.


feed_id: fd0099618990b6bd05caa298c05f4299
title: Ill prisoner on Nauru
uri: Ill-prisoner-on-Nauru
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28Ill_prisoner_on_Nauru%29
content:
<p>
Australia is desperate to make life bad for the prisoners it holds on
Nauru.  A woman who was seriously ill was brought to Australia for
treatment, then
was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/20/six-weeks-since-being-brought-to-australia-for-treatment-nauru-refugee-yet-to-see-doctor">held
in immigration prison for 6 weeks</a> without being allowed to see a
doctor.


feed_id: 39d333d766a63363a56221fe0c74e170
title: Israeli 'warning strikes'
uri: Israeli-warning-strikes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28Israeli_%27warning_strikes%27%29
content:
<p>
After Israeli drone-launched "warning strikes" killed two Palestinian
boys on a roof, it looks like
Israel <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/19/israel-airstrike-gaza-two-boys/">edited
the video</a> which it posted, to disguise the fact that the drone
pilots could see the boys.


feed_id: 1a908fc26b2f830f1f51eb10739bc0d6
title: Google's plan in Toronto
uri: Google-s-plan-in-Toronto
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28Google%27s_plan_in_Toronto%29
content:
<p>
Google's plan to turn part of Toronto into a Snoop City
quietly <a href="http://rabble.ca/news/2018/12/plan-re-imagine-toronto%E2%80%99s-waterfront-how-much-does-public-know-about-plan">swallowed
important downtown areas</a> while no one was looking.


feed_id: 5b1f7574f65c6e2caa78e1fadc486498
title: Mueller's investigation
uri: 2019-01-13-Mueller-s-investigation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28Mueller%27s_investigation%29
content:
<p>
The Russian disinformation
campaign <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/russian-disinformation-teams-targeted-robert-s-mueller-iii-says-report-prepared-for-senate/2018/12/17/0e0047f6-0230-11e9-8186-4ec26a485713_story.html?noredirect=on">smeared
Mueller's investigation</a>.


feed_id: 8edad86dc40a672828084844bc53a603
title: US troops in Syria
uri: US-troops-in-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28US_troops_in_Syria%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a>'s decision to remove US troops from Syria is intended to
satisfy
Erdoğan's <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/21/james-mattis-resignation-trump-erdogan-phone-call">desire
to attack Rojava</a>.


feed_id: 8c6f50f9ac174ac165edbd4653ab6d84
title: Michael Kovrig
uri: Michael-Kovrig
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28Michael_Kovrig%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/21/michael-kovrig-canadian-diplomat-detained-china-lawyers">Confirmation</a>
that China has arrested Michael Kovrig as a bargaining chip is that he
has not been allowed to meet with his lawyers.
<p>
He is also subject to harsh prison and interrogation conditions, though
the US does equally nasty things to prisoners.


feed_id: 0947150aa113cd5adfada8e819ccb53c
title: Government shutdown
uri: Government-shutdown
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28Government_shutdown%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> is causing a government shutdown to jolt SCROTUS to
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/21/trump-temper-tantrum-continues-tells-mcconnell-go-nuclear-or-shutdown-will-last-very">eliminate
the filibuster</a>.


feed_id: 252e2b97b4f81b2dd49b6f0593328429
title: Measles in Europe
uri: Measles-in-Europe
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28Measles_in_Europe%29
content:
<p>
Due to the spread of anti-vaccine hysteria, deaths due to measles are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/21/measles-cases-at-highest-for-20-years-in-europe-as-anti-vaccine-movement-grows">increasing
in Europe</a>.


feed_id: 4756858059e57dc940e2b0d7950324c3
title: Underground abortions in Kenya
uri: Underground-abortions-in-Kenya
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28Underground_abortions_in_Kenya%29

content:
<p>
Kenya will allow the European-funded Marie Stopes clinics
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/21/kenya-lifts-ban-marie-stopes-abortion-services-after-warning-lives-are-at-risk">resume
treating the thousands of women</a> that are injured by underground
abortions.
<p>
As population growth pushes Africa towards ecocide, legal limits on
abortion are the worst possible policy for society, as well as an
injustice to each woman.


feed_id: 1ee7f86b7861e9d11d1940d6be8849d0
title: US troops in Afghanistan
uri: US-troops-in-Afghanistan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28US_troops_in_Afghanistan%29
content:
<p>
The bullshitter is talking
about <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/21/trump-plans-to-pull-thousands-of-troops-out-of-afghanistan-report">greatly
reducing US troop levels</a> in Afghanistan.
<p>
I think that is the right thing to do.  There is no way to win that
war.  The US can continue the near-stalemate at the cost of tens of
thousands of deaths each year, while the Taliban slowly advance, or
let the Taliban win.
<p>
If we do the latter, the Taliban will be able to defeat <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>'s branch
there, which we are unable to do.
<p>
We will have the obligation to give the anti-Islamist Afghans, a safe
refuge.


feed_id: 5c1e1201ae4940d2aa96b49c742bc9f2
title: Invasive species in Toronto
uri: Invasive-species-in-Toronto
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#13_January_2019_%28Invasive_species_in_Toronto%29
content:
<p>
Toronto's large wild parks are
being <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/dec/21/theres-no-major-city-like-it-toronto-unique-ravine-system-under-threat">taken
over by invasive species</a> which will destroy them.


feed_id: 96e3e97a3c1f0296e4ab2c730d19375b
title: Urgent: Background checks
uri: Urgent-Background-checks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Background_checks%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.everytown.org/letter/ask-congress-strengthen-background-checks/">call
on Congress</a> to require background checks for all gun sales.
</p>
<p>If you send a message, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 3815e9713b0c632e31706d097fb8e78d
title: Urgent: Equality Act
uri: 2019-01-15-Urgent-Equality-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Equality_Act%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/equality-act">call
on Congress</a> to pass the Equality Act, which would prohibit
discrimination based on gender identity.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 5735e5ca3ddf5d87e1d4784cf3158450
title: Argentina and the IMF
uri: Argentina-and-the-IMF
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Argentina_and_the_IMF%29
content:
<p>
Argentina's President Macri says that everyone in the country will
soon adore the IMF, but they
are <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/22/why-argentinas-new-loans-imf-are-spurring-unrest-and-deepening-social-and-economic">already
launching strikes</a> against the IMF's dooH niboR.


feed_id: f8eba8ff20f61ce2b7bfcf0b66e9ace7
title: DHS AI software
uri: DHS-AI-software
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28DHS_AI_software%29
content:
<p>
The Department of Harassment and Suspicion is developing AI software
which is supposed to figure out who is a terrorist, the way companies
figure out who is pregnant or who is gay.  They plan to put these people
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/03/air-travel-surveillance-homeland-security/">automatically
on blacklists</a>, which could result in harassing them or ruining
their lives.
<p>
The correlations fit millions of people, and at most hundreds of them
are real terrorists.  Whatever the software does, almost all the
matches will be false matches.
<p>
The DHS is doing this as proprietary software through a private
company, which could enable it to avoid accountability for the wrongs
it will do.


feed_id: 24a7d1d53299a0bcaf330ba7479c9d2f
title: Boycotting Amazon
uri: Boycotting-Amazon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Boycotting_Amazon%29
content:
<p>
Some people
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/17/amazon-boycott-customers-holiday-shopping">boycotting
Amazon</a> because of how it treats workers, and other wrongs to
people other than its customers.
<p>
The article points out, correctly, that more people would need to join
for the boycott to influence Amazon's practices.  The article is
written in a way that I think is intended to subtly discourage others
from doing so.  It repeatedly harps on how "convenient" Amazon is and
presumes that the only thing customers could want <em>for
themselves</em> is convenience.
<p>
I might boycott Amazon for those reasons, but the issue does not arise
for me, because I reject Amazon due to the ways it mistreats <em>its
customers</em>.  It collects data about them and it requires running
nonfree software.  I value my freedom and privacy and I won't
surrender them for convenience.


feed_id: bada0609482eb4a262033eb68489c0d9
title: Imperial pasts
uri: Imperial-pasts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Imperial_pasts%29
content:
<p>
Right-wing extremists make a practice of manipulating people through
the glories of each country's imperial past, amplified with
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/10/nostalgia-for-empires-lost-seductive-dangerous">exaggerations
and distortions</a>.
<p>
I expect we will find that the right-wing extremists of various countries
will support each other even though the imperial glory of one country involved
colonizing or murdering the people of the other country.  Once people are
sufficiently distracted from the present and from real issues, logic and sense
cease to be relevant.


feed_id: 8c48110f1b0260d3d63e76563f2cd515
title: Digital ankle shackles
uri: Digital-ankle-shackles
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Digital_ankle_shackles%29
content:
<p>
Digital ankle shackles are not an alternative to imprisonment.  They
are
a <a href="https://truthout.org/articles/the-first-step-act-opens-the-door-to-digital-incarceration/">form
of imprisonment</a>.
<p>
They can be better or worse than being in a physical prison.  They do
offer advantages: you can live with your family &mdash; if you have a
family.  You can go to work, if you have a job and they don't fire you
for this.
<p>
But if you have to pay through the nose to be imprisoned this way,
that is an injustice.
<p>
If they monitor your movements, and listen to your conversations,
prison might be better.  Even worse, it might be the first step towards
doing the same thing to all of us.


feed_id: cffc8f39994193b40ab25da240a6e127
title: Harm of NAFTA
uri: Harm-of-NAFTA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Harm_of_NAFTA%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/21/new-report-25-years-naftas-damaging-outcomes-underscores-high-stakes-next-years">A
summary of the harm</a> that NAFTA has done to the US and Mexico.


feed_id: db9e68b9ad88a9c52649964d447b3321
title: Reducing prison sentences
uri: Reducing-prison-sentences
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Reducing_prison_sentences%29
content:
<p>
Now that the First Step Act has reduced future sentences, we need
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/21/trump-first-step-criminal-justice-reform-three-strikes">reduce
past sentences</a> the same way so we can let a lot of people out of
prison.


feed_id: c58389853f88fc5827f60c6c38d59b8d
title: Children's data online
uri: Children-s-data-online
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Children%27s_data_online%29
content:
<p>
Think Twice Before You [Publish] Our Faces
Online, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/dec/22/online-photo-sharing-internet-safety-children-more-savvy-than-parents">Say
Children</a>.
<p>
They are right.  Meanwhile, schools are distributing ever more data about
their students to companies that we shouldn't trust either.


feed_id: ea629e26293a30d84e49f2691823d073
title: Plutocrats
uri: Plutocrats
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Plutocrats%29
content:
<p>
Plutocrats want Americans to imagine that we are united with them, but
that
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/22/america-unity-fetish-george-hw-bush">not
how they treat us</a>.


feed_id: 7c6030d5951aded5986dff28206f9aa8
title: Dissatisfied with democracy
uri: Dissatisfied-with-democracy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Dissatisfied_with_democracy%29
content:
<p>
People around the world
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/22/why-are-we-so-dissatisfied-with-democracy-the-reasons-are-many">dissatisfied
with democracy</a>, with good reasons: the power of plutocrats,
exercised through various instruments, has made democracy increasingly
ineffective.
<p>
If we don't want the right-wing authoritarians to rule, we need to
reestablish democracy.  However, to do this sufficiently requires
eliminating
the <a href="https://stallman.org/business-supremacy-treaties.html">business-supremacy
treaties</a>, including the European Union as it exists today.


feed_id: fa74a059092d22a405104313729f8b5b
title: Beto O'Rourke
uri: 2019-01-15-Beto-O-Rourke
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Beto_O%27Rourke%29
content:
<p>
"Beto
O'Rourke <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/22/beto-orourke-voting-record-2020-election-democrats">is
the new Obama</a>. And that's the last thing we need."
<p>
The misguided idea of choosing candidates by their demographics gives
plutocrats and <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bankster">banksters</a> (who are not stupid) a way to distract us
from focusing on ending plutocracy.  They did this with Obama (from a
disprivileged group, blacks) and Clinton (from a disprivileged group,
women), and they are now trying to do this with O'Rourke (from a
disprivileged group, Hispanics).
<p>
A candidate from such a group is likely to work to protect that group
from bigotry at the individual level.  For instance, Obama knows what
it is like to face retail racism, and Clinton knows what it is like to
face retail sexism.  Both of them have worked to oppose those.
<p>
However, neither of them is committed to ending wholesale racism and
sexism,
because <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-sep-dec.html#06_December_2014_(Obamas_promise_to_plutocrats)">they
tie in</a>
with <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-mar-jun.html#24_June_2017_(Clintons_fund_raising_leaders)">plutocracy</a>.
Those two bent the knee
to plutocracy decades ago, and they don't have the heroism and
audacity it would take to turn against the masters they have obeyed
for so long.  O'Rourke doesn't either.
<p>
We know Sanders can and will oppose them, because he
has <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#13_November_2016_(Sanders'_campaign)">spent
his life fighting them</a>.


feed_id: 9555b369393a547029207b9ab6078b86
title: Nurses on strike
uri: Nurses-on-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Nurses_on_strike%29
content:
<p>
Nurses went on strike for one day against a hospital that was cutting
their medical benefits, so the
hospital <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/22/indiana-pennsylvania-nurses-strike">locked
them out</a>.
<p>
This is part of increased militancy among nurses.


feed_id: ad1c48f9a6d6d60f13b75d0b1af5dc7b
title: Rabbits in England
uri: Rabbits-in-England
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Rabbits_in_England%29
content:
<p>
Rabbits in England
have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/22/on-the-real-watership-down-rabbits-are-hard-to-come-by">become
much fewer</a> due to diseases.
<p>
I read that rabbits were introduced to England by the Norman
conquerors, who wanted to raise them as they did in Normandy.


feed_id: 85a6da34d05658dcc6f2144c05fa27c1
title: BDS campaign and Donorbox
uri: BDS-campaign-and-Donorbox
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28BDS_campaign_and_Donorbox%29
content:
<p>
An Israeli dirty tricks group has got the Palestinian
Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions
campaign <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/21/donorbox-suspends-bds-national-committees-account-after-threats-israeli-legal">blocked
from receiving donations</a> via Donorbox.
<p>
I do not advocate the Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions campaign.  (I
advocate the boycott of products made in Israel's colonies in
Palestinian territory, which
was <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#3_August_2016_(Products_made_in_Israeli_colonies)">launched
by Gush Shalom</a>.)  I would not donate to the BDS campaign.
Nonetheless, it is a legitimate campaign and I condemn the dirty
trick.
<p>
Is it possible to donate on Donorbox without running nonfree software
(such as Javascript)?  Based on what I've seen in other such sites,
such as Patreon, I expect it is not.  I would not donate to anyone or
anything on Donorbox at the cost of my freedom.  When I donate to
organizations and campaigns, I do it by mailing a check.
<p>
The first step in learning the habit of standing up for your freedom
is to give freedom priority.


feed_id: 15786196364c8211df7d07b6eae36a88
title: Asylum seekers in Mexico
uri: Asylum-seekers-in-Mexico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Asylum_seekers_in_Mexico%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a>'s latest scheme for cruelty to people requesting asylum is
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/21/us-border-announcement-continues-systematic-degradation-legal-routes-protection">require
them to live in Mexico</a> while their cases are heard.  That could
mean months of starving or begging.


feed_id: e8ca936e04d3aa02673deecc382c3863
title: Interrogation without lawyers
uri: Interrogation-without-lawyers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_January_2019_%28Interrogation_without_lawyers%29
content:
<p>
The wife of executive Carlos Ghosn, accused of tax evasion, says he is
being 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/14/former-nissan-chief-carlos-ghosn-suffering-draconian-treatment-in-jail-wife-says">interrogated
for long hours without his lawyers to pressure him to confess</a>.
<p>
He may be guilty, but no one accused of crime should be treated this
way.  Unfortunately, in Japan, every suspect is.


feed_id: 51ca530115d95e8b63128d49c9cd4e1d
title: US government shutdown
uri: US-government-shutdown
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_January_2019_%28US_government_shutdown%29
content:
<p>
The shutdown of "inessential" US government work means that 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/13/what-government-shutdown-really-means-federal-prisoners">prisoners
can't see their families</a>, and those that are terminally ill will
die in prison rather than with their families.


feed_id: 97af2164143cddcd8b721fc5ed19acc9
title: The bully's behavior
uri: The-bully-s-behavior
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_January_2019_%28The_bullys_behavior%29
content:
<p>
Analyzing the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a>'s behavior in terms of 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jan/14/psychological-processes-at-work-in-trump-and-the-brexiters">infantile
attachment insecurity</a>.
<p>
I have read that "Stockholm syndrome" is not a recognized
psychological pattern and has occurred only rarely.


feed_id: 1280985a6ee11195837ff45d96a3b5c2
title: LA teachers' strike
uri: LA-teachers-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_January_2019_%28LA_teachers_strike%29
content:
<p>
Beginning Walkout, Los Angeles Teachers Find 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/14/beginning-walkout-los-angeles-teachers-find-support-sanders-not-corporate-democrats">Support
From Sanders—But Not Corporate Democrats</a>.
<p>
The strike is not just about wages &mdash; it is an attempt to block
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-jul-oct.html#14_August_2018_(School_privatization)">privatization
of the public schools</a>.


feed_id: be228f658539811f2440414581b8ea92
title: College students going hungry
uri: College-students-going-hungry
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_January_2019_%28College_students_going_hungry%29
content:
<p>
Many college students in the US are 
<a href="https://theconversation.com/more-solutions-needed-for-campus-hunger-109648">going
hungry</a>.


feed_id: b6602b7374cbc1f02917a7f8432853a8
title: Power of protest
uri: Power-of-protest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_January_2019_%28Power_of_protest%29
content:
<p>
(The protests at) Standing Rock 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/14/standing-rock-ocasio-cortez-protest-climate-activism">Inspired
Ocasio-Cortez to Run</a>. That's the Power of Protest.


feed_id: dcae3551c354c386a46f5b65053e96ad
title: Religiously-motivated discrimination
uri: Religiously-motivated-discrimination
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_January_2019_%28Religiously-motivated_discrimination%29

content:
<p>
Fanatical US Christians aim to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/14/christian-nationalists-bills-religious-freedom-project-blitz">impose
religion on state governments</a>, and authorize religiously-motivated
discrimination.


feed_id: f9dd074403a38a5e490975433ec3aaed
title: Beto O'Rourke
uri: 2019-01-16-Beto-O-Rourke
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_January_2019_%28Beto_O%27Rourke%29
content:
<p>
"Beto
O'Rourke <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/22/beto-orourke-voting-record-2020-election-democrats">is
the new Obama</a>. And that's the last thing we need."
<p>


feed_id: 1d02c592a848edfb79da270d976fa966
title: Fanatical prudery in Egypt
uri: Fanatical-prudery-in-Egypt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_January_2019_%28Fanatical_prudery_in_Egypt%29
content:
<p>
Egyptian officials are frothing at the mouth with fanatical prudery.
Since they can't jail the people who made a nude video on top of the
Great Pyramid, they want to 
<A href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/14/egypt-arrests-two-people-accused-of-helping-stage-naked-photoshoot-on-pyramid">jail
everyone who helped them make the climb</a>.
<p>
Whenever prudery takes itself seriously, it threatens repression.


feed_id: 9c535731265dd279ac0cc90e31c6e56a
title: Weak fuel economy standards
uri: Weak-fuel-economy-standards
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_January_2019_%28Weak_fuel_economy_standards%29
content:
<p>
Researchers point out 
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/12/science-trump-admin-report-justifying-fuel-economy-rollback-is-flawed/">the
fallacies</a> in the EPA's arguments for weak fuel economy standards.
<p>
Increased fuel economy standards are 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#18_December_2018_(Increasing_carbon_emissions)">nowhere
near enough</a> to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as we need to.


feed_id: c294e61e1f856879df2486caf3efbe61
title: Euro puts banksters above every country
uri: Euro-puts-banksters-above-every-country
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_January_2019_%28Euro_puts_banksters_above_every_country%29

content:
<p>
The EU 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/13/italy-cuts-deficit-target-for-2019-to-204-to-avoid-eu-sanctions">defeated
Italy's attempt to use deficit spending</a> to boost its stalled
economy.
<p>
The ones who lose will be Italy's poor.
<p>
The Euro keeps countries permanently trapped in
poverty by 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-jul-oct.html#22_August_2018_(Deficit_spending)">putting
the banksters above every country</a>.


feed_id: 6384abdb34f2770f8367455c20a0a5bd
title: Sentencing without trial
uri: Sentencing-without-trial
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_January_2019_%28Sentencing_without_trial%29
content:
<p>
Saifullah Paracha was a successful businessman in Pakistan, who was
sent to Guantanamo and tortured, then 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/dec/13/saifullah-uzair-paracha-guantanamo-bay-al-qaida-war-on-terror">arbitrarily
sentenced to life imprisonment without trial</a>.
<p>
It is not clear that he is innocent of intentionally helping a
terrorist, but there is plenty of room for reasonable doubt about the
accusation.  The US should release him and apologize.
<p>
Every prisoner in Guantanamo should get a fair trial or be released.
So what if some of them were real Islamist terrorists?  There are
thousands of real Islamist terrorists on the loose, and Salafi
Arabia's 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#1_June_2018_(Islam)">extreme
worldwide Islamist education system</a> pre-radicalizes thousands,
perhaps millions, every year.  Keeping prisoners in Guantanamo changes
only one thing: it gives people a reason to refuse to respect or
admire the US.


feed_id: 56ea146dd940103854abc4f5ab47ef15
title: Uber does not allow drivers to sue
uri: Uber-does-not-allow-drivers-to-sue
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_January_2019_%28Uber_does_not_allow_drivers_to_sue%29

content:
<p>
Uber does not allow drivers to sue &mdash; it requires them to use
arbitration for disputes with the company.  But they can't actually
use arbitration because Uber 
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/legal-us-otc-uber/forced-into-arbitration-12500-drivers-claim-uber-wont-pay-fees-to-launch-cases-idUSKBN1O52C6">won't
let them start cases</a>.
<p>
We should not allow companies to impose a requirement for arbitration
rather than a lawsuit, not on customers and not on workers.


feed_id: 781bb132fd7110a4b02c1d662822baab
title: US hospitals hold patients to ransom
uri: US-hospitals-hold-patients-to-ransom
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_January_2019_%28US_hospitals_hold_patients_to_ransom%29

content:
<p>
US hospitals hold patients to ransom by 
<a href="https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/welcome-to-our-modern-hospital-where-if-you-want-to-know-a-price-you-can-go-fuck-yourself">refusing
to tell them what their medical treatment will cost</a>.  The most
trivial treatments can cost thousands of dollars, and bigger ones can
cost hundreds of thousands.
<p>
I think we should not allow for-profit hospitals.  However, even
not-for-profit hospitals are drivel by the 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-jul-oct.html#4_July_2018_('Trauma_charge')">same
systemic imperatives</a>.


feed_id: 4a131088d9d0ad5f67569b2edb2e9290
title: Trump rental scam
uri: Trump-rental-scam
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Trump_rental_scam%29
content:
<p>The <a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/vbt-qMT2bh0/1819392">grifter and his siblings cheated thousands of rental tenants in the 1990s</a>, and got millions of dollars this way.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5201d888f6628a5cc35953866f2c8ca3
title: Socialism and capitalism
uri: 2019-01-18-Socialism-and-capitalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Socialism_and_capitalism%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/13/can-socialism-save-democracy?cd-origin=rss">Only socialism can make capitalism stable</a> and keep it democratic.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 30fbf4a54f6e1c381b9fbd17de3b1811
title: Syria and PISSI
uri: Syria-and-PISSI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Syria_and_PISSI%29
content:
<p>The fight to capture PISSI's remaining islands of territory in Syria is still continuing; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/14/kurdish-led-fighters-take-last-isis-town-in-syria-activists-say">an important advance was just made</a>.</p>
<p>The article speaks of the Syrian Democratic Forces. It seems clear that Rojava was involved.  It is not clear precisely how.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: d77ab03ca8c56b6c23bca414c73d37e1
title: Ireland NHS homeless treatment
uri: Ireland-NHS-homeless-treatment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Ireland_NHS_homeless_treatment%29

content:
<p>Ireland's NHS <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/14/inclusion-health-an-irish-answer-to-the-homelessness-crisis">has developed a way to treat homeless people's illnesses</a> in a way that helps them get back on their feet.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 2a8bf3e93be7a846ec181e80a1f75fcf
title: Drones, DNA, Data privacy
uri: Drones-DNA-Data-privacy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Drones%2C_DNA%2C_Data_privacy%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/14/drones-dna-and-data-please-dont-give-the-gift-of-privacy-invasion">Drones, DNA and Data: Please Don't Give the Gift of Privacy Invasion</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 1bb1b1fb33e1b5fb05226906332c7e6b
title: EPA doubtful of scientific evidence
uri: EPA-doubtful-of-scientific-evidence
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28EPA_doubtful_of_scientific_evidence%29

content:
<p>It looks like <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/14/epa-adviser-casts-doubt-on-science-linking-pollution-to-health-problems">Republiars are making a play to deny the scientific evidence</a> that links air pollution to medical problems.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 64da435fb7170ce9423982bb1db6a1f4
title: US: refugee minors imprisoned
uri: US-refugee-minors-imprisoned
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28US%3A_refugee_minors_imprisoned%29

content:
<p>The US <a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/yiCE7lFQLw4/1818944">now holds 15,000 refugee minors in prison</a>, and there is almost no chance they will ever be released from prison because their relatives don't dare sponsor them.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c7b019e2a7964d88ea1211d23ede80d8
title: Senate vote on Saudis intervention in Yemen
uri: Senate-vote-on-Saudis-intervention-in-Yemen
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Senate_vote_on_Saudis_intervention_in_Yemen%29

content:
<p>The Senate <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/13/senate-yemen-saudis-trump-resolution">voted to stop supporting Salafi Arabia's military intervention in Yemen</a>.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the House has already barred even voting on the question.  However, this same resolution could pass the Senate next year, and the Democrats in the House could bring up the same resolution next year.</p>
<p>Does exercise of the War Powers Act require the president's signature? I would find that very surprising, since the whole point is to put a check on the president's power to fight a war without approval of Congress. But I would like to know.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e2feec10d28801baf7dbb273400d9825
title: US, Russia, China: Africa policy
uri: US-Russia-China-Africa-policy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28US%2C_Russia%2C_China%3A_Africa_policy%29

content:
<p>Bolton: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/13/us-john-bolton-africa-policy-russia-china">China and Russia use their influence to buy or compel support from African countries, so the US should do that more</a>.</p>
<p>It seems to me that the US has done plenty of buying of such support. Can people send me a couple of references about examples?</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: bf1a3196e96f25cc6674104f67e0f8f7
title: Europe: Green New Deal fund
uri: Europe-Green-New-Deal-fund
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Europe%3A_Green_New_Deal_fund%29
content:
<p>Varoufakis <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/13/plan-europe-macron-piketty-green-new-deal-britain">offers a plan to raise funds for a Green New Deal</a> for Europe that would also rescue Italy and Greece.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 7f4a25f5edba8f485eafa7eb21bb53dd
title: Amazon doorbell camera
uri: Amazon-doorbell-camera
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Amazon_doorbell_camera%29
content:
<p>Amazon <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/13/amazons-disturbing-plan-add-face-surveillance-your-front-door?cd-origin=rss">has envisioned making doorbell cameras</a> to let the thugs do face recognition on people who pass by.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 1c3349353511fa756d0c755fb997d3ac
title: Australia: Israeli embassy location
uri: Australia-Israeli-embassy-location
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Australia%3A_Israeli_embassy_location%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/14/australian-government-to-recognise-jerusalem-as-israels-capital">Australia has finessed the issue of where its Israeli embassy will be located</a>: it says it will move the embassy to Jerusalem if and when there is a peace settlement about it.</p>
<p>I am not sure what everyone will say about that plan, but it should put a little pressure on Israel to make peace.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a7f5a7edd35fb8dd60458e58bde88591
title: Turkey: Doctor sentenced to prison
uri: Turkey-Doctor-sentenced-to-prison
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Turkey%3A_Doctor_sentenced_to_prison%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/13/phr-condemns-sentencing-turkish-doctor-and-calls-immediate-dropping-charges?cd-origin=rss">Erdoğan's regime has convicted Dr. Gençay Gürsoy, founder of the Turkish Medical Association</a>, of "propaganda for an armed terrorist organization".  What he actually did was sign a petition for human rights.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: d3d4eab0b402584bc3ce00bb89aaa2f9
title: Trump and post office service
uri: Trump-and-post-office-service
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Trump_and_post_office_service%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/13/im-postal-worker-if-you-get-mail-small-town-or-suburb-listen?cd-origin=rss">The saboteur wants to eliminate a lot of post office service</a> -- including for everyone outside major cities.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 34055fa94c76f299042358f97d506b49
title: US Police training
uri: US-Police-training
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28US_Police_training%29
content:
<p>For our own safety, <a href="http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/50718.htm">Americans must not let US thugs get training from Israeli thugs</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 6ed7bef4298253a75ae890d6635ec5ba
title: US: Senators push Israeli Anti-Boycott Act
uri: US-Senators-push-Israeli-Anti-Boycott-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28US%3A_Senators_push_Israeli_Anti-Boycott_Act%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/11/cowardly-act-democrat-leads-bipartisan-push-sneak-criminalization-pro-palestinian?cd-origin=rss">Senators are putting a law forbidding boycotting of Israel</a> into a spending bill that "must pass".</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 8319128224e781040349da03ede7f246
title: Planet in Loss Mode
uri: Planet-in-Loss-Mode
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Planet_in_Loss_Mode%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/11/biological-annihilation-planet-loss-mode?cd-origin=rss">Massive die-offs are affecting trees and animals in a wide variety of groups</a>,  around the world.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 65f58b1d4fca669afb3528313e303b12
title: Professor booted for "pay to publish" scheme
uri: Professor-booted-for-pay-to-publish-scheme
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Professor_booted_for_%2522pay_to_publish%2522_scheme%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20181209/14574841190/school-boots-professor-off-campus-after-he-exposes-complicity-predatory-publishing-schemes.shtml">School Boots Professor Off Campus After He Exposes Its Complicity In Predatory Publishing Schemes</a>.</p>
<p>Professors in that business school found they were rewarded for paying to get papers published.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 0ae316fdf1b8c8eed8a30733cdaf4b78
title: Global heating: investigation to pin responsibility
uri: Global-heating-investigation-to-pin-responsibility
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Global_heating%3A_investigation_to_pin_responsibility%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/12/landmark-human-rights-and-climate-change-investigation-could-help-millions-worldwide/">An investigation aims to pin responsibility for global heating disaster</a> on the companies that are making it happen.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a22ff72c22b42f9223d6a084ff8d4f42
title: India: aids epidemic prevented
uri: India-aids-epidemic-prevented
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28India%3A_aids_epidemic_prevented%29

content:
<p>Giving India's sex workers a calm place to rest made it possible <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/13/the-untold-story-of-how-india-sex-workers-prevented-an-aids-epidemic-ashok-alexander-a-stranger-truth">to teach them how to avoid catching and spreading HIV</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 204dba13b01db16fdda2449f82ff79c6
title: US: Patricia Okoumou faces imprisonment
uri: US-Patricia-Okoumou-faces-imprisonment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28US%3A_Patricia_Okoumou_faces_imprisonment%29

content:
<p>Patricia Okoumou faces imprisonment in the US <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/13/patricia-okoumou-statue-of-liberty-protester-trial-new-york-federal-prison">for a nonviolent protest: she climbed the statue of liberty</a>.  This does not inhibit her from keeping up the protests.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: ea4101ace80600d12a12bc5f9c28c138
title: Charlottesville's history of racism
uri: Charlottesville-s-history-of-racism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Charlottesville%27s_history_of_racism%29

content:
<p>Charlottesville has commemorated murder and violence by right-wing extremists <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/13/us-racism-history-save-charlottesville">by educating the public about the history of racism there</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e3052e80e75db2ac255158f065de7b81
title: Facebook fact checkers are quitting
uri: Facebook-fact-checkers-are-quitting
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Facebook_fact_checkers_are_quitting%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/13/they-dont-care-facebook-fact-checking-in-disarray-as-journalists-push-to-cut-ties">Some of Facebook's fact checkers, supposedly charged with eliminating fake news, are quitting</a>, saying Facebook does not really want to get rid of fake news -- only make a show of trying.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f9f6726b63a272488f689df1bd1ad610
title: US: National Butterfly Sanctuary
uri: US-National-Butterfly-Sanctuary
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28US%3A_National_Butterfly_Sanctuary%29

content:
<p>The ruiner <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/13/butterfly-sanctuary-border-wall-mission-texas">plans to destroy the National Butterfly Sanctuary</a> for his obsession, the border wall.</p>
<p>The sanctuary is located next to the Rio Grande because that's where conditions make it possible.  There is no easy way to move it. It will be possible to tear down the wall, but there will be no easy way to bring back what was destroyed.</p>
<p>I don't think the ruiner would mind if these species went extinct (which some of them are sure to do, over coming decades, though not solely because of this).</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c0d994debcb748ec0f1557f5873f59fc
title: Climate research leader endorses "global heating" term
uri: Climate-research-leader-endorses-global-heating-term
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Climate_research_leader_endorses_%2522global_heating%2522_term%29

content:
<p>Climate research leader Richard Betts <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/13/global-heating-more-accurate-to-describe-risks-to-planet-says-key-scientist">has endorsed the term "global heating"</a>.</p>
<p>I have no way of knowing whether my advocacy of that term reached him at all.  But it might have done so.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 6fd8febea6814837f97eccee22848ab1
title: Secret face recognition at concerts
uri: Secret-face-recognition-at-concerts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Secret_face_recognition_at_concerts%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/dec/13/taylor-swift-facial-recognition-stalkers-rose-bowl-concert">Secret face recognition at a Taylor Swift concert</a> was nominally intended to recognize a list of known stalkers.</p>
<p>If someone was not on that list, what did they do with per photo? Did they save it?  Put it in a database?  Systems like this should be illegal except under extremely stringent conditions of not saving any data about people.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 65a8df9898c3dcb3cdc2b5ded3fc780d
title: Arab and Jewish women working against gender violence
uri: Arab-and-Jewish-women-working-against-gender-violence
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Arab_and_Jewish_women_working_against_gender_violence%29

content:
<p>Jewish and Arab women in Israel are <a href="https://972mag.com/gender-violence-pushed-jewish-palestinian-women-into-a-corner-together/139003/">working together against gender violence</a>.</p>
<p>When I visited Israel for the first time, I was told that Israeli men tended to be grabby.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f8f52f418cf7293f0efc7d35a64ae023
title: Israel: Palestinian children arrested
uri: Israel-Palestinian-children-arrested
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Israel%3A_Palestinian_children_arrested%29

content:
<p>Israel is <a href="https://palsolidarity.org/2018/12/after-school-in-hebron-a-journal-6-boys-detained-by-israeli-forces-in-2-days/">arresting Palestinian children off the street as they return home after school</a>.</p>
<p>These are really children -- as young as nine years old. Some of them are sentenced to imprisonment after bogus "trials".</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 17c66fbf617ca748bd5d6bf83d327d0d
title: Israel: evicting hundreds of Palestinians
uri: Israel-evicting-hundreds-of-Palestinians
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Israel%3A_evicting_hundreds_of_Palestinians%29

content:
<p>Israel is <a href="https://mondoweiss.net/2018/12/attrition-jerusalems-palestinians/?utm_source=Mondoweiss+List&utm_campaign=15a4f56685-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b86bace129-15a4f56685-398418937&mc_cid=15a4f56685&mc_eid=5196141150">evicting hundreds of Palestinians from Jerusalem</a> in a campaign of ethnic cleansing.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5e43fa9087d83eb0a917431d0e58d1c1
title: Europe: opposition to Article 13
uri: Europe-opposition-to-Article-13
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Europe%3A_opposition_to_Article_13%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/12/four-million-europeans-signatures-opposing-article-13-have-been-delivered-european">Four Million Europeans' Signatures Opposing Article 13 (mandatory copyright censor filters) Have Been Delivered to the European Parliament</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: db34b2147be386d9a5f4b17c263304e3
title: FTC's Consumer Protection conflict of interests
uri: FTC-s-Consumer-Protection-conflict-of-interests
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28FTC%27s_Consumer_Protection_conflict_of_interests%29

content:
<p>The head of consumer protection at the Federal Trade Commission has been the lawyer for many large companies.  <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/6/18129572/facebook-uber-ftc-conflict-interest-andrew-smith">He would not be allowed to be involved in investigating them even if he wanted to</a>.</p>
<p>With that history, he surely won't want to.  He was surely chosen because he's on their side against us.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 660853280cdd072585cdc5ecbf66ab8f
title: Climate activists stage sit-in
uri: Climate-activists-stage-sit-in
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Climate_activists_stage_sit-in%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/12/we-need-unprecedented-transformation-every-sector-250-climate-activists-stage-sit?cd-origin=rss">250 climate activists held a sit-in protest at Rep. Pelosi's office</a>, calling on her to support the massive action needed to protect the Earth's climate.</p>
<p>Senator Schumer <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/12/calling-promotion-betrayal-planet-groups-denounce-schumer-giving-fossil-fuel-servant?cd-origin=rss">let us down by putting coal industry Senator Manchin an important position over energy legislation</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: edb27fcadd1f4cb2cb9cddb0470354c5
title: US union candidate endorsement
uri: US-union-candidate-endorsement
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28US_union_candidate_endorsement%29

content:
<p>US unions <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/12/how-elect-democrats-who-actually-answer-workers?cd-origin=rss">should let the members vote on which candidates to endorse</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c12a1b35da463c849d6718497d81bf63
title: US Farm bill rider
uri: US-Farm-bill-rider
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28US_Farm_bill_rider%29
content:
<p>SCROTUS <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/12/why-people-hate-congress-buried-provision-must-pass-farm-bill-house-gop-uses-last?cd-origin=rss">stuck a rider in the farm bill to prevent the House from even considering a resolution</a> to pull the US out of the war in Yemen.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a22ae13e7f778ab57c36b0886521a9ae
title: US and Australia pro-coal at Poland climate conference
uri: US-and-Australia-pro-coal-at-Poland-climate-conference
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28US_and_Australia_pro-coal_at_Poland_climate_conference%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/11/australia-only-nation-to-join-us-at-pro-coal-event-at-cop24-climate-talks">The US and Australia showed their contempt for Earth</a> with an event at the Poland climate conference in favor of coal.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4f9ea27431509e4e12db106c9da14ef7
title: Increasing danger of fire
uri: Increasing-danger-of-fire
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Increasing_danger_of_fire%29
content:
<p>We will not see a stable climate in our lifetimes.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/10/the-new-abnormal-why-fires-like-paradise-will-happen-again-and-again">The increasing danger of fire will force Americans to reshape their way of life</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 502f79bbfd43df7e98e76742f914d36d
title: Nicaragua: journalism repression by state
uri: Nicaragua-journalism-repression-by-state
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Nicaragua%3A_journalism_repression_by_state%29

content:
<p>Journalists are the last check on the repression and violence of Nicaragua. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/10/nicaragua-journalists-press-freedom-crackdown-ortega">So the state is now directing its repression and violence at them</a>.</p>
<p>I hope Nicaraguans can find a way to overthrow their government.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: bd92665b1145d56f6c897efe42151dd1
title: France: Macron minimum wage concession
uri: France-Macron-minimum-wage-concession
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28France%3A_Macron_minimum_wage_concession%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/10/macron-pledges-to-raise-french-minimum-wage-gilet-jaunes-protests">Macron has agreed to raise the minimum wage in France</a>, in a concession to the gilets jaunes protests.</p>
<p>Bringing back the wealth tax would be very important, since each country that does this will help other countries to do it.  We must tax the rich more -- a lot more.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 974065d4c5c3d194619a551130fe38c4
title: NYPD arrests mother for sitting
uri: NYPD-arrests-mother-for-sitting
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28NYPD_arrests_mother_for_sitting%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/10/nypd-video-officers-wrench-baby-from-mothers-arms">New York City thugs attacked and arrested a woman, taking away her one-year-old baby</a>.  The excuse?  She was sitting on the floor, rather than waiting standing up.</p>
<p>It seems that they told lies to try to justify this, per standard thug procedure, but even if they had been true it would be no excuse for such harshness.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: d34f0af1202b6a2ed4946b3d276e1d0e
title: Extinction rebellion goes global
uri: Extinction-rebellion-goes-global
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Extinction_rebellion_goes_global%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/10/extinction-rebellion-goes-global-international-civil-disobedience-climate-talks-poland">Extinction Rebellion Goes Global in Run-Up to Week of International Civil Disobedience</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5b12de2cee1944c84a5420f498002a02
title: Microorganisms in Earth's crust
uri: Microorganisms-in-Earth-s-crust
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Microorganisms_in_Earth%27s_crust%29

content:
<p>The microorganisms that live in the rock in the Earth's crust <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/dec/10/tread-softly-because-you-tread-on-23bn-tonnes-of-micro-organisms">have a mass comparable to life in the oceans, but they live very slowly</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 0a71ef105b549e8b4421505a596da37d
title: Deportation flight protester appeal
uri: Deportation-flight-protester-appeal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Deportation_flight_protester_appeal%29

content:
<p>The protesters that blocked a deportation flight, and face imprisonment, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/10/stansted-15-protesters-deportation">gave one of the deportees the chance to win an appeal</a>.  In other words, his intended deportation would have been a miscarriage of justice.</p>
<p>That narrowly averted miscarriage of justice would not have been an accident, but rather the intended stochastic result of a policy of haste designed to excuse violating people's rights.  The charges against these protesters are meant to reinforce that "hostile environment".</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: dc525c714139f20571ecc0839e9223dd
title: US college fraternities
uri: US-college-fraternities
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28US_college_fraternities%29
content:
<p>US college fraternities teach a Kavanaugh-style idea of masculinity based on the core values of brotherhood, privilege and machismo.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/dec/10/andrew-moisey-american-fraternity-photographer-college-behaviour">The ideals they claim to stand for have been forgotten</a>.</p>
<p>We would be better off if fraternities were abolished.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f3ffb54a3290da560aa71a660851e78c
title: Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching
uri: Great-Barrier-Reef-coral-bleaching
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Great_Barrier_Reef_coral_bleaching%29

content:
<p>Repeated heat-induced coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef has already caused evolutionary effect: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/10/great-barrier-reef-surviving-corals-greater-heatwave-resistance">the more vulnerable species and varieties are disappearing</a>.</p>
<p>This does not make the remaining species and varieties any more robust than they already were.  That part of evolution takes more time than we are going to let the corals have.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 8e2a16479d36525a41a50eca4a8c728e
title: Russia spread fake news
uri: Russia-spread-fake-news
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Russia_spread_fake_news%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/10/russia-paved-way-for-ukraine-ship-seizures-with-fake-news-drive">Russia spread fake news for a year</a> to prepare public support for its attack on Ukrainian ships.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c2ab624ae6004d92e35f906493043028
title: Human rights warning
uri: Human-rights-warning
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Human_rights_warning%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/10/humanity-is-on-path-to-self-destruction-warns-un-special-rapporteur-nils-melzer">Appreciation of human rights is decreasing across the world</a>, as people who experienced World War II are no longer here to lead the defense of them.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 120bba5f91508b4522736163fca48a6a
title: San Francisco foodie scene suffers
uri: San-Francisco-foodie-scene-suffers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28San_Francisco_foodie_scene_suffers%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/09/san-franciscos-foodie-scene-suffers-as-its-workers-flee-high-cost-of-living">Living in San Francisco is now so expensive that restaurants have to close</a> because they can't afford staff.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 945b63e86285882a3c0e62faa1858511
title: Social networks worse than feudal lords
uri: Social-networks-worse-than-feudal-lords
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Social_networks_worse_than_feudal_lords%29

content:
<p><a href="https://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/rinesi20181210">Big social network platforms are worse than feudal lords</a>, If a social network offers you a chance at viral success, it also offers extremists a certainty of amplification.  We are better off without such things.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 28af08909ad9f02277959665545ee785
title: Australia: challenging legality of port deal
uri: Australia-challenging-legality-of-port-deal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28Australia%3A_challenging_legality_of_port_deal%29

content:
<p>Australia is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/10/watchdog-targets-anti-competitive-ports-deal-involving-nsw-government">challenging the legality of a deal in which New South Wales privatized two ports and committed not to build another port</a>.</p>
<p>Any deal that commits the state not to build alternate competing facilities is a direct surrender of public power to a business. These deals ought to be canceled by a constitutional amendment if necessary.</p>
<p>If the government's hands are tied, so it cannot make a deal to privatize certain state assets, great!  That is the goal.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 79bab2b4ac39f5e206abe4020b1cc1e7
title: US college debt
uri: US-college-debt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28US_college_debt%29
content:
<p>US college students graduating in 2017 <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/07/fed-says-college-students-have-more-debt-previous-generations?cd-origin=rss">had about twice as much debt on the average as in 2004</a>.</p>
<p>Since inflation has been low, almost all of this increase is real.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 0cc2fc368ea27adf8b9d8edf157cebb8
title: US Dept. of Interior: Science under siege
uri: US-Dept-of-Interior-Science-under-siege
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28US_Dept._of_Interior%3A_Science_under_siege%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/center-science-and-democracy/science-under-siege-department-interior-2018#.XAsfZeJ7mUk">Science Under Siege at the Department of the Interior</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c1061958884d220b22bc28fc04109801
title: Urgent: Close Guantanamo prison
uri: 2019-01-19-Urgent-Close-Guantanamo-prison
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Close_Guantanamo_prison%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: call for closing the Guantanamo prison and releasing the
prisoners, in particular 
<a href="https://act.amnestyusa.org/page/17643/action/1">Toffiq
al-Bihani</a>.

Here is what I said.
<blockquote>
<p>
I urge you to immediately transfer Toffiq al-Bihani, who has been
imprisoned without charges by the US since 2003, and apologize to him
for our country's shameful act of imprisoning him without trial.  He
also deserves compensation in the form of providing his needs for life
as a free man for the rest of his life.
<p>
I urge you also to close the Guantanamo prison and put an end to the
various unjust Guantanamo-linked practices including imprisonment
without trial, unfair kangaroo courts, and torture.  And anything else
that is unworthy of our country and has to pain the heart of
Americans that love their country.
<p>
Some of the prisoners in Guantanamo may have committed great crimes.
They have also suffered great crimes, including 17 years in prison
without a fair trial, and torture.  That is surely punishment enough;
we have to right to commit crimes against them in the name of
punishing them even more.  They can't inspire terrorism more outside
than they do now in Guantanamo.  Most of them won't even try.  If any
of them gets involved in future terrorism, he will be one more among
thousands &mdash; making little difference &mdash; and we could catch
him and prosecute him honestly next time.
<p>
Those responsible for torture and enforced disappearance must be
brought to justice in fair trial without recourse to the death
penalty.
</blockquote>


feed_id: c5bb45aea97ba52655dde1b0e69a3070
title: US government imposes almost national ID
uri: US-government-imposes-almost-national-ID
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28US_government_imposes_almost_national_ID%29

content:
<p>
The US government has 
<a href="https://reason.com/archives/2019/01/15/america-where-you-need-internal-passport">imposed
something almost equivalent to a national ID card</a>.  Without it,
people cannot use airplanes or enter a federal office building.
<p>
I suspect that exclusion from federal office buildings denies people
a number of rights.


feed_id: 077ea479d94049fdad358e2040cbe3a8
title: Urgent: Investigate phone network companies
uri: Urgent-Investigate-phone-network-companies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Investigate_phone_network_companies%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.freepress.net/sign/fcc_investigate_privacy_violations">call on the FCC</a> to investigate phone network companies
for selling location data.


feed_id: fa9c8e10de1014d0b6a9c3168b45fb73
title: Self-censorship due to surveillance
uri: Self-censorship-due-to-surveillance
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Self-censorship_due_to_surveillance%29

content:
<p>
Over 20% of writers surveyed by PEN reported that they avoided writing
about certain topics 
<a href="https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2018/12/writers-silenced-surveillance-self-censorship-age-big-data.html">because
they knew about surveillance</a>.
<p>
That survey was in Scotland.  Here are some reports:
<blockquote>
<p>
One participant who had covered the conflict in Northern Ireland in
70s and 80s stated that they would not cover the conflict in the same
manner if it took place now; another stopped writing about child abuse
when they thought about what their search history may look to someone
else; when they heard of a conviction based on the ownership of the
Anarchist Cookbook, a participant who bought a copy for research
shredded it. Further to this a participant stated: "I think I would
avoid direct research on issues to do with Islamic fundamentalism. I
might work on aspects of the theory, but not on interviewing people…in
the past, I have interviewed people who would be
called…'subversives'."
</blockquote>
<p>
An earlier survey of US writers found that
1/6 reported self-censoring because of surveillance.


feed_id: 44c6bf1d83e72f1ba2ee8d32f0b6e484
title: Mass transit systems
uri: Mass-transit-systems
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Mass_transit_systems%29
content:
<p>
Citizens of Washington DC are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/15/public-transit-system-in-washington-dc-struggles-with-privatization">fighting
an attempt to privatize</a> the city's transit system.
<p>
Mass transit systems 
<a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_January_2019_(Truth_about_privatization)">should
never be privatized</a>.


feed_id: e6e5f26e1843aa7aa06fd0ce0ed55c27
title: Indian hotels
uri: Indian-hotels
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Indian_hotels%29
content:
<p>
Some Indian hotels 
<a href="https://thewire.in/business/oyo-to-share-live-check-in-updates-with-state-governments-law-authorities">plan
to send a photo of every customer immediately to the local
government</a> in addition to the ID card information.


feed_id: c6c1881549bbd5d0577874e0b22e188d
title: Sri Lanka's prime minister pretender
uri: Sri-Lanka-s-prime-minister-pretender
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Sri_Lankas_prime_minister_pretender%29

content:
<p>
In Sri Lanka, prime minister pretender Rajapaksa has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/15/sri-lanka-pm-mahinda-rajapaska-resigns-in-effort-to-ease-constitutional-crisis">dropped
his claim to be prime minister</a>.
<p>
Since the president 
<a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2010-sep-dec.html#9%20September%202010%20(Democratic%20dictatorship?)">appointed 
him unconstitutionally</a>, he was never really the prime minister.


feed_id: 7095bf77ecc3fb286db956bb0e2fa787
title: Phasing out fossil fuel facilities
uri: Phasing-out-fossil-fuel-facilities
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Phasing_out_fossil_fuel_facilities%29

content:
<p>
Modeling suggests that phasing out fossil fuel facilities 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/15/immediate-fossil-fuel-phaseout-could-arrest-climate-change-study">could
still curb global heating before 1.5C</a>.
<p>
That means not building anything new that burns fossil fuels, so that
old facilities and vehicles at the end of their lives are replaced
with renewable energy facilities and vehicles.


feed_id: 394c2a6dcab0826cda311f7e2770aaaf
title: The cheater's crimes
uri: The-cheater-s-crimes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28The_cheaters_crimes%29
content:
<p>
Arguing that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a>'s collaboration with Russia is less important
as a basis for impeachment than 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/14/foreign-correspondent-sex-russia-and-impeachment">his
other crimes</a>.
<p>
To talk about what did or did not enable <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a> to "win" the
election promotes the false claim that he "won" it.  In fact,
Republican voter suppression &mdash; 
<a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#24_September_2017_(Electoral_System)">cheating</a>
&mdash; is what enabled him to capture the presidency.
<p>
Whether it is good strategy to impeach <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">the cheater</a>, given that the
Senate would not convict him, I do not know.


feed_id: 042d99bd9f2e3cf2354eed3c80a0be14
title: Climate defense
uri: Climate-defense
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Climate_defense%29
content:
<p>
In Canada, the election issue about climate defense is whether to do 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/02/justin-trudeau-environmental-record-canada-election-year">far
too little or far far too little</a>.  If closing coal-burning power
plants is most of the emissions reduction that Canada makes in 10
years, that means they will stop with the easy stuff.
<p>
If Canada doesn't want to receive 20, 30, 50 million climate refugees
a few decades from now from the collapse of agriculture in the US, it
had better push for global climate defense action now.


feed_id: 3164fee9c112c9ee5b21bd82e3d2d7cb
title: NIH ban on research using fetal tissue
uri: NIH-ban-on-research-using-fetal-tissue
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28NIH_ban_on_research_using_fetal_tissue%29

content:
<p>
The NIH has 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/14/trump-administration-ban-nih-use-fetal-tissue-should-worry-all-scientists">banned
research using fetal tissue using its funds</a>.  This decision,
incoherent even in its own terms, will hamper research into numerous
maladies, including Alzheimer's disease and Zika.
<p>
The ban is incoherent because it fails to achieve the goal, preventing
or discouraging abortions, that is supposedly the motive for it.
<p>
Paradoxically, impeding research on Zika will enable the disease to
continue making it necessary for women to have abortions so as to
avoid giving birth to babies with microcephaly.  That research has a
chance of someday preventing Zika from having those effects on
fetuses, so that they could be born healthy.
<p>
Ironically, the same anti-abortion campaign has another tactic:
<a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#08_October_2015_(In_prison_for_endangering_the_fetus)">making
it a crime to endanger a fetus</a>.  But they only intend to apply
this to endangering one fetus at a time.  Endangering millions of
fetuses, by keeping them in harm's way, seems to be ok in their
opinion.


feed_id: e03350817304327d4c1823a3d53b063f
title: Urgent: Digital First Media
uri: Urgent-Digital-First-Media
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Digital_First_Media%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://act.freepress.net/sign/journ_gannett_dmf_sell">call
on Gannett newspapers</a> not to sell to Digital First Media.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 842dd9b45f8e991765a966c1a280a04c
title: Urgent: Oil drilling in the ANWR
uri: 2019-01-19-Urgent-Oil-drilling-in-the-ANWR
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Oil_drilling_in_the_ANWR%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app201b">oppose
oil drilling</a> in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 9cfead5fde241dbf6c3ea814a8456023
title: Office of Technology Assessment
uri: Office-of-Technology-Assessment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Office_of_Technology_Assessment%29

content:
<p>
The US should revive
the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/27/1993-agency-climate-change-abolished-office-technology-assessment">Office
of Technology Assessment</a>.
<p>
It was abolished in 1995 by Republicans under Gingrich, because they didn't
want serious investigation of technology issues.


feed_id: 84fb88f0c52d449b8dce24f3e29a3436
title: Parakeets in Greece
uri: Parakeets-in-Greece
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Parakeets_in_Greece%29
content:
<p>
Adorable wild parakeets in Greece
may <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/dec/27/green-feathered-migrant-surge-prompts-greek-parakeet-count">threaten
native bird populations</a>.


feed_id: 9f60b5aeaff9c6241e0ed825a72ae67d
title: Releasing refugees
uri: Releasing-refugees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Releasing_refugees%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> is releasing hundreds of refugees from immigration, all at
once
&mdash; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/27/mass-releases-migrants-strain-voluntary-church-groups">in
the middle of nowhere</a>.
<p>
It's good that they are being released, but why do it that way?


feed_id: 2cc86a3e8dd0a5977ca00a1ccb83f0a2
title: Likelihood of genocide
uri: Likelihood-of-genocide
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Likelihood_of_genocide%29
content:
<p>
A <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/12/20/675582639/is-genocide-predictable-researchers-say-absolutely">series
of criteria</a> estimate how likely a genocide is in any given
country.


feed_id: dfeb0e61480d8ee7345d511a00372dae
title: ContentID
uri: ContentID
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28ContentID%29
content:
<p>
"ContentID
is <a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/12/26/youtube-let-a-contentid-scamme.html">exactly
the thing</a> YouTube claims it doesn't do: privately mediating
ownership of [publications] without involving the law."
<p>
Please don't refer to publications or artistic works as "content";
that
term <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Content">disparages
all publications and artistic works</a>.


feed_id: df383a01ce830cc79ecb80f2363b3107
title: Israel gone rogue
uri: Israel-gone-rogue
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Israel_gone_rogue%29
content:
<p>
Juan Cole: 2018 was the year Israel
finally <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/26/biggest-stories-2018-israel-announced-apartheid-shot-thousands-civilians">went
completely rogue</a> and ensured that it can no longer be considered
to be in the club of liberal capitalist democracies. It is now
formally an Apartheid state even inside the Green Line. It is also the
year when the Israeli elite consciously decided to shoot down with
live ammunition unarmed, peaceful demonstrators in the thousands.


feed_id: 93c06b31d246c59246f14facb966c60d
title: Border-crossing prisoners
uri: Border-crossing-prisoners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Border-crossing_prisoners%29
content:
<p>
US
nurses <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/26/nurses-condemn-policy-led-deaths-children-families-seeking-asylum">rebuke
the border thugs</a> for keeping border-crossers prisoner in
conditions that endanger the prisoners' health.
<p>
Keeping children in prison at
all <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/26/cbp-orders-medical-checks-minors-us-custody-after-two-deaths-critics-ask-why-are">endangers
their health</a>, and causes them stress that
can <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#03_July_2014_(The_permanent_stress_caused_by_poverty)">harm
them for life</a>.


feed_id: 736d7385f908ae8f3f0b2f3cd9f42386
title: Pentagon audit
uri: Pentagon-audit
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Pentagon_audit%29
content:
<p>
The
Pentagon <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/26/point-holiday-agreement-stop-wasting-money-pentagon">finally
did an audit</a> &mdash; a positive step.  Next we need to make
it <em>pass</em> an audit.
<p>
The article suggests that Congress could reject any increase in the
military budget unless the Pentagon passes an audit.
<p>
Even better, decrease the Pentagon budget by 5% each year until it
passes an audit.


feed_id: 90267799dfe796343d4b2703dd25ae88
title: Below minimum wage in the UK
uri: Below-minimum-wage-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Below_minimum_wage_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/27/one-in-five-young-people-paid-less-than-minimum-wage-study">1/5
of young workers</a> in the UK are paid less than the minimum wage.
<p>
It seems that this practice is illegal in name only.
Does the government have a plan to fine employers and jail managers
that participate in this?


feed_id: bb33c6e71673632da832ea5012292a0c
title: Burning plastic
uri: Burning-plastic
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Burning_plastic%29
content:
<p>
The way to reduce the waste from plastic things is
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/26/pollution-plastic-waste-environment-china">reduce
the quantity</a> of such things that are made.
<p>
"Recycling" plastic by burning it is even more ironic than the article
says.  The process consists basically of extracting petroleum from the
ground and then burning it, but differs from the usual way of doing so
in that the petroleum (more precisely, some fraction of it) passes
through an intermediate stage as plastic.  This does not reduce the
greenhouse gas output.
<p>
Imagine if every item made of plastic &mdash; even fairly durable
items &mdash; carried a deposit.  If the item is recycled in less than
5 years, the consumer gets the deposit back.  If it is recycled after
5 years, the consumer refund is a decreasing fraction of the original
deposit; after 10 years, the refund goes to zero.
<p>
This law would encourage making plastic items that would remain usable
for a longer period of time.  It could even help put an end to planned
obsolescence.


feed_id: e9a1203a5a2642f7f771583ca38b01e2
title: Cruelty toward Afghan women
uri: Cruelty-toward-Afghan-women
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Cruelty_toward_Afghan_women%29
content:
<p>
Afghan women who are raped are frequently imprisoned for not being
virgin.  When they get out of prison,
they <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/oct/09/afghan-women-still-jailed-alongside-murderers-for-failing-virginity-test">may
be murdered</a> for that.
<p>
This patriarchal cruelty perpetuates the Taliban.  The US has tried to
do "nation building", usually taking the form of investing in physical
plant which
often <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2011-may-aug.html#11_June_2011_(Unsustainable_Nation_Building)">turns
out to be useless</a>.
Perhaps it should have funded women's shelters instead.


feed_id: 2907e6a7753595e6fa67d79330767abc
title: Facebook Amazon deal
uri: Facebook-Amazon-deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Facebook_Amazon_deal%29
content:
<p>
Facebook <a href="https://gizmodo.com/amazon-and-facebook-reportedly-had-a-secret-data-sharin-1831192148">made
a secret deal</a> with Amazon to give Amazon access to Facebook's data
about users.  A plague on both of those companies!


feed_id: d1a1e5ac87eb22055d97da3c6834a693
title: Airbnb and housing prices
uri: Airbnb-and-housing-prices
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Airbnb_and_housing_prices%29
content:
<p>
Airbnb <a href="https://voxeu.org/article/short-term-rentals-and-housing-market">increases
the price of houses</a> &mdash; and the rent for a place to live.


feed_id: dc17b6e20a37504c02e7655d8143539e
title: Drone assassination rules
uri: 2019-01-19-Drone-assassination-rules
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Drone_assassination_rules%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> has given the
CIA <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/sep/17/the-cia-is-back-in-the-drone-business-trump-is-unshackling-americas-drones-thanks-to-obamas-weakness">much
looser rules</a> for drone assassinations, building on what Obama
permitted.


feed_id: f7f41c06837c0cbbbeb2d4760379360b
title: Misusing the word clown
uri: Misusing-the-word-clown
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_January_2019_%28Misusing_the_word_clown%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/26/please-stop-misusing-the-word-clown">A
clown asks</a> that we not use the word "clown" to refer to the
incompetent.


feed_id: 8aae2704dab559caa2608c25d6b2f5e0
title: NYPD arrests mother for sitting
uri: 2019-01-19-NYPD-arrests-mother-for-sitting
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#17_January_2019_%28NYPD_arrests_mother_for_sitting%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/10/nypd-video-officers-wrench-baby-from-mothers-arms">New York City thugs attacked and arrested a woman, taking away her one-year-old baby</a>.  The excuse?  She was sitting on the floor, rather than waiting standing up.</p>
<p>It seems that they told lies to try to justify this, per standard <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> procedure, but even if they had been true it would be no excuse for such harshness.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: b9acf9705c400bc8b9a7e375498984d7
title: Scientists changing global heating report
uri: Scientists-changing-global-heating-report
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Scientists_changing_global_heating_report%29

content:
<p>The authors of the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5C <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/sep/23/scientists-changing-global-warming-report-please-polluters">kept some of the most alarming predictions out of the executive summary</a> hoping to reduce the resistance from planet-roaster governments such as the US and Australia.</p>
<p>Appeasing the planet roasters is as mistaken as appeasing Hitler was. They don't respond with "What a relief, we got enough" but with "They seem to feel weak; let's attack them now."</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e922b664eedfaa60c1c7755a741207d9
title: Fifth circuit appointments
uri: Fifth-circuit-appointments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Fifth_circuit_appointments%29
content:
<p>Right-wing US judges are promoting systematic miscarriages of justice <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/1797076">by allowing prosecutors to offer plea bargains while concealing information a that proves the accused innocent</a>.</p>
<p>They are trying to trick the defendant into accepting imprisonment because they know they could not convict per.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: cd358dbc4559914957410ca524424ab9
title: Trumpwashing
uri: 2019-01-19-Trumpwashing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Trumpwashing%29
content:
<p>'Trumpwashing': <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/19/trumpwashing-republican-resistance-trump-dangers-history">the Danger of Turning the Republican Resistance into Liberal Heroes</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 97ae127826d327cf0d646575bbbdf664
title: French activist blocked Israeli bulldozer
uri: French-activist-blocked-Israeli-bulldozer
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28French_activist_blocked_Israeli_bulldozer%29

content:
<p>A French activist blocked an Israeli bulldozer from demolishing a Palestinian house.  <a href="https://972mag.com/judge-israeli-police-scandalous-for-trying-to-deport-u-s-french-activist/137802/">Israeli thugs tried to deport him before he could have a court hearing</a>.</p>
<p>The thugs attacked not just one nonviolent humanitarian activist, but also rule of law in Israel.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a1265683c3c09130dfd02380a9534789
title: Neoliberal order is dying
uri: Neoliberal-order-is-dying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Neoliberal_order_is_dying%29
content:
<p>The neoliberal order <a href="https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/09/26/time-to-wake-up-the-neoliberal-order-is-dying/">kept politics stable by suppressing discussion questioning its basic ideas were valid</a>.  That it is losing the ability to do that shows it is losing control.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: b2c0681cc10696c82608012aeede2fb0
title: NAFTA replacement critique
uri: NAFTA-replacement-critique
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28NAFTA_replacement_critique%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/10/03/public-citizen-analysis-how-new-nafta-text-measures-key-changes-we-have-demanded?cd-origin=rss">Public Citizen's critique of the replacement for NAFTA</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5373f19afce2fad598885b4c5f6db14b
title: Falling Total Fertility Rate
uri: Falling-Total-Fertility-Rate
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Falling_Total_Fertility_Rate%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/26/falling-total-fertility-rate-should-be-welcomed-population-expert-says">Falling Total Fertility Rate Should Be Welcomed, Population Expert Says</a>.</p>
<p>Waiting to welcome it if it comes is too passive.  We should buy a ticket for it to come.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 7b9eb83d54054a3d7090b0975f8a1830
title: Japan whale killing
uri: Japan-whale-killing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Japan_whale_killing%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/26/japan-confirms-it-will-quit-iwc-to-resume-commercial-whaling">Japan will quit the International Whaling Commission</a> and start killing whales again.</p>
<p>With a decreasing population (something every country ought to have), why turn to such a morally questionable food source?  It's not as if Japan needed whale meat.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c06844954e577e61a5c5ee1188fb5679
title: Sexual harassment claims against UK thugs
uri: Sexual-harassment-claims-against-UK-thugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Sexual_harassment_claims_against_UK_thugs%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/25/revealed-hundreds-of-sexual-harassment-claims-against-male-police-officers-england-scotland-wales">There have been hundreds of sexual harassment claims against UK thugs</a>, and that counts only certain parts of the UK -- probably less than half of them.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 6651d8a7853f2c5fcffecf098cd4982a
title: Human rights and face recognition
uri: Human-rights-and-face-recognition
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Human_rights_and_face_recognition%29

content:
<p>Australian human rights defenders are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/07/facial-image-matching-system-risks-chilling-effect-on-freedoms-rights-groups-say">starting to recognize the danger of face recognition</a>.</p>
<p>They should recognize that license plate recognition has almost the same danger.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a54b1d1d28c1a1c1e120f21221e43169
title: Robotic bees
uri: Robotic-bees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Robotic_bees%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/09/robotic-bees-could-pollinate-plants-in-case-of-insect-apocalypse">Could robot bees replace living bees, if we wipe out the latter</a>?</p>
<p>Perhaps they could, for pollinating crops.  But I don't think they could do the job for all the wild plants.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 057b205445a7633cbaf4f2273f7acfe5
title: California: small-scale food regulations loosened
uri: California-small-scale-food-regulations-loosened
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28California%3A_small-scale_food_regulations_loosened%29

content:
<p>California has loosened regulations <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/JSJgWXJL7VA/food-freedom-coming-to-california">that made many small-scale businesses impossible</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 82a1820189d25adcb6b5037ed1fdc254
title: UK: Food delivery "dark kitchens"
uri: UK-Food-delivery-dark-kitchens
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28UK%3A_Food_delivery_%2522dark_kitchens%2522%29

content:
<p>In the UK, if you order food delivered "from" some restaurant, in most cases <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/09/dark-kitchens-satanic-mills-deliveroo">the food is prepared not at the restaurant, but in a cooking sweatshop</a>.</p>
<p>So it's not just the delivery couriers that are low-paid and worked to the bone, but the cooks too.</p>
<p>Is this system used in the US as well?</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 86840a71d1494e23d5d5e5601eaab3ef
title: US stop-and-search racial profiling
uri: US-stop-and-search-racial-profiling
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28US_stop-and-search_racial_profiling%29

content:
<p>US thugs <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/oct/09/how-20-years-of-stop-and-search-has-widened-americas-racial-divide">have a policy of preferentially stopping black drivers and inventing pretexts to search their cars</a>.  Each occasion might offer an opportunity to jail a black person, or perhaps cause per to be fired just for being arrested.  Each time, it can push someone permanently into poverty.</p>
<p>Why allow employers to find out whether a person has been arrested? We have no obligation to give businesses that power.  How about making it illegal for employers to ask for, record, or act on that information?</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: efe6b4bfdf6236b888867bcb84cd4fa9
title: Trump, Kavanaugh meritocracy falsehood
uri: Trump-Kavanaugh-meritocracy-falsehood
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Trump%2C_Kavanaugh_meritocracy_falsehood%29

content:
<p>Rich and powerful white males have long claimed that they are so rich and powerful because they are better than everyone else -- in effect denying the existence of racism and sexism.</p>
<p>They used to do this smoothly to make the claim appear plausible. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/05/trump-kavanaugh-meritocracy-dont-believe-word-of-it">Now they do it Republican style -- with blatant contempt for reality</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 400f6f64b9e1fb4eeb2b570bdda01339
title: Massachusetts Sea turtles
uri: Massachusetts-Sea-turtles
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Massachusetts_Sea_turtles%29
content:
<p>Now that the Gulf of Maine (a few miles from where I sit) has become substantially hotter, endangered sea turtles find it attractive in autumn.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/26/climate-change-sea-turtles-massachusetts">In winter it gets too cold for them, and they try to go south -- but they get caught by Cape Cod</a>.  They don't know how to escape from the trap, and they die of hypothermia without months of medical care from humans.</p>
<p>Is there a way of catching them a somewhat earlier, when it would be sufficient to transport them to the south of Cape Cod and release them immediately?</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a8f426a8c98cb3434370a64dcfff1034
title: Urgent: Protect workers from harm of shutdown
uri: Urgent-Protect-workers-from-harm-of-shutdown
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Protect_workers_from_harm_of_shutdown%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/federal_workers_shutdown">call
on Congress</a> to protect workers from harm due to the shutdown.


feed_id: 04f6bb18eaf3a588db6154b5dfb111fc
title: Urgent: Presidential candidates' tax returns
uri: Urgent-Presidential-candidates-tax-returns
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Presidential_candidates_tax_returns%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/wyden_trump_taxes_2019">call
on Congress</a> to require the president and all presidential
candidates to release their tax returns.


feed_id: 11cbc4ca8e3d49ea63fcc0a715a6a279
title: T-mobile and Sprint executives bribe
uri: T-mobile-and-Sprint-executives-bribe
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28T-mobile_and_Sprint_executives_bribe%29

content:
<p>
Just after T-Mobile and Sprint announced plans to merge, their
executives 
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-place-i-feel-very-comfortable-t-mobile-executives-seeking-government-approval-for-merger-stayed-at-trumps-hotel-repeatedly/2019/01/15/6a114d3e-142c-11e9-b6ad-9cfd62dbb0a8_story.html">checked
in to the cheater's hotel</a> &mdash; in effect, offering him a bribe.


feed_id: 040f136f22e4c2d0c3fd4ed91f461e14
title: Melting of Antarctic ice
uri: Melting-of-Antarctic-ice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Melting_of_Antarctic_ice%29
content:
<p>
Global heating is
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/16/studies-show-ice-melting-and-ocean-warming-both-happening-much-faster-previously">speeding
up the melting of ice in Antarctica</a>.


feed_id: 8049f0c07f7243d0ee6930c75ba122fc
title: US fossil fuel companies' plans
uri: US-fossil-fuel-companies-plans
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28US_fossil_fuel_companies_plans%29

content:
<p>
US fossil fuel companies are 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/01/16/report-us-oil-and-gas-expansion-threatens-unleash-climate-pollution-equivalent">planning
a big expansion in extraction</a>, which would eliminate all chance of
avoiding climate disaster.
<p>
We have to 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/16/us-oil-and-gas-industry-drilling-us-towards-climate-disaster">stop
them before they can do it</a>, since it would amount to murder of
hundreds of millions, if not more.


feed_id: 8f1d1904e6de9dff1b680005fcd60e5d
title: Erosion of checks and balances
uri: Erosion-of-checks-and-balances
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Erosion_of_checks_and_balances%29

content:
<p>
The power-grabber 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/16/trump-dictatorship">systematically
uses his power to erode the democratic checks and balances</a> that
stand between him and total power.


feed_id: 8b7f6db608436a09ef7227308a935353
title: Nuclear power plants
uri: 2019-01-20-Nuclear-power-plants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Nuclear_power_plants%29
content:
<p>
Three nuclear power plants planned for the UK won't be built, because
the foreign companies that were going to build them have 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/nils-pratley-on-finance/2019/jan/17/government-isnt-quite-ready-drop-obsession-with-nuclear-greg-clark-business-secretary">decided
they were money-losers</a>, even despite the billions in subsidy.
<p>
The supposed reason for building them is to have power reliably
available even if there is no wind at night.  But we already know
another way to do that: batteries.  Batteries are still somewhat
expensive, but are nuclear power plants cheaper?  And batteries can't
have a massive meltdown that converts a multi-billion-dollar
investment into a tens-of-billions cleanup expense.


feed_id: 652f0899b64df3b75375e75e7a052348
title: Refugee children taken from parents
uri: Refugee-children-taken-from-parents
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Refugee_children_taken_from_parents%29

content:
<p>
An inspector general's report says that the US government took
thousands of refugee children away from their parents, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/17/trump-family-separations-report-latest-news-zero-tolerance-policy-immigrant-children">before
the time in 2018 when the bully announced an explicit policy of doing
so</a>.  How many thousands is unknown.


feed_id: 6a9fb5f4e0c9859aa618e295924abbbd
title: Censorship
uri: 2019-01-20-Censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Censorship%29
content:
<p>
Censorship of blasphemous art has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/17/israeli-museum-remove-mcjesus-sculpture-after-violence-protests-haifa">struck
in Israel</a>.


feed_id: 57c6570ce28936e905c0cff5aac89d28
title: Raising the federal minimum wage
uri: Raising-the-federal-minimum-wage
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Raising_the_federal_minimum_wage%29

content:
<p>
"Legislation to raise the federal minimum wage is a 
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/17/15-minimum-wage-union-legislation-fast-food'>direct
response to activists raising their voices in unison</a>."
<p>
To get that legislation adopted, they will need to organize for
progressive Senate candidates in Democratic primaries in 2020.


feed_id: 3d797754b7895995d2a0ce2df69c2a95
title: Plutocratist-leaning senators
uri: Plutocratist-leaning-senators
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Plutocratist-leaning_senators%29
content:
<p>
The Democratic senators with plutocratist leanings are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/15/democratic-2020-president-candidates-wall-street">trying
to present themselves as progressive</a>: Cory Booker, Kamala Harris,
and Kirsten Gillibrand.


feed_id: 1187dfa70e2aa3acc259b669e0963868
title: Urgent: Ending the shutdown
uri: Urgent-Ending-the-shutdown
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Ending_the_shutdown%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/shutdown_nominations">call
on Senate Republicans</a> to block other business until the Senate
votes on ending the shutdown.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 6d45432c9d4ba2a30071e9d133be41d2
title: Probation monitoring
uri: Probation-monitoring
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Probation_monitoring%29
content:
<p>
UK courts don't trust privatized probation monitoring, so
they <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2018/dec/28/decline-in-community-sentencing-blamed-on-probation-privatisation-courts-trust-justice">sentence
people to prison</a> instead.


feed_id: 1e1777e791e002c9a30d97a3f223d638
title: Touch screen scanners
uri: Touch-screen-scanners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Touch_screen_scanners%29
content:
<p>
Just when it seemed that phones could not snoop any worse: they will
put fingerprint
scanners <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/28/folding-screens-5g-smartphones-2019">in
the touch screen</a>!
<p>
Don't touch a phone's screen without some sort of plastic over your fingers.


feed_id: cf98c77bd4dc28f18cec141dd3ad1cc4
title: Party of crackpot ideas
uri: Party-of-crackpot-ideas
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Party_of_crackpot_ideas%29
content:
<p>
The "classic" conservative Republican Party was
the <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/27/party-ideas">party
of crackpot ideas</a>.
That was before the bullshitter took it over, and before the
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#30_July_2015_(Grass_roots)">corporate-funded</a>
"Tea Party" movement.


feed_id: ea881a9d2162307baf87e8577547aa51
title: Terry Albury
uri: Terry-Albury
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Terry_Albury%29
content:
<p>
FBI agent Terry Albury has
been <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/10/18/terry-albury-sentencing-fbi/">sentenced
to four years in prison</a> for revealing how the FBI intimidated
people selected based on their race or religion.


feed_id: 0eaf82b58057f778d89c9a0aa44c127c
title: Prime minister of Bangladesh
uri: Prime-minister-of-Bangladesh
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Prime_minister_of_Bangladesh%29
content:
<p>
The prime minister of Bangladesh seems to be procuring reelection
by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/28/bangladesh-election-sheikh-hasina-heads-for-tainted-victory">repressing
the opposition</a>.


feed_id: f4278e24cac93b5a2d7ddbd1c2c8039c
title: Border wall spending
uri: Border-wall-spending
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Border_wall_spending%29
content:
<p>
A poll found
that <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/27/survey-shows-most-americans-agree-ocasio-cortez-5-billion-should-be-spent-healthcare">80%
of Americans</a> want to spend 5 billion dollars on medical care,
education, or infrastructure, not the border wall.


feed_id: e163623b3c51c9c3f6a9b6027224f9e4
title: SF housing shortage
uri: SF-housing-shortage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28SF_housing_shortage%29
content:
<p>
San Francisco has a terrible shortage of housing, but trying to build some
<a href="https://reason.com/reasontv/2018/12/27/san-francisco-mission-housing-crisis">is
a terrible struggle</a>.  Or should I say "because" instead of "but"?
<p>
Zoning laws are one of the causes of the shortage of housing in the US
cities where jobs are.  They force urban sprawl, which leads to long
commutes.  People object to denser housing in their neighborhood
because it would increase the amount of traffic, but spreading that
housing over a wider area would result in even more total increase in
traffic.
<p>
In the long run, the only lasting way to prevent gentrification
without exiling people a long distance from their work and their lives
is to make housing dense.


feed_id: 9ae7183074a635609c2917f0a21b52a8
title: Kansas state legislators
uri: Kansas-state-legislators
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Kansas_state_legislators%29
content:
<p>
Four Kansas state legislators have switched from Republican to
Democrat.  They feel the Republican party
has <a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/12/kansas-state-house-senate-republicans-democrats.html">become
too right-wing</a>.
<p>
This might be good to some extent, but they will surely not be
progressive Democrats.


feed_id: 1aa002a4ba69f1ade989ddda558385d1
title: Greenland's ice sheet
uri: Greenland-s-ice-sheet
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Greenland%27s_ice_sheet%29
content:
<p>
Greenland's Ice Sheet Is
Melting <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/26/greenlands-rapid-ice-melt-persists-even-winter-study-finds">Even
in the Middle of Winter</a>.


feed_id: 0a7a97176fc5115ce0ef08c00301f3cf
title: Canada's medical system
uri: 2019-01-20-Canada-s-medical-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Canada%27s_medical_system%29
content:
<p>
Canada's medical
system <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/26/25-ways-canadian-health-care-system-better-obamacare">is
far superior</a> to Obama's reformed medical insurance system.  Before
Obama's reforms, the US
system <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2007-may-aug.html#05%20June%202007%20(Health%20care%20in%20US)">was
even worse</a>.


feed_id: e5fc34ba8f3dc6f5c4bbae74297b0893
title: Skin color recognition software
uri: Skin-color-recognition-software
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Skin_color_recognition_software%29

content:
<p>
IBM has worked with the New York Thug Department to develop software
to <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/09/06/nypd-surveillance-camera-skin-tone-search/">search
for people by skin color</a>.
<p>
Now a <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> that wants to beat up, arrest, or shoot a black male
doesn't have to wait to happen upon one by chance. ;-{
<p>
Seriously, we should prohibit all systems to do any sort of
recognition of faces in places where the public can normally go:
outdoors, in theaters, stadiums, stores and other retail businesses
when they are open, and in government buildings when the public is
allowed to enter.  Exceptions would require specific authorization by
a court, specifying the place and the period of time.


feed_id: c80d820643834dca940118de4a101b74
title: Immunity for secret agents
uri: Immunity-for-secret-agents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Immunity_for_secret_agents%29
content:
<p>
The UK regularly gives its secret
agents <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/sep/06/ministers-accused-of-issuing-torture-warrants-to-spies-james-bond-clause">immunity
from prosecution</a> for torturing people in other countries.


feed_id: 33dd3c5cf5411f29208a9056d04ff9ed
title: Thugs carrying toy guns
uri: Thugs-carrying-toy-guns
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Thugs_carrying_toy_guns%29
content:
<p>
Baltimore
[thugs] <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/8xvzwp/baltimore-cops-carried-toy-guns-to-plant-on-people-they-shot-trial-reveals-vgtrn">Carried
Toy Guns</a> to Plant on People They Shot, to fabricate excuses for
shooting them.


feed_id: 524a688b3a4723dde213dccadd588148
title: Online tracking policy
uri: Online-tracking-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Online_tracking_policy%29
content:
<p>
How the Online Tracking
Industry <a href="https://edri.org/how-the-online-tracking-industry-informs-policy-makers/">"Informs"
Policy Makers</a> about privacy.


feed_id: 52d394cbb8e610fd3b20deef9963f987
title: Birth rate in Japan
uri: Birth-rate-in-Japan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Birth_rate_in_Japan%29
content:
<p>
Japan is giving in to its low birth rate
and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/27/japan-shrinking-as-birthrate-falls-to-lowest-level-in-history">allowing
immigrants</a>.
<p>
This is a very good thing.  The whole world needs to recognize low
birth rates as a necessary step towards a sustainable population.


feed_id: 176180abbb2e155516c7a4530cc108f1
title: Melting of Antarctic ice
uri: 2019-01-20-Melting-of-Antarctic-ice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Melting_of_Antarctic_ice%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> is
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/16/studies-show-ice-melting-and-ocean-warming-both-happening-much-faster-previously">speeding
up the melting of ice in Antarctica</a>.


feed_id: 2db6619e081b574f56aa801dd58f15bc
title: Refugee children taken from parents
uri: 2019-01-20-Refugee-children-taken-from-parents
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Refugee_children_taken_from_parents%29

content:
<p>
An inspector general's report says that the US government took
thousands of refugee children away from their parents, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/17/trump-family-separations-report-latest-news-zero-tolerance-policy-immigrant-children">before
the time in 2018 when the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> announced an explicit policy of doing
so</a>.  How many thousands is unknown.


feed_id: 5d58ca8cd4a121ecf62e3ecd42689e20
title: Scientists changing global heating report
uri: 2019-01-20-Scientists-changing-global-heating-report
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28Scientists_changing_global_heating_report%29

content:
<p>The authors of the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5C <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/sep/23/scientists-changing-global-warming-report-please-polluters">kept some of the most alarming predictions out of the executive summary</a> hoping to reduce the resistance from planet-roaster governments such as the US and Australia.</p>
<p>Appeasing the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#planet">planet roasters</a> is as mistaken as appeasing Hitler was. They don't respond with "What a relief, we got enough" but with "They seem to feel weak; let's attack them now."</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 245cbda7d173e5f423e3ba60dbf6f155
title: French activist blocked Israeli bulldozer
uri: 2019-01-20-French-activist-blocked-Israeli-bulldozer
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#19_January_2019_%28French_activist_blocked_Israeli_bulldozer%29

content:
<p>A French activist blocked an Israeli bulldozer from demolishing a Palestinian house.  <a href="https://972mag.com/judge-israeli-police-scandalous-for-trying-to-deport-u-s-french-activist/137802/">Israeli thugs tried to deport him before he could have a court hearing</a>.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> attacked not just one nonviolent humanitarian activist, but also rule of law in Israel.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 351d466507f9257e902e27905ffe69bf
title: Urgent: Dismiss complaint against DA Rollins
uri: Urgent-Dismiss-complaint-against-DA-Rollins
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Dismiss_complaint_against_DA_Rollins%29

content:
<p>
Citizens of Massachusetts: 
<a href="https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/Rollins_barcomplaint/">Tell
the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers and Office of the Bar
Counsel</a> to dismiss the complaint against District Attorney
Rollins.


feed_id: cb4d4ebe3b199480f0f63048bfab4f6d
title: Urgent: Subpoena notes from translator
uri: Urgent-Subpoena-notes-from-translator
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Subpoena_notes_from_translator%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/trump-putin/">call
on Congress</a> to subpoena the notes from the translator at the
meeting between the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> and Putin.


feed_id: 52c715d567c1ade666c9574f260ae79c
title: Pill testing in Australia
uri: Pill-testing-in-Australia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Pill_testing_in_Australia%29
content:
<p>
Australian Students Launch 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jan/16/australian-students-launch-national-campaign-to-pressure-mps-to-allow-pill-testing">National
Campaign to Pressure MPs to Allow Pill-Testing</a>.


feed_id: 8717ef54c434ddb0e357ad5f513d8d8b
title: Making plutocratist Democrats worry
uri: Making-plutocratist-Democrats-worry
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Making_plutocratist_Democrats_worry%29

content:
<p>
Progressives are making plutocratist Democrats 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/15/democrats-are-afraid-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-too-and-thats-good-thing">worry
about being replaced</a>.
<p>
Making them worry is not enough &mdash; we should follow through and
really replace them.
<p>
My old representative, Capuano, usually voted mildly progressive, but
only within the limits of respect for the power of the plutocrats.
Many years ago I went with a group of constituents to call on him to
support a stronger measure, and he said, "If you want a representative
more progressive than me, vote for one."
<p>
Last summer, I voted for Ayanna Pressley.


feed_id: bc32f43f2fd644c9ac57353079d9128d
title: State use of private surveillance cameras
uri: State-use-of-private-surveillance-cameras
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28State_use_of_private_surveillance_cameras%29

content:
<p>
In the Netherlands, the state 
<a href="https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2019/01/dutch-police-can-access-200000-private-security-cameras-campaign-for-more/">can
watch through thousands of private surveillance cameras</a>.
<p>
It is a mistake to refer to these as "security" cameras, because they
facilitate massive surveillance.
<p>
A security camera is one that records locally only.  These cameras
help security but do not threaten human rights.
<p>
If the camera can transmit images remotely, it becomes a 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">surveillance
camera</a>, a useful tool for repression.
<p>
The Netherlands should take steps to replace surveillance cameras
with security cameras.


feed_id: 3227334627a2e5937245cce5d2f203f0
title: Surveillance by controlled balloons
uri: Surveillance-by-controlled-balloons
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Surveillance_by_controlled_balloons%29

content:
<p>
For massive surveillance, controlled balloons pose 
<a href="https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/uv-online/rt-lta-secures-skystar-180-order-india/">almost
the same danger as drones</a>.


feed_id: b10bb043bf684d224966ee93ba5e6e7b
title: Car license plate surveillance
uri: Car-license-plate-surveillance
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Car_license_plate_surveillance%29

content:
<p>
Rhode Island is considering a 
<a href="https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2019/01/rhode-island-bill-would-limit-alpr-use-help-block-national-license-plate-tracking-program/">bill
to strictly limit car license plate surveillance by the state</a>.
<p>
The bill seems very solid, but I think it needs to restrict private
systems too.  Individuals must have the right to use their eyes and
cameras here and there, but systematic tracking of people in general
should not be allowed.


feed_id: 3875888a34868bd18e8635a7df119756
title: Barr and massive surveillance
uri: Barr-and-massive-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Barr_and_massive_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
Barr worked for the federal government in 1992, and 
<a href="https://gizmodo.com/aclu-warns-trumps-attorney-general-pick-is-the-godfath-1831624326">set
up massive surveillance of American's phone calls</a>, which continues
to this day.


feed_id: 9414330cce72b955e798581df2a9e1c8
title: Right to sue when systems spy on you
uri: Right-to-sue-when-systems-spy-on-you
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Right_to_sue_when_systems_spy_on_you%29

content:
<p>
You 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/01/you-should-have-right-sue-companies-violate-your-privacy">should
have the right to sue</a> when systems spy on you.
<p>
A lawsuit is general over alleged damages.  The law should say that
being surveilled is in itself damage, and make sure there is no need
to demonstrate the loss in financial terms.


feed_id: fe0543a1e85abe193c65c8bb92a5d891
title: Insurance companies and clinics pooling data
uri: Insurance-companies-and-clinics-pooling-data
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Insurance_companies_and_clinics_pooling_data%29

content:
<p>
US insurance companies and clinics are 
<a href="https://truthout.org/articles/kiss-what-is-left-of-your-medical-data-privacy-goodbye/">pooling
data</a> to help Pharma companies market expensive drugs.


feed_id: a8ee0139fd4ecf2afb6ef71bca449c1c
title: Foreign workers robbed and abused in UK
uri: Foreign-workers-robbed-and-abused-in-UK
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Foreign_workers_robbed_and_abused_in_UK%29

content:
<p>
When foreign workers visit the UK to work as domestic servants, their
employers 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jan/15/when-escaping-an-abusive-employer-is-a-the-trap-britain-sets-for-filipino-domestic-workers">rob
and abuse them</a>, knowing that they are desperate.
<p>
The 6-month visa period is a protection for domestic workers: it means
that at least every 6 months they have a chance to speak to an
official about abusive employers.  That makes it harder for employers
to keep them locked up for years, effectively as slaves.  But this
doesn't eliminate the problem.
<p>
The government could prevent wage theft too, by making employers send
workers' pay to the government, which would then remit it directly to
the worker's family.
<p>
Nonetheless, their situation would be dire if they don't dare lose
their job.
<p>
In ordinary circumstances, it would be a foolish risk to take a job as
a domestic servant in a country that would deport you if you quit.
These women do it because they are desperate.
<p>
So the deeper question is, why are these women desperate?  The article
says it is because they have children that they cannot afford to
raise.
<p>
We can try to stop specific injustices against them, and we should;
but when overreproduction pressures people into making a desperate
bet, inevitably some of them will lose.  The long-term solution to
these abuses is to reduce the birth rate.


feed_id: 2753a9983b6e7ac8fb88fbb3f718627a
title: Troll's attorney general pick
uri: Troll-s-attorney-general-pick
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Trolls_attorney_general_pick%29
content:
<p>
(satire) &hellip; advisors to Donald Trump’s attorney general pick William Barr
reportedly instructed him Monday to 
<a href="https://politics.theonion.com/advisors-instruct-william-barr-to-avoid-referring-to-tr-1831739784">avoid
referring to the president as “my liege”</a> during his confirmation
hearing.


feed_id: 17dd8b3b12f440ac185f8b9d31237c59
title: Restricted and censored American workers
uri: Restricted-and-censored-American-workers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Restricted_and_censored_American_workers%29

content:
<p>
US companies are imposing repressive conditions on millions of
American workers, restricting and censoring them 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/14/private-governments-subjugate-us-workers">even
while not at work</a>.


feed_id: 10f4d857aa33085b065419e305cb61af
title: Mainstream media
uri: 2019-01-21-Mainstream-media
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Mainstream_media%29
content:
<p>
The mainstream media cover the split in the Democratic Party from the
plutocratist side, using 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/14/corporate-media-bias-2020-democratic-race-already-high-gear">commentators
that are disconnected from most Americans' difficult lives and
needs</a>.


feed_id: fd944bc2769c93b30e2bc8e2bf54907b
title: Support for refugees
uri: Support-for-refugees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Support_for_refugees%29
content:
<p>
Rich countries 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jan/15/un-refugee-chief-risk-death-escape-squalid-camp-filippo-grandi">should
give adequate support</a> to refugees that have fled to poor
countries.


feed_id: ab86d2e283f02e407121e7a3704c7f49
title: Pulling the US out of war in Yemen
uri: Pulling-the-US-out-of-war-in-Yemen
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Pulling_the_US_out_of_war_in_Yemen%29

content:
<p>
Congress is working on 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/15/yemen-conflict-trump-faces-bipartisan-move-to-end-saudi-support">pulling
the US out of the war in Yemen</a>.


feed_id: b97e28b148cc66d0b423d298d49e1df8
title: Sustainable tuna fishery
uri: Sustainable-tuna-fishery
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_January_2019_%28Sustainable_tuna_fishery%29
content:
<p>
Indonesia has established a certified sustainable tuna fishery with an
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/15/one-fish-at-a-time-indonesia-lands-victory-tuna-msc">increasing
tuna population</a>.


feed_id: 38b88ede41f59ecf6ad220a974346e34
title: Urgent: Laser drones
uri: Urgent-Laser-drones
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Laser_drones%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/tell-house-dont-rubber-stamp-laser-drones">call
on Congress</a> not to rubber-stamp the numbskull's laser drone
anti-missile plan.
</p>
<p>
In principle, defense against ballistic missiles could be a very good thing.
But the US military has a bad record of spending hundreds of billions on
such systems with no reason to think they would be effective,
or what countermeasures might thwart them.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 7395c26ddc9573bd775e54cd80f196d7
title: Funds for border wall
uri: Funds-for-border-wall
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Funds_for_border_wall%29
content:
<p>
How Congress
can <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/29/how-fund-government-without-paying-trumps-border-wall">stop
the bully</a> from redirecting other funds to building a border wall.


feed_id: 8ff82939a38b48c64eb303cf1ecbeec8
title: GMO food labeling
uri: GMO-food-labeling
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28GMO_food_labeling%29
content:
<p>
US rules for labeling GMO foods
are <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/12/29/the-usdas-final-rule-for-gmo-labeling-st">designed
not to inform</a> the public effectively.
<p>
The law that stopped states from establishing labeling requirements
was <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-sep-dec.html#28_September_2013_(Deceptive_plan_for_voluntary_labeling_of_GMO_foods)">designed
to lead to this</a>.


feed_id: 9c3e11543649ba84bd8aef8a910080c3
title: Discouraging refugees
uri: Discouraging-refugees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Discouraging_refugees%29
content:
<p>
US border policies
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/29/the-us-government-deliberately-made-the-desert-deadly-for-migrants">calculated
to discourage refugees</a> by putting them at risk of death and rape.
<p>
We can see that this is intentional when the US refuses to allow
refugees to apply for asylum safely at a point or entry, so that they
will risk their lives to cross the border.


feed_id: 0ee01cef28fbb5b00a7bcf68fb292a4d
title: Life without disposable plastics
uri: Life-without-disposable-plastics
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Life_without_disposable_plastics%29

content:
<p>
Pioneers are
exploring <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/29/how-to-live-without-plastic">life
without disposable plastics</a>.


feed_id: 422074dbb3b77ef4eb08113677c0aebf
title: Nitrates in ham and bacon
uri: Nitrates-in-ham-and-bacon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Nitrates_in_ham_and_bacon%29
content:
<p>
Producers of ham and bacon
should <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2018/dec/29/nitrites-used-in-bacon-cured-meats-linked-to-cancer-experts-warn">stop
adding nitrates</a>, which cause cancer and other medical problems.
They were needed in the past to prevent botulism, but modern sanitary
methods prevent it anyway.


feed_id: d1276c2d5b7854343f10488be7530a97
title: School-to-prison pipeline
uri: 2019-01-22-School-to-prison-pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28School-to-prison_pipeline%29
content:
<p>
DeVos
has <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/12/28/betsy-devos-doubles-down-criminalizing-students-color">opened
wide the entrance</a> of the school-to-prison pipeline.
<p>
I think schools should not be allowed to have a <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> on premises
except in response to a specific possible crime.


feed_id: 4fc7d1efcdb88eff494e1a8f98cd1c8c
title: Israeli elections
uri: Israeli-elections
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Israeli_elections%29
content:
<p>
Having elections in
which <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/28/elections-dont-make-israel-democracy">40%
of the population</a> is not allowed to vote is not enough to make
Israel qualify as a democracy.
<p>
Palestinians are supposed to be able to vote for the legislature of
the Palestinian Authority.  But that agency has little power &mdash;
Israeli military rule overrides it in many areas of life &mdash; and
Israel has blocked those elections for years.


feed_id: 52eac289605b5be175de688e627bdfd4
title: Power plant explosion
uri: Power-plant-explosion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Power_plant_explosion%29
content:
<p>
An old, highly polluting oil-burning power plant in New York City
exploded.  It should have
been <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/28/new-york-power-plant-explosion-seen-glowing-reminder-dire-need-ditch-fossil-fuels">shut
down years ago</a>.


feed_id: 704eb63cf21d3e0133473cfd13577b28
title: Damage by the bullshitter
uri: Damage-by-the-bullshitter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Damage_by_the_bullshitter%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/29/donald-trump-two-years-halfway-america">Summing
up the damage</a> that two years of the bullshitter have done to the
US.


feed_id: 26bc7e64977e6f91b1d4317ae4e43109
title: Privatized immigration prisons
uri: Privatized-immigration-prisons
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Privatized_immigration_prisons%29

content:
<p>
The US
spend <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/27/investigation-finds-least-800m-taxpayer-money-went-funding-profit-immigrant-prisons">over
800 million dollars</a> on privatized immigration prisons.
<p>
We should not permit privatized prisons of any kind.


feed_id: b9d4d03e2fdd6681583316165c745483
title: Palm oil
uri: 2019-01-22-Palm-oil
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Palm_oil%29
content:
<p>
Palm oil is still driving massive deforestation of rain forests.  That
releases lots of greenhouse gas, and will cause extinction of many
species.  The producers have succeeded
in <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/27/we-need-talk-about-palm-oil">defying
public pressure</a> to stop deforestation.
<p>
The EU does wrong in permitting use of palm oil in fuel for vehicles.
Burning oils produced by agriculture, with agricultural inputs, is no
better than burning fossil oil.  What would be better is oil made
by microbes that don't need much input, or made from agricultural waste.


feed_id: 72d4d36766f35677efd047c27f0b4ef9
title: Sheikha Latifa
uri: Sheikha-Latifa
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Sheikha_Latifa%29
content:
<p>
Mary Robinson met with Sheikha Latifa, who was grabbed off a boat in
which she was fleeing to India, and is now kept at home by her family.
Latifa said that she regretted trying to escape.  Robinson
said <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/28/mary-robinson-rejects-pawn-accusation-over-visit-to-uae-princess">she
appears "vulnerable"</a>.
<p>
There are two possibilities.  (1) She really does regret her attempt
to escape, and is glad to be home.  (2) She is a prisoner subject to
brainwashing and/or intimidation.
<p>
Neither one is impossible, but the fact that her family isolates her
and blocks her from communication except for a short time with one
chosen visitor suggests they don't believe she is glad to be home.
So I believe (2).


feed_id: d4805d1947aba0b0b30555f26fb47444
title: Facebook censorship rules
uri: Facebook-censorship-rules
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Facebook_censorship_rules%29
content:
<p>
Facebook has many complicated rules for judging what to censor, and
employs thousands of censors who are supposed to apply them.
Sometimes they get confused &mdash;
but <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/27/world/facebook-moderators.html">the
rules themselves are confusing</a>.


feed_id: a430a7e4a11fe7091384afa42d77c9a2
title: Resistance to the bullshitter
uri: Resistance-to-the-bullshitter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Resistance_to_the_bullshitter%29
content:
<p>
The bullshitter's sabotage is causing increasing harm, and is starting to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/27/the-guardian-view-on-donald-trump-in-2019-the-year-of-reckoning">drive
hostile resistance</a> since just working around him is not effective.


feed_id: d45746d7d35385a849dd7da737e3a8b9
title: Abortions by aid organizations
uri: Abortions-by-aid-organizations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Abortions_by_aid_organizations%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a>'s punishment of all medical aid organizations if they do
abortions <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/26/how-trump-gag-rule-inspired-worldwide-movement-shedecides">stimulated
a world-wide campaign</a> for abortion rights and women's rights in
general.


feed_id: 7f364a96ba3aa0b7518e3cbe8363894d
title: Microfinancing in India
uri: Microfinancing-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Microfinancing_in_India%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/oct/29/loan-sharks-circling-poor-indian-debtors-failed-by-microfinance">Microfinance loan plans are so rigid that in certain contexts they assure failure</a>.</p>
<p>I remember reading that the original microfinance loans were effective because they gave borrowers a way to get out of a specific kind of debt slavery.  There is no reason they should be equally effective in places where the system that imposes poverty is similar.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 9a80efa47d25a46bd03a27be5bbb32b2
title: India Gov't freezing Greenpeace accounts
uri: India-Gov-t-freezing-Greenpeace-accounts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28India_Gov%27t_freezing_Greenpeace_accounts%29

content:
<p>India is shutting down the operations of Greenpeace and Amnesty International by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/25/greenpeace-and-amnesty-accuse-indian-government-of-smear-campaign">freezing their bank accounts</a>.  Almost 20,000 other NGOs have been blocked from receiving donations.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: f2277c2d0576c9c18d24e9b317c0a4d0
title: White House protest restriction
uri: White-House-protest-restriction
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28White_House_protest_restriction%29

content:
<p>The repressor <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/rights-protesters/trump-administration-seeks-stifle-protests-near-white-house-and">wants to restrict protests near the White House and in other parts of Washington DC</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 8b1f4aaaf53906d9c9426bf28cc5fb1c
title: Rebuilding economy foundations
uri: Rebuilding-economy-foundations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Rebuilding_economy_foundations%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/15/we-can-rebuild-economy-foundations-up">"Forget the 'high-skill, hi-tech' obsession: we should invest in everyday services to create a society run for collective good."</a></p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 2042a669026328d9fd9a29d23a2c252e
title: Earth degradation visible
uri: Earth-degradation-visible
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Earth_degradation_visible%29
content:
<p>Second warning: <a href="https://watermark.silverchair.com/bix125.pdf?token=AQECAHi208BE49Ooan9kkhW_Ercy7Dm3ZL_9Cf3qfKAc485ysgAAAlAwggJMBgkqhkiG9w0BBwagggI9MIICOQIBADCCAjIGCSqGSIb3DQEHATAeBglghkgBZQMEAS4wEQQM9kSLoyJdLxTFuqyTAgEQgIICA_SDdAybvPnMws82raqV7fwJ7cjpO6IltZkvADDPQ3-P8-W7xcVjGsvnVMxxorovY7e5WnSrfd1uLtjRrh1HTra7bjg28TSp2n87XQNtz2ts4K9x7D1ABRC5ZV0uraS2XH1aYxvdrBYffkbwUidRKnssANLcTXDTYdGQHe8gqjzaBdhjCQIsji1v55ub10g_Kdci3EolRPaGVXEv5uhb-tUajKEcWHZtGhrSh77HGMtjfb2x_4wIlc_cpEoXnTCyARgPcJ_ln467XE9ctueDNguwSwv9b-bQV3_nnkfCN4HpP9XnTvdFGP9FxrCOu2AvIkAnInAVkcZUbtlDE_wVTrwi1FvbB6K_S9rd_tfi4kFCBMnUvjsn6Yc6er3CFJtMKZk_h2IUmtZRT0dCRlJvx4iOzf1ONPgVHqs0ELV8qMC0jfukbvrrKFxUSZX59v8x_U-m9v5dDBWckgAJwpT6zXKaYj34lIyrY4cfE2xaqtnL5_5b-8nRhG-NuHD0sJu5vU6jCcFTWjw1vyrpaJOsRaBcc-n49msjU4uGB9C_TVwByIEQ01CrINI2gc8UXO2FHAIqd_DJbPPCUpsEmqnbSRL7d1lOKoSQ00arMuTF9us-ckLJ2KBqIGzWu0aDi2vRS6ejZ4Vb0PkWeqJpq55Ta5MfH-fxYnWNJ4K6QwfXfv4e7B7C">we are running Earth's systems into destruction, and the degradation is now visible in many global statistics</a> continuing since decades ago.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 11f259a1ced443ca42e447fc13bc0b93
title: DNA testing racial equality
uri: DNA-testing-racial-equality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28DNA_testing_racial_equality%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/sep/23/racial-equality-once-meant-tearing-down-barriers-not-doing-a-dna-test">"Racial equality once meant tearing down barriers, not doing a DNA test."</a></p>
<p>I am not convinced by the idea that the question "who I am" is defined by a set of comparisons of my DNA with various other groups.  My idea of my identity is not based on how closely biologically related to various groups of people.  The aspects I identify with are more about what shaped my thoughts than about what shaped my body.</p>
<p>As for "cultural appropriation", that's what culture is for.  That is how culture develops.  No community has the right to monopolize a style element.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4a450881ee63aaf3d95aeaffb8b6d0e9
title: Prescription opioids harder to access
uri: Prescription-opioids-harder-to-access
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Prescription_opioids_harder_to_access%29

content:
<p>As the US and states make it ever harder to get prescription opioids, addicts switch to illegal opioids which they obtain through the black market.  That increases the rate of overdoses.  Governments frantic to "do something", whether effective or not, <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/zK0Nh9ZYQnQ/congress-needs-an-opioid-inter">react by making it even harder to get prescription opioids</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: ba144397cf108fd38dc55acea4b0bad2
title: Homeless law repealed
uri: Homeless-law-repealed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Homeless_law_repealed%29
content:
<p>After repealing the laws that make it a crime to be homeless, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/10/17/all-laws-make-it-crime-be-homeless-should-be-repealed?cd-origin=rss">here are ways to give them the help they need</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 6a8c1fc9c7e0b8574032e766167781e9
title: Tasmanian heritage forests at risk
uri: Tasmanian-heritage-forests-at-risk
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Tasmanian_heritage_forests_at_risk%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/30/tasmanian-heritage-forests-at-risk-of-catastrophic-bushfires-study-finds">Tasmanian old-growth forests are drying up due to global heating</a>; they could all burn up in one large fire.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: dcd06fa94773beb76a8a2ea454444d4d
title: Banishing truth
uri: Banishing-truth
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Banishing_truth%29
content:
<p>Seymour Hersh <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/24/banishing-truth?cd-origin=rss">cannot publish his investigations in US periodicals</a>. They are too subservient to expose crimes of the powerful, let alone those of the rich.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: cffa9bf84559b1e4e4ebe61c5d3b41c4
title: Difference between patriotism and nationalism
uri: Difference-between-patriotism-and-nationalism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Difference_between_patriotism_and_nationalism%29

content:
<p><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/1806844">Presenting the difference between patriotism and nationalism</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: ce70b04d76f986cc5dd24ee888e66ab3
title: Pentagon and protests
uri: Pentagon-and-protests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28Pentagon_and_protests%29
content:
<p>The Pentagon <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/7x3g4x/pentagon-wants-to-predict-anti-trump-protests-using-social-media-surveillance?utm_source=mbtwitter">seems to have equated protest in the US with rebellion</a>, so it is trying to use AI to predict protests so as to crack down on them quickly.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: b267a975a17a7d4c7f156c0b2ba5061f
title: UN Reform on Corporate Investor Rights
uri: UN-Reform-on-Corporate-Investor-Rights
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28UN_Reform_on_Corporate_Investor_Rights%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/10/30/more-300-civil-society-organizations-73-countries-urge-real-reform-united?cd-origin=rss">The ISDS system (I Sue Democratic States) in many business-supremacy treaties has become so controversial that it is hard for the EU to agree to new treates which have it</a>.</p>
<p>The pressure to "reform" the system may lead to positive changes, but what is needed is to completely prevent the ISDS from interfering with laws to end plutocracy.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e00dfb297aed9077609cd00542e915bb
title: African population in 2050
uri: African-population-in-2050
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28African_population_in_2050%29
content:
<p>Africa could become the continent of a billion “angry, underfed, under-educated and under-employed” young people by 2050.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/nov/01/act-now-or-a-billion-young-africans-will-be-undone-by-2050-mandela-widow-graca-machel-african-child-policy-forum-report">How should we avoid this</a>?  One way is too invest trillions of dollars in educating them and employing them -- but it won't be easy to obtain that much money for this.</p>
<p>Another way is to invest a few billion in reliable birth control, and sterilization.  This will avoid not only the billion hungry unemployed, but also the damage that would be done by the population increase.</p>
<p>If the human population keeps increasing, we will wipe out nature and then wipe out humanity.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 28b181cc06b26c15a6eb34ab036253fc
title: "Deep fake" videos and fake news
uri: Deep-fake-videos-and-fake-news
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28%2522Deep_fake%2522_videos_and_fake_news%29

content:
<p>"Deep fake" videos are rapidly advancing.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/nov/12/deep-fakes-fake-news-truth">They could be used to provide apparent substantiation for fake news</a>, and would teach people to distrust everything.</p>
<p>Without a way to determine the truth, we are helpless prey for the powerful.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: d2d9256ff3abe365020bcc7092954fb0
title: AI impact on Human Rights
uri: AI-impact-on-Human-Rights
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#21_January_2019_%28AI_impact_on_Human_Rights%29
content:
<p><a href="https://edri.org/un-special-rapporteur-report-artificial-intelligence-impact-human-rights/">UN Special Rapporteur Analyses AI's Impact on Human Rights</a>: systems are opaque and biased, they foment massive surveillance, and they encourage self-censorship.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4f28df9687d2fd1a23cb23abba8d4040
title: Unlimited economic growth wishful thinking
uri: Unlimited-economic-growth-wishful-thinking
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#22_January_2019_%28Unlimited_economic_growth_wishful_thinking%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/11/10/secret-eternal-growth-its-wishful-thinking?cd-origin=rss">Why unlimited economic growth is not possible in our finite world</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a45b285229ad99508306dcb2175268f4
title: Small dairy farmers can't compete
uri: Small-dairy-farmers-can-t-compete
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#22_January_2019_%28Small_dairy_farmers_can%27t_compete%29

content:
<p>Even if they make organic milk, small dairy farms in the US cannot compete. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/23/dairy-farming-dying-after-40-years-im-done?cd-origin=rss">They are closing by the thousands, and often being converted to soy beans</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 747631707a117a19342cb4e328722c8f
title: US soldiers developed PTSD
uri: US-soldiers-developed-PTSD
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#22_January_2019_%28US_soldiers_developed_PTSD%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/24/us-veterans-portraits-hidden-toll-ptsd-mental-health">16% of the US soldiers that fought in Iraq and Afghanistan</a> developed PTSD afterward.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 016aa2598618188e09eed4e1d19e611f
title: UK: Labour tackles climate change
uri: UK-Labour-tackles-climate-change
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#22_January_2019_%28UK%3A_Labour_tackles_climate_change%29

content:
<p>Labour <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/24/labour-government-tackle-climate-change">promises the UK a Green New Deal</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 9e3673ab0ab60b9edf243006d348d855
title: Horseshoe crab population at risk
uri: Horseshoe-crab-population-at-risk
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#22_January_2019_%28Horseshoe_crab_population_at_risk%29

content:
<p>Horseshoe crabs produce an enzyme that is used in medicine as a very sensitive test for presence of bacteria.  But <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/03/horseshoe-crab-population-at-risk-blood-big-pharma">we are catching too many of them, and their numbers are declining</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c2cdb57382a1e6c45133c1d8e6b6cdfe
title: Stop Biodiversity Loss
uri: Stop-Biodiversity-Loss
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#22_January_2019_%28Stop_Biodiversity_Loss%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/03/stop-biodiversity-loss-or-we-could-face-our-own-extinction-warns-un">Stop Biodiversity Loss Or We Could Face Our Own Extinction, Warns UN</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: c7e42717530aee6bc67530812e60ab0c
title: SOPA.au: extreme copyright block system
uri: SOPA-au-extreme-copyright-block-system
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#22_January_2019_%28SOPA.au%3A_extreme_copyright_block_system%29

content:
<p>Three years of letting the copyright industry restrict Australian ISPs have not crushed forbidden sharing, <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/11/sopaau-australia-testbed-worlds-most-extreme-copyright-blocks">so the copyright industry demands even more power</a>.</p>
<p>The article is weak in that it gets distracted by questions of price. The usual authorized methods of distributing music, books and video over the internet are unjust -- they typically identify people and what works they obtain, they impose DRM, and/or make people accept a contract to be a jerk.  I never accept anything through such channels, and I would not do so even if they paid me a high price to do it.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: e702c1654da69e561f45aef59b63b266
title: Amazon and USPS
uri: Amazon-and-USPS
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#22_January_2019_%28Amazon_and_USPS%29
content:
<p><a href="https://medium.com/s/powertrip/confessions-of-a-u-s-postal-worker-we-deliver-amazon-packages-until-we-drop-dead-a6e96f125126">US Postal Service workers deliver lots of packages for Amazon, especially on Sundays</a>.  You can imagine how they are mistreated: some "part time" workers have to go weeks without a day off.  The speedup is so intense that following the official safety procedures is not feasible.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: eb91af78b24c0ec53152cced06104f16
title: Psychology of Anti-Semitism
uri: Psychology-of-Anti-Semitism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#22_January_2019_%28Psychology_of_Anti-Semitism%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/03/opinion/sunday/psychology-anti-semitism.html">A theory tries to explain how prejudice against various groups takes various forms</a>, and how the ups and downs of the economy affect them.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 87f9f497d50a2ad1a512f6fadef8934d
title: Employers gamify workers
uri: Employers-gamify-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#22_January_2019_%28Employers_gamify_workers%29
content:
<p><a href="https://aeon.co/essays/how-employers-have-gamified-work-for-maximum-profit">Digital monitoring enables employers to gamify the job and make workers work harder</a>.  This way, they can control each worker's movements as if perse were a robot.</p>
<p>The workers don't get more pay for working harder, but they do get more injuries.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4d45bc11e359ba1d5a5bb861f395a257
title: Cannabis health effects science
uri: Cannabis-health-effects-science
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Cannabis_health_effects_science%29

content:
<p>Right-wingers <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/20/marijuana-cannabis-health-effects-issues-mental-health-disorders-science ">are once again spreading claims that using marijuana makes people violent</a>. Now we have scientific studies showing that is false.</p></li></p>

  


feed_id: 597d34262d79c23b4cdd4d3fcb236a9c
title: Congo election rigged
uri: Congo-election-rigged
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Congo_election_rigged%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/20/drc-opposition-leader-martin-fayulu-civil-disobedience-election-appeal-rejected ">It seems that the presidential election in the DR Congo was rigged</a>, and that two losing candidates made a deal to cheat the main opposition leader of victory.</p></li></p>

  


feed_id: db20c2013f3526016bb0b9433a6eb950
title: More dangerous: El Chapo or Carlos Slim?
uri: More-dangerous-El-Chapo-or-Carlos-Slim
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28More_dangerous%3A_El_Chapo_or_Carlos_Slim%3F%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/20/el-chapo-or-carlos-slim-who-is-more-dangerous">Who is more dangerous: El Chapo or Carlos Slim</a>?</p><p> In other words, which is more dangerous: illegal drug trafficking, or Plutocrats and dooH niboR. </p></li></p>


feed_id: 476a179e1d50c59c00ce004a0f0b5f9f
title: Ozone and climate crisis
uri: Ozone-and-climate-crisis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Ozone_and_climate_crisis%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/20/how-to-stop-the-climate-crisis-six-lessons-from-the-campaign-that-saved-the-ozone">With the the 1989 Montreal Protocol</a>, all the countries on Earth agreed to ban production of the substances that were destroying the atmosphere's ozone layer.</p><p>This example ought to have led to similar action to curb global heating, but lobbyists for disaster have blocked it. </p></li></p>

  


feed_id: addb18a78d7997806755e841feb92d46
title: France: protest repression
uri: France-protest-repression
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28France%3A_protest_repression%29
content:
<p>France <a href="https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/01/yellow-vests-emmanuel-macron-gilets-jaunes ">proposes repression of protests</a>, including establishing identity checkpoints and banning anonymous protest.</p></li></p>


feed_id: 8d8b51990a5e73158abac8bff7d5f3af
title: Bernie 2020
uri: Bernie-2020
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Bernie_2020%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/17/10-things-we-all-lose-if-bernie-chooses-not-run-2020?cd-origin=rss ">10 Things We All Lose If Bernie Chooses Not to Run in 2020</a>.</p></li></p>


feed_id: 40eb530e1ceda13c3ce51c47df7b4afe
title: UK: Europeans living there to pay fee
uri: UK-Europeans-living-there-to-pay-fee
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28UK%3A_Europeans_living_there_to_pay_fee%29

content:
<p>The three million Europeans living in the UK will in principle be allowed to continue living there, but they will have to pay a fee and jump through hoops to get papers.</p><p>This means surely <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jan/21/eu-citizen-registration-in-uk-could-become-new-windrush-say-migration-experts ">thousands will fail for one reason or another -- missing records, poverty, or bureaucratic screwups</a>.</p></li></p>


feed_id: f7e66891c65aa94bae9fc6ab7b1e37e8
title: Oil companies plan plastic expansion
uri: Oil-companies-plan-plastic-expansion
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Oil_companies_plan_plastic_expansion%29

content:
<p>Large oil companies such as Shell and Exxon are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/21/founders-of-plastic-waste-alliance-investing-billions-in-new-plants">planning a big expansion in plastics production</a>.</p><p>Making plastic with the oil is not as bad as burning it, but it is harmful in its own way. </p></li></p>


feed_id: ac322e4bc41de8e2811a1de6bcdd0472
title: Contraceptive pills should be nonprescription
uri: Contraceptive-pills-should-be-nonprescription
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Contraceptive_pills_should_be_nonprescription%29

content:
<p><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/_sgGFgJjHq4/deregulate-the-pill ">Contraceptive pills ought to be nonprescription medicine in the US</a>, as they are in most countries.</p></li></p>


feed_id: 31092f0458c8d306046a88a037c4bc94
title: Copyright enforcement abuses
uri: Copyright-enforcement-abuses
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Copyright_enforcement_abuses%29
content:
<p><a href="https://edri.org/digital-rights-as-a-security-objective-abuses-and-loss-of-trust/ ">When copyright enforcement becomes too easy, human rights suffer</a>.</p></li></p> 


feed_id: 11ec0d3bb7390b58b9f00196b7834707
title: Sydney airport: Man arrested baby formula allegations
uri: Sydney-airport-Man-arrested-baby-formula-allegations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Sydney_airport%3A_Man_arrested_baby_formula_allegations%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jan/21/man-arrested-at-sydney-airport-over-baby-formula-syndicate-allegations">"Man arrested at Sydney airport over baby formula crime syndicate allegations."</a></p></li></p> 


feed_id: 54e857271a15848496c6e576af43a20e
title: Urgent: Raise the Wage Act
uri: Urgent-Raise-the-Wage-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Raise_the_Wage_Act%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/raise-the-wage-3/">support
the Raise the Wage Act</a>, which would raise the minimum wage to $15
per hour over a few years.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 562634a45e4d06cd74efc3bb37890672
title: Urgent: Toxic fire extinguishers
uri: Urgent-Toxic-fire-extinguishers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Toxic_fire_extinguishers%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=13554">call
on the US military</a> to stop spraying toxic PFAS fire extinguishers;
use other extinguishing substances instead.
</p>
<p>
To sign this without running nonfree JavaScript code, use the
<a href="https://stallman.org/salsalabs-method.html">Salsalabs
workaround</a>.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 3f557bc923802804bf3113d7009bbcda
title: Protests in Sudan
uri: Protests-in-Sudan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Protests_in_Sudan%29
content:
<p>
Sudan is full
of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/30/dozens-have-died-but-sudan-protesters-march-on">nonviolent
protests</a> against al-Bashir's power.


feed_id: a1efde9bbe03fc4d2cc0216a99a92cf3
title: Childhood leukaemia
uri: Childhood-leukaemia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Childhood_leukaemia%29
content:
<p>
The most common kind of childhood leukaemia may be caused
by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/dec/30/children-leukaemia-mel-greaves-microbes-protection-against-disease">keeping
babies away from germs</a>.


feed_id: e069a18bd9554696cc0f192d0993afd2
title: Syrian civil war
uri: Syrian-civil-war
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Syrian_civil_war%29
content:
<p>
Assad
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/30/syria-year-cemented-assad-victory-trump-us-troops">clearly
won</a> the Syrian civil war.
<p>
I think this is not a bad thing, overall, given that there was no one
else less bad that we could support to replace him.  The Syrian rebels
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-may-aug.html#7_August_2012_(Syria)">were
no better</a>,
and <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> wasn't either.


feed_id: 233308330820d749b940528812cec029
title: EU and Romania
uri: EU-and-Romania
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28EU_and_Romania%29
content:
<p>
The EU accuses Romania of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/30/romania-to-take-over-eu-presidency-amid-fears-for-rule-of-law">undermining rule of law</a>
&mdash;
like <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#1_August_2016_(Poland's_Rule_of_Law)">Poland</a>
and <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#15_September_2018_(Sanctions_on_Hungary)">Hungary</a>.
Italy <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#9_September_2018_(Extremist_party_in_Italy)">may
soon follow</a>.
<p>
Meanwhile, censorship in EU countries is increasing,
with <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_January_2019_(EU_copyright_censorship)">Article
13</a> and
the <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#26_December_2018_(EU_censorship-by-police_directive)">police
censorship directive</a>.
<p>
It seems that the EU has insufficient power to use for defending human
rights and democracy in its member states, while it
has <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_January_2019_(Euro_puts_banksters_above_every_country)">too
much power</a>
to <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#12_July_2015_(Cash_shortage_in_Greece)">collect
    debts</a> for the
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bankster">banksters</a>.


feed_id: dbec00633c01cb02a118fcc96146ef95
title: Michigan governor
uri: Michigan-governor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Michigan_governor%29
content:
<p>
Outgoing Michigan governor Snyder, normally no hero of
democracy, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/30/michigan-republicans-lame-duck-democrats-rick-snyder-veto">blocked
most Republican attempts</a> to reduce the power of the incoming
Democratic state officials.
<p>
It seems that he has some scruples about how far partisanship should go.


feed_id: 54790a1ec3b5a2caa8a313685d0a6188
title: Israeli terrorism
uri: 2019-01-24-Israeli-terrorism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Israeli_terrorism%29
content:
<p>
Israeli terrorism against Palestinians is increasing.  Often the
terrorists destroy orchards and buildings,
but <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/30/palestinians-rise-attacks-israeli-settlers">sometimes
they kill</a>.


feed_id: 6210049ba86413e847c6b1f585111d5c
title: Elite in the UK
uri: Elite-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Elite_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
The elite in the UK no longer claim to be better than the masses
because of their aristocratic pedigrees.  Instead they claim to be
better than the masses because their parents were wealthy enough to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/30/posh-is-so-passe-todays-elite-prefers-the-myth-of-meritocracy">send
them to better schools</a>
(and give them the best connections).


feed_id: 6c247b4d08cfff6b62d917a0cccc2ec8
title: Micromanaging curricula
uri: Micromanaging-curricula
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Micromanaging_curricula%29
content:
<p>
US Corporations
Are <a href="https://truthout.org/articles/us-corporations-are-micromanaging-curricula-to-miseducate-students/">Micromanaging
Curricula</a> to Miseducate Students.


feed_id: b9f7d98e6407639087efb0122a765a88
title: Department of the Interior
uri: 2019-01-24-Department-of-the-Interior
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Department_of_the_Interior%29
content:
<p>
The Department of the Interior, suspected of much corruption,
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/29/trump-administration-interior-department-foia-changes">decided
to make it harder</a> to find out what it is doing and has done.


feed_id: 6efd74f594a615f4d53739916573e0d5
title: Obesity and sugar
uri: Obesity-and-sugar
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Obesity_and_sugar%29
content:
<p>
George
Monbiot <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/15/age-of-obesity-shaming-overweight-people">discusses
evidence</a> that the increase of obesity is the result of eating more
sugar.


feed_id: 34e7e579f044f342789b332f519e5f29
title: Laws restricting advocacy
uri: Laws-restricting-advocacy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Laws_restricting_advocacy%29
content:
<p>
Laws whose stated purpose is to restrict advocacy of right-wing
extremists end up being used
to <a href="https://jacobinmag.com/2018/08/fascist-free-speech-repression-far-right">restrict
leftist resistance</a> to plutocracy.


feed_id: 497ed7f0aba7c214a49a3994fc4cf91d
title: Facebook and Google supporting campaigns
uri: Facebook-and-Google-supporting-campaigns
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Facebook_and_Google_supporting_campaigns%29

content:
<p>
Facebook and
Google <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/ne5k8z/how-facebook-and-google-win-by-embedding-in-political-campaigns">provide
support on contract</a> to specific political campaigns.  Given the
role they play in communication between citizens, this is a conflict
of interest, and should be prohibited.


feed_id: 30a0db3602ccc94c641b6190cbf12458
title: Cities collecting data
uri: Cities-collecting-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Cities_collecting_data%29
content:
<p>
French cities are collaborating with companies
to <a href="https://www.laquadrature.net/en/smartcity_policing_like_wildfire">combine
data about people</a> from every possible source.
<p>
If the GDPR do not prohibit this, they are a joke.
<p>
They aim to detect and use "weak signals", which means collecting lots
of personal data, looking for barely detectable patterns, and acting
on unreliable conclusions.


feed_id: afda130658e2cda603426eb8c645b416
title: Statements about Israel on Facebook
uri: Statements-about-Israel-on-Facebook
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Statements_about_Israel_on_Facebook%29

content:
<p>
Facebook has a history
of <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/28/facebooks-secret-censorship-manual-exposed-platform-takes-down-video-about-israel">deleting
accurate statements</a> that criticize Israel's occupation policies.


feed_id: be42559f68f257a21ace44f9484499e2
title: House climate committee
uri: House-climate-committee
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28House_climate_committee%29
content:
<p>
The plutocratist Democratic leadership of the House of Representatives
has created a climate committee
that <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/28/not-leadership-moment-calls-green-groups-slam-pelosi-pushing-weak-climate-panel-over">lacks
the power</a> to investigate wrongdoing by the administration, and
with a leader who won't push hard.
<p>
We will have to put Democrats on the spot over this.


feed_id: 33ec6767c1ca936bb8b02ee978af8631
title: Infantile US president
uri: Infantile-US-president
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Infantile_US_president%29
content:
<p>
The infantile US president is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/20/outcry-after-kentucky-students-in-maga-hats-mock-native-american-veteran">inspiring
high school students to be infantile</a>.


feed_id: 9cdef6c91d8a2fd795046c660f77e704
title: Mayor of Gdansk assassinated
uri: Mayor-of-Gdansk-assassinated
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Mayor_of_Gdansk_assassinated%29
content:
<p>
The mayor of Gdansk in Poland was assassinated by a crazed fanatic who
was apparently
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/19/thousands-march-beside-coffin-of-murdered-gdansk-mayor">motivated
by that party's propaganda</a>.  The mayor had defended human rights
against the ruling right-wing party.


feed_id: b1b622c9fcf2151de439eff022b6972b
title: Verizon propaganda against unionization
uri: Verizon-propaganda-against-unionization
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Verizon_propaganda_against_unionization%29

content:
<p>
Verizon
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/16/verizon-union-busting-cwa">pressures
workers hard with propaganda</a> against unionization.


feed_id: 3da0e68e29cb004d5eaa59d0f72e2e7e
title: Thug shoots 14-year-old
uri: Thug-shoots-14-year-old
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Thug_shoots_14-year-old%29
content:
<p>
14-year-old Antonio Arce was shot by a <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/19/arizona-tempe-police-officer-shot-14-year-old-boy-video-replica-gun">while
running away</a>.  It is possible he really was carrying a fake gun.


feed_id: a3ff0a2a167f4f45577a4d416d4fbc42
title: Wrecker-in-chief's exceptions to shutdown
uri: Wrecker-in-chief-s-exceptions-to-shutdown
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Wrecker-in-chiefs_exceptions_to_shutdown%29

content:
<p>
The wrecker-in-chief is making exceptions to the legally-required
government shutdown so as to speed
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/18/workers-suffer-shutdown-groups-accuse-trump-rolling-out-red-carpet-oil-and-gas">permits
for new fossil fuel drilling</a>.


feed_id: 94e6713bb6fadf6b737fb48f6993813e
title: Bringing Congresscritters to Palestine
uri: Bringing-Congresscritters-to-Palestine
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Bringing_Congresscritters_to_Palestine%29

content:
<p>
Rep. Tlaib, a Palestinian-American, wants to set up a
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/18/gop-lawmaker-really-doesnt-want-rep-rashida-tlaib-let-lawmakers-know-what-life">trip
for members of Congress to visit Palestine</a> and see how the
occupation treats Palestinians.


feed_id: c8e5bb073511c33484d0ae1a6b9a6c58
title: US deportation thugs
uri: 2019-01-24-US-deportation-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28US_deportation_thugs%29
content:
<p>
The US deportation <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> are so eager to deport people that
periodically they
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/1/17/1827077/-ICE-targeted-a-US-born-Marine-veteran-for-deportation-They-don-t-care-what-he-did-for-his-country">jail
US citizens and prepare to deport them</a>.
<p>
It's not clear how they would choose a country to send someone to, who
was born in the US, but being so careless they might pick anywhere.


feed_id: 02d9a6a92f0475cf334f4bc289fc196a
title: Refugee minor deportations
uri: Refugee-minor-deportations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Refugee_minor_deportations%29
content:
<p>
A leaked document shows that the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> and his henchmen
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/18/leaked-memo-reveals-trump-administrations-immoral-plan-traumatize-migrant-children">intentionally
planned</a> to deport refugee minors quickly, denying them their right
to a hearing, after taking them away from their parents.
<p>
They lied about this, naturally, since they belong to the Republiar
Party.  Senator Merkley called for the FBI to investigate the
Secretary of Homeland Savagery, Kirstjen Nielsen, who
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/18/merkley-calls-fbi-perjury-probe-homeland-secretary-nielsen-after-child-detention">patently
lied to Congress</a> about this.


feed_id: 0d9e0d337614ab79bd027bab542d37fd
title: Plastic not getting recycled
uri: Plastic-not-getting-recycled
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Plastic_not_getting_recycled%29
content:
<p>
Lots of plastic that Americans hand over for recycling does not really
get recycled.  The system is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/12/plastic-waste-recycling-throwaway-culture">not
able to cope with the needs of the real waste stream</a>.
<p>
Perhaps we need to tax the use of plastic packaging that doesn't match
up with real recycling capabilities.


feed_id: 8e96acbf6ab3f8cec1b42b868724e592
title: E-cigarettes
uri: 2019-01-24-E-cigarettes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28E-cigarettes%29
content:
<p>
The adoption of e-cigarettes has
<a href="https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2018/12/the-juul-fad-is-far-bigger-than-i-ever-would-have-guessed/">greatly
increased the fraction of teenagers that use nicotine</a>.
<p>
How bad is that?  The change since 20 years ago is that today many of
them are using e-cigarettes, whereas their counterparts 20 years ago
were smoking.
<p>
The UK Department of Health finds that vaping nicotine does only
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/28/vaping-is-95-safer-than-smoking-claims-public-health-england">5%
as much harm as smoking tobacco</a>.
<p>
So it seems to me that the change reported in Mother Jones is a big
change for the not-so-bad.


feed_id: 3be09ef02b08c720351f74f4c5051a52
title: Relaxing zoning regulations
uri: Relaxing-zoning-regulations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Relaxing_zoning_regulations%29
content:
<p>
There is bipartisan support for relaxing zoning regulations,
<a href="https://reason.com/archives/2018/12/28/ben-carson-battles-the-nimbys">but
not at the local level</a> where it can actually be done.


feed_id: 73980b3ce0e55654af7cdb60fd6ac6f2
title: Syrian Kurds hand town to Assad's forces
uri: Syrian-Kurds-hand-town-to-Assad-s-forces
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Syrian_Kurds_hand_town_to_Assads_forces%29

content:
<p>
Syrian Kurds have
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/28/syrian-kurdish-militia-manbij-turkey">handed
the town of Manbij to Assad's forces</a>, hoping that will thwart
Erdo&gbreve;an's plan to attack Manbij.
<p>
If Assad is willing to make peace with Rojava, that could give Rojava
a way to survive.  However, there is no way for Rojava to respect
human rights under Assad's dominion, as long as he will not do so.


feed_id: bc950c3235cc94f4fbc1c01b59f95b12
title: Blocking offshore oil drilling
uri: Blocking-offshore-oil-drilling
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Blocking_offshore_oil_drilling%29

content:
<p>
Americans that live near costs are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/28/worst-oil-disaster-youve-never-heard-of-taylor-energy-gulf-of-mexico">campaigning
vigorously</a> to block oil drilling off their coasts.  Florida has
just prohibited offshore drilling.


feed_id: 3d7056c572ba323f050b033a5e3a74a1
title: Urgent: Reject bully's proposed "deal"
uri: Urgent-Reject-bully-s-proposed-deal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#24_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_bullys_proposed_deal%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/trump_shutdown_dreamers">call
on Congress</a> to reject the bully's proposed deal about the shutdown
and immigration.
<p>
The "deal" is not a compromise &mdash; it 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/22/central-american-minors-trump-asylum/">demands
to eliminate any way for people from Central America to ask for
asylum</a>.


feed_id: 24100294a7862a87fa8d7ffb082c824e
title: Plant species being wiped out
uri: Plant-species-being-wiped-out
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#24_January_2019_%28Plant_species_being_wiped_out%29
content:
<p>
Hundreds, potentially thousands of Australian plant species are being
wiped out by an 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/24/calls-for-emergency-action-plan-as-myrtle-rust-pushes-plants-to-extinction">introduced
fungus</a>.


feed_id: d1d3fa1cc847561f8fc6133fe47c160a
title: Villages in India without toilets
uri: Villages-in-India-without-toilets
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#24_January_2019_%28Villages_in_India_without_toilets%29

content:
<p>
Many villages in India do not have toilets.  Women there have to set
out before dawn to find a place in the fields they can use without
being harassed by men.  Now there is a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jan/23/tired-dark-fields-jeering-men-bride-led-toilet-revolution">campaign
to build toilets all across India</a>.


feed_id: 9170849192771912c303dce700c60e14
title: Weak federal "privacy" laws
uri: Weak-federal-privacy-laws
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#24_January_2019_%28Weak_federal_privacy_laws%29
content:
<p>
Telephone companies and ISPs are 
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190116/08345541403/2019-push-bad-faith-loophole-filled-privacy-legislation-begins.shtml">pushing
for weak federal "privacy" laws</a> in the hope of stopping states
from doing anything stronger.
<p>
But even "stronger" laws to protect "privacy" only regarding
commercial use of tracking people is inadequate to protect against
repression.


feed_id: fd06250528e802d0aae3bf16e77d3163
title: Nondisclosure agreements
uri: 2019-01-25-Nondisclosure-agreements
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#24_January_2019_%28Nondisclosure_agreements%29
content:
<p>
Companies 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jan/22/the-public-would-be-shocked-if-they-knew-how-gagging-contracts-cover-up-maternity-discrimination">impose
nondisclosure agreements on people that they fire for reasons they
would be ashamed to admit</a>.


feed_id: 5712bc756f0dae28b2dda2360d10daf4
title: Commercial manipulation
uri: Commercial-manipulation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#24_January_2019_%28Commercial_manipulation%29
content:
<p>
George Monbiot: University research is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/31/advertising-academia-controlling-thoughts-universities">teaching
advertisers how to manipulate people more compellingly</a>.
<p>
In the 1980s there was a push to make universities do research that
would be more directly useful to business.  I suspect this is the
result of that.
<p>
If you refuse &mdash; firmly refuse &mdash; to run nonfree software,
that will cut a lot of the commercial manipulation out of your life.
If in addition you stay off the online disservices, that will get rid
of most of the rest.  You will still see some ads, but they won't be
enough to achieve the intended "cognitive depletion" effect.


feed_id: 56f9a2deed75a07fe6f0d1295658fbe4
title: Throwaway clothing
uri: Throwaway-clothing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#24_January_2019_%28Throwaway_clothing%29
content:
<p>
Throwaway clothing (an idea that seems absurd to me) is so widely used
that it is a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/dec/29/fast-fashion-giving-way-sustainable-wardrobe">major
source of greenhouse gases and plastic waste</a>.
<p>
When cotton is used, the growing of the cotton releases 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2009-may-aug.html#12%20August%202009%20(Toxic%20decomposing%20seaweed%20in%20beaches)">fertilizer
runoff</a> and competes with food production.
<p>
We can hope that people will turn towards rejecting throwaway clothing
(and any non-durable clothing), but that involves going against social
pressure.  Turning the pressure around would have more effect.
Perhaps a 300% tax on clothing that appears designed to last less than
six months, decreasing to zero for clothing that would last three
years.  Alternatively, require the store or the "brand" to buy the
clothing back within three years, and put up a deposit for doing this.
<p>
Another alternative: if you want a design on your body just once,
paint it on.


feed_id: 9e47694dc1f1250a61bf7162f4b4f016
title: Sixth mass extinction happening now
uri: Sixth-mass-extinction-happening-now
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#24_January_2019_%28Sixth_mass_extinction_happening_now%29

content:
<p>
The sixth mass extinction is no longer threatening &mdash; it is
<a href="https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/12/13/biological-annihilation-a-planet-in-loss-mode/">happening
all around us</a>.  For instance, many species of trees in the western
US are already dead, and the animals that depended on them are dying
or dead.


feed_id: d209196103bd663504f271a37f077d2a
title: 1965-66 massacre in Indonesia
uri: 1965-66-massacre-in-Indonesia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#24_January_2019_%281965-66_massacre_in_Indonesia%29
content:
<p>
Research of internal documents demonstrates that the massacre of
Communists in Indonesia in 1965-66 was 
<a href="https://jacobinmag.com/2018/08/army-indonesian-genocide-review-jess-melvin">planned
by the army and ordered explicitly by General Suharto</a>.


feed_id: 8b3fc3710e076f75e4b240e1f62d1035
title: Urgent: Andrew Wheeler
uri: 2019-01-26-Urgent-Andrew-Wheeler
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Andrew_Wheeler%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/reject-wheeler-epa-2">call
on the Senate</a> to reject coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler as head of
the EPA.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 9ba95b4800e92a1a48ece074e980b8b5
title: Marxist Student Society
uri: Marxist-Student-Society
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Marxist_Student_Society%29
content:
<p>
Chinese students in the Marxist Student Society met with fierce
repression after they tried to support a strike in the name of Mao
Zidong.  <a href="https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/12/29/chin-d29.html">They
have been jailed</a> (some of them incommunicado, as is common in
China).
<p>
Mao Zidong is an ironic choice of icon for a movement to help workers
against the power of the state, since he was as repressive as any
ruler in history.  Life and Death in Shanghai, by Nien Cheng,
describes her experience in the Great Cultural Revolution; around ten
years previously, Mao's policies causes a nationwide famine.  But
China's censorship has left these students little opportunity to learn
about what Mao did.
<p>
Despite this irony, their hearts are in the right place.  That is what
China has jailed them for.


feed_id: 8dd4a910bd27a4deaea607fb53638a2e
title: Immigrants and crime rates
uri: Immigrants-and-crime-rates
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Immigrants_and_crime_rates%29
content:
<p>
Immigrants from Mexico don't seem to cause much crime &mdash; US
cities near the
border <a href="https://timesofsandiego.com/opinion/2018/12/24/if-there-is-a-crisis-on-the-border-why-is-san-diego-so-safe/">have
low crime rates</a>.


feed_id: 5812a74f4e31fe3998b37ca312c2eea3
title: 1978 US copyright law
uri: 1978-US-copyright-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%281978_US_copyright_law%29
content:
<p>
The 1978 US copyright law dealt a horrible blow to the public domain.
<a href="https://law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2019/pre-1976/">Here
is a list</a> of just a few of the highly appreciated books that would
be in the public domain now if not for that law.
<p>
Copyright
should <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/copyright-vs-community.html">last
for ten years</a> from the date of publication of a work.


feed_id: b1f2908b25c855f4e18d7a43075bacb1
title: Waymo vans in Arizona
uri: Waymo-vans-in-Arizona
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Waymo_vans_in_Arizona%29
content:
<p>
People in Arizona
are <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/31/us/waymo-self-driving-cars-arizona-attacks.html">harassing
Waymo's not-yet-quite-driverless vans</a> in an attempt to drive them
away.
<p>
Bravo!  We do not have to allow companies to automate millions of jobs;
we do not have to allow them to drive camera platforms through the
neighborhoods where we live, work, or travel.  How about passing laws
to stop them?
<p>
Please join me in refusing to use the automated cash registers that
stores have set up.  I reject them absolutely &mdash; once I left a
store without buying what I had come for, because the automated cash
register was the only way to pay.  But even if you don't feel the
moral determination to reject them every time, rejecting them most of
the time still helps.
<p>
I also shout to the other customers, as I pass those machines:
"If we use those machines, that puts other Americans out of work.
When I realized that, I decided I would always go to the human
sales agents, to help them stay employed.  We don't have to let
companies replace people with robots."
<p>
On three occasions, someone immediately responded that that was a good
point.  Interestingly, each one was a black woman.  Maybe they are
accustomed to the idea of solidarity.


feed_id: e45b04a5101c11961882ceda7aa3756c
title: Murder and prohibition of abortion
uri: Murder-and-prohibition-of-abortion
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Murder_and_prohibition_of_abortion%29

content:
<p>
Relating the murder of women to the prohibition of abortion
as <a href="https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/421483-home-is-one-the-most-dangerous-places-for-a-woman-how-can-we-fix-it">two
aspects of male domination</a>.


feed_id: 9a96e69eacf1355a24c87266c53769b0
title: Hasan Minhaj
uri: Hasan-Minhaj
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Hasan_Minhaj%29
content:
<p>
Hasan Minhaj made a comic video, published via Netflix, that mocked
the official Salafi Arabian story about how Jamal Khashoggi
disappeared.  The acting king declared the story illegal, so Netflix
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jan/01/outrage-after-netflix-pulls-comedy-show-criticising-saudi-arabia">banned
access to the video</a> from there.
<p>
Because Netflix is the only distribution site, the only way anyone in
Salafi Arabia can see the program now is via unofficial
redistribution, which is hampered
by <a href="https://DefectiveByDesign.org">Netflix's use of DRM</a>.
<p>
Netflix has the power to entirely terminate distribution of any video
it made, and the video would essentially disappear because there is no
other place to get it.
<p>
Join me and flick off Netflix!
<p>
It does <a href="https://stallman.org/netflix.html">other injustices
too</a>.


feed_id: 01047a0dfe70336408ed34d592297da5
title: Antibiotic resistance in Gaza
uri: Antibiotic-resistance-in-Gaza
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Antibiotic_resistance_in_Gaza%29
content:
<p>
Israel's blockade of Gaza has crippled medical care, which has led
(among other things)
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/31/palestinian-superbug-epidemic-could-spread-say-doctors-drug-resistant-antibiotics">increase
of antibiotic-resistant bacteria</a>.


feed_id: 138723674641913315c68f04b3a84d64
title: Uncontacted tribes of Brazil
uri: Uncontacted-tribes-of-Brazil
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Uncontacted_tribes_of_Brazil%29
content:
<p>
The uncontacted tribes of Brazil
could <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/31/tribes-brazil-genocide-jair-bolsonaro">soon
be wiped out</a> by disease.


feed_id: 36f90592d9f37a707fbd40dfc89af195
title: Health effects of poverty
uri: Health-effects-of-poverty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Health_effects_of_poverty%29
content:
<p>
Children that grow up in poverty are mentally and physically stunted.
This is a big drag in the economy &mdash; estimated at
around <a href="https://www.futurity.org/childhood-poverty-cost-1737682-2/">a
trillion dollars a year</a> for the US.
<p>
The wealthy people who don't care about poor people's suffering might
care about that.


feed_id: 73e6589b776aaa2910cdc5872add059d
title: Amazon warehouse workers
uri: 2019-01-26-Amazon-warehouse-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Amazon_warehouse_workers%29
content:
<p>
Amazon warehouse workers in the US
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/01/amazon-fulfillment-center-warehouse-employees-union-new-york-minnesota">pushing
to unionize</a>.  The company treats them as throwaways.


feed_id: b4dd7dba95690a7d79e3487e02d1fcfb
title: Concentrated US economy
uri: Concentrated-US-economy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Concentrated_US_economy%29
content:
<p>
The US economy is so concentrated that in many areas there is little
competition.  This drives consumer prices up,
and <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/05/07/monopolization-america">drives
small farms out of business</a>.
<p>
It also means less competition to hire any given worker,
which <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#7_March_2018_(Mergers_and_employment)">drives
wages down</a>.


feed_id: dec09b1d7c5fb7c20fe6a0cf4a353823
title: Employee vote persuasion
uri: Employee-vote-persuasion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Employee_vote_persuasion%29
content:
<p>
Companies and managers in the US really try to tell employees who to
vote for.
And <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/07/politics-at-work-employee-mobilization-lobbying">not
just a handful of them</a>.
<p>
In the absence of legal protection against this, we need to make it
very easy for employees to lie to their bosses about how they voted.


feed_id: 625d4477b286ddfdea154205be4ee7f0
title: Environmental protections
uri: Environmental-protections
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Environmental_protections%29
content:
<p>
The environment-hater's cancellation of environmental protection regulations
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/12/26/us/politics/donald-trump-environmental-regulation.html">is
causing damage</a> all around the US.


feed_id: a95ae1a9271c52539486c12eb94af81d
title: Blacks attacked by thugs
uri: Blacks-attacked-by-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Blacks_attacked_by_thugs%29
content:
<p>
When people see videos of blacks attacked by <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>, they often bend
over backwards to find an excuse.  This often takes the form
of <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/05/14/waffle-house-police-video-starbucks-arrest-black-men/">wondering
what might have happened</a> before someone started making a video of
the attack.


feed_id: 41276e1f762c04782a74d63f0ba4cc39
title: Hitting children
uri: Hitting-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Hitting_children%29
content:
<p>
"I used to defend smacking children. Now I see
it <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/01/defend-smacking-children-abuse-power-parents">as
an abuse of power</a>."
<p>
When my father, and sometimes other adults, punished me physically,
that taught me fear and anger which lasted for years.  Even decades
later, though I no longer felt in physical danger from him, I did not
trust him.
<p>
However, as I grew up, and saw other children behaving in intolerable
ways, I saw the situation from the other side.  What could I do to
stop a child from doing things that were either dangerous or harmful
to others, without losing my temper?  It is easy to say, "Find some
gentle way to solve the problem" &mdash; but I did not think I could find
them.  Maybe some other people, less easily upset than I, could do
that, but I could see I would be stressed to my wits' end, and
explode.
<p>
At that point I made a very smart decision: to avoid getting into that
situation, by not having children.


feed_id: a7f945e815e7009e20a89490dedb1bc2
title: Contraceptive pills should be nonprescription
uri: 2019-01-27-Contraceptive-pills-should-be-nonprescription
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#23_January_2019_%28Contraceptive_pills_should_be_nonprescription%29

content:
<p><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reason/Articles/~3/_sgGFgJjHq4/deregulate-the-pill ">Contraceptive pills ought to be nonprescription medicine</a>.</p>
<p>The article is inaccurate in claiming that they are available without
prescription in 100 countries.  But that is the case in some countries, including
Portugal and China.  The arguments are valid anyway.</p></li></p>


feed_id: b5fe8fc1f603a664b710c79b7d99fe41
title: Urgent: War in Yemen
uri: 2019-01-28-Urgent-War-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_War_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=13556">call
on Congress</a> to get the US out of the war in Yemen.
</p>
<p>
To sign without running nonfree Javascript code, use
the <a href="https://stallman.org/salsalabs-method.html">Salsalabs
workaround</a>.
</p>


feed_id: 0ad8a7bc4878229252f8114ad935e2c8
title: Urgent: Neomi Rao
uri: Urgent-Neomi-Rao
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Neomi_Rao%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/block-neomi-rao">call
on the Senate</a> to reject the appointment of Neomi Rao as a federal
judge.
<p>
Ms Rao's views on intoxication and rape fit the usual patriarchal
pattern of searching for any excuse to blame the victim of rape.  They
never take that approach for other crimes such as robbery.
Right-wingers never tell men, "Taking your wallet was not theft,
because you consented by carrying it in your back pocket."
</p>
<p>
I wish the writers would avoid lumping rape together with a wide range
of other actions under the
term <a href="https://stallman.org/antiglossary.html#assult">"sexual
assault"</a>.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 0ca995a1b0eb24fd9d437aa5ee3c5e74
title: Rouzan al-Najjar
uri: Rouzan-al-Najjar
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Rouzan_al-Najjar%29
content:
<p>
A study of how an Israeli soldier shot medic Rouzan al-Najjar suggests
that the
shooter <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-damning-report-idf-says-it-is-probing-killing-of-gazan-medic-in-june/">did
not aim directly at her</a>, but firing near a group of
medics <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/30/world/middleeast/gaza-medic-israel-shooting.html">is
a war crime anyway</a>.
<p>
So is firing at a group of people who are not participating in violence.
<p>
During 2018, Israeli
forces <a href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/nearly-300-palestinians-killed-29000-injured-2018">killed
265 Palestinians</a> and wounded 29,000.
Around 1,500 of the wounded can't recover easily.


feed_id: b4f611f5b8008033a2d506a639cad761
title: Censorship in Bangladesh
uri: 2019-01-28-Censorship-in-Bangladesh
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Censorship_in_Bangladesh%29
content:
<p>
Bangladesh is using its new press censorship law
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/02/bangladeshi-journalist-arrested-over-election-irregularities-reporting">punish
reports of problems</a> in the election.


feed_id: e25ab3a4979a293e107b5f2c9d5be244
title: Houthis and food aid
uri: Houthis-and-food-aid
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Houthis_and_food_aid%29
content:
<p>
The Houthis have
been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jan/02/aid-officials-aware-for-months-of-widespread-food-aid-theft-in-yemen">manipulating
food aid</a> to bring a bigger fraction of food aid to areas they
control.
<p>
The article is not clear about exactly what is going on.  Unless the
Houthis have been misrepresenting the amount of hunger in areas they
do not control &mdash; and how could they do that? &mdash; the root of
the problem seems to be that the total amount of food aid is not
enough.


feed_id: dad78273db2687c22d5302cd462b264e
title: Indigenous people in Brazil
uri: Indigenous-people-in-Brazil
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Indigenous_people_in_Brazil%29
content:
<p>
Bolsonaro
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/02/brazil-jair-bolsonaro-amazon-rainforest-protections">launched
a plan</a> to wipe out the indigenous people in the Amazon rainforest.


feed_id: 5ff4fc977cf5664a9356d4171aa84f95
title: Increasing the deficit
uri: Increasing-the-deficit
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Increasing_the_deficit%29
content:
<p>
Plutocratist Democrats in Congress have tied their
hands <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/02/nancy-pelosi-pay-go-rule/">with
a rule</a> against passing any measures that increase the deficit.
<p>
This puts the US on course to have a balanced budget in 50 years: zero
dollars revenue, and zero dollars expenditure.


feed_id: 74a0391c5a2cf5e90d4842349e7b11b6
title: Rule of the rich in the UK
uri: Rule-of-the-rich-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Rule_of_the_rich_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
If the non-rich can't afford a court case, rule of law degenerates
into rule of the rich.  That's what the UK
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2018/dec/27/secret-barrister-legal-aid-the-rule-law-cuts">pushing
things toward</a>.
<p>
The US situation is different in detail, but worse overall.  Criminal
defendants get a public defender who tries to only get them a plea
bargain.  In any other situation, including an asylum hearing, you
have no help unless some charity wants to assist you.


feed_id: 0d07d568bc4b0f2790ec3bb18134fac3
title: Freedom of speech in the EU
uri: Freedom-of-speech-in-the-EU
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Freedom_of_speech_in_the_EU%29
content:
<p>
The European Union doesn't adequately respect freedom of speech.  One
example: an anti-abortion activist
was <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/german-antiabortion-activist-holocause-injunction-klaus-annen-echr-a8546901.html">forbidden
by Europe's highest court</a> from calling abortion "murder" and from
comparing abortions with the Holocaust.
<p>
I disagree totally with what he said, but freedom of speech includes
the right to say it.  We who oppose plutocracy must defend all
unpopular opinions against censorship,
or <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-mar-jun.html#15_June_2017_(Forcing_censorship)">we
will be the next ones</a> censored.


feed_id: c7b11dbd086446f889fd880c55bb3632
title: ISP censorship in Vietnam
uri: ISP-censorship-in-Vietnam
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28ISP_censorship_in_Vietnam%29
content:
<p>
Vietnam has adopted a Chinese-style requirement for ISPs
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/02/vietnam-criticised-for-totalitarian-law-banning-online-criticism-of-government">block
criticism of the government</a>.
<p>
The avowed ideology of the Vietnamese government is "serve and obey
global investors."


feed_id: 84554ff5801fe05d0a7dd2f2d608ed04
title: Foreign workers in Dubai
uri: Foreign-workers-in-Dubai
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Foreign_workers_in_Dubai%29
content:
<p>
When foreign workers in Dubai get pregnant, they are imprisoned unless
they conceal it.  Some of them abandon their children to get out.
Others <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jan/02/children-growing-up-in-hiding-in-dubai">hide
their children for years</a> because their families won't accept them
back.
<p>
Dubai's cruelty to women who get pregnant, indeed
its <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2009-mar-jun.html#14%20April%202009%20(Built%20and%20run%20by%20slaves)">cruelty
to foreign workers</a> in general,
is inexcusable.
<p>
However, the root cause of this problem &mdash; the reason why women
from countries like the Philippines take the risky course of going to
work in Dubai &mdash; is overpopulation in their home countries.  That
is why they take the risk of travelling to a country where they will
certainly be exploited and from which they can't return home.
Desperate conditions at home push millions into competitions in which
many competitors must surely lose.
<p>
When Japan brings in foreign workers, they are
sometimes <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/02/fears-of-exploitation-as-japan-prepares-to-admit-foreign-workers">exploited
in the same way</a>.
<p>
Japan should admit immigrants &mdash; not temporary workers to
exploit.  And in case someone does want to go home, Japan should
guarantee the air fare.  Japan can afford it.


feed_id: a1e094654adc9f4f0fb0ac19d82035e9
title: Florida panther
uri: Florida-panther
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Florida_panther%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/02/florida-panther-extinction-collier-county-development-project">Proposed
development in Florida</a> could drive the Florida panther to
extinction.
<p>
Meanwhile, sea-level rise will push from the other side.


feed_id: bac3efac1ad79c057890f9e58b283de5
title: Neil Prakash
uri: Neil-Prakash
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Neil_Prakash%29
content:
<p>
Fiji says that Neil Prakash does not have Fijian citizenship and
cannot apply for it.  Thus, Australia seems to
have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jan/02/neil-prakash-not-a-fiji-citizen-dutton-move-to-strip-australian-citizenship-in-doubt">rendered
him stateless</a>.
<p>
Once Australia adopted the policy of making bets like this, it was
certain that it would lose a bet sooner or later.
<p>
What if he did have Fijian citizenship even though he has never been
there?  I question the legitimacy of telling a person, "You are now
required to live in that country over there, which you don't know,
where you don't know anyone, and you don't speak the local language."
<p>
I criticized the US for doing that &mdash; for
instance, <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-mar-jun.html#13_April_2014_(US_deportation_of_Mexicans)">deporting
to Mexico</a> a man who was indeed a Mexican citizen but had been
brought to the US as a small child.
<p>
Countries sometimes need to punish their own citizens, after a fair
trial, but should never exile them.  Not even after a trial &mdash;
which Prakash did not have.  Australia exiled him without a trial.


feed_id: c41eef761575fc66ef5e158ecb42eb38
title: Climate danger coverage
uri: Climate-danger-coverage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Climate_danger_coverage%29
content:
<p>
Persistent pressure from climate activists have made the mainstream media
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/01/thanks-green-new-deal-push-progressives-have-forced-corporate-media-put-focus">cover
the climate danger</a> &mdash; a little.


feed_id: 960df6b24432455a214000ab5af0d8fb
title: Grass-roots candidate funding
uri: Grass-roots-candidate-funding
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Grass-roots_candidate_funding%29
content:
<p>
The Democratic Party is going to require presidential candidates
to <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/12/27/dnc-primary-grassroots-fundraising/">demonstrate
grass-roots funding</a> in order to be included in debates.


feed_id: 4422b270c2658cc56c0527b47e8e2b9a
title: Saying no to Apple
uri: Saying-no-to-Apple
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Saying_no_to_Apple%29
content:
<p>
An <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/25/i-still-miss-the-headphone-port/">object
lesson in spinelessness</a>: someone who passionately hates Apple's
decision to eliminate the headphone jack, and hasn't got the guts to
do anything but moan.
<p>
A fool and his freedom are soon parted.
<p>
How can you develop the strength not to be herded?  Practice saying
no!  Practice when it is very easy, and in a year you will learn to at
least consider saying no every time some company wants you to submit
to mistreatment.


feed_id: e86e03a9afc7bc652dd0ddcd36c75671
title: Privatized housing for soldiers
uri: Privatized-housing-for-soldiers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#27_January_2019_%28Privatized_housing_for_soldiers%29

content:
<p>
The US has privatized housing for soldiers, with the unsurprising
result that some people are getting rich and
soldiers <a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-military-developer/">live
in intolerable conditions</a>.


feed_id: 479185f1c23c483751770e871416115b
title: Hasan Minhaj
uri: 2019-01-28-Hasan-Minhaj
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_%28Hasan_Minhaj%29
content:
<p>
Hasan Minhaj made a comic video, published via Netflix, that mocked
the official Salafi Arabian story about how Jamal Khashoggi
disappeared.  The acting king declared the story illegal, so Netflix
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jan/01/outrage-after-netflix-pulls-comedy-show-criticising-saudi-arabia">banned
access to the video</a> from there.
<p>
Because Netflix is the only distribution site, the only way anyone in
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a> can see the program now is via unofficial
redistribution, which is hampered
by <a href="https://DefectiveByDesign.org">Netflix's use of DRM</a>.
<p>
Netflix has the power to entirely terminate distribution of any video
it made, and the video would essentially disappear because there is no
other place to get it.
<p>
Join me and flick off Netflix!
<p>
It does <a href="https://stallman.org/netflix.html">other injustices
too</a>.


feed_id: cfa89195851591d265549121fa27c03a
title: Urgent: Refugee minors
uri: Urgent-Refugee-minors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Refugee_minors%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://www.signherenow.org/petition/trump-prison-camp/progress/">call
on Congress</a> to close and investigate the bully's prison camps for
refugee minors.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 9147d9ecf976b6e34b1af0c3de3c132b
title: Urgent: Contract workers during shutdown
uri: Urgent-Contract-workers-during-shutdown
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Contract_workers_during_shutdown%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/contractors-shutdown">call
on Congress</a> to pay the wages of federal contract workers that had
no income during the shutdown.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: a07f18e3d821739158b985131ed62dbd
title: Urgent: Border wall
uri: 2019-01-29-Urgent-Border-wall
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Border_wall%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/shutdownover-dems-dontcave">call
on Congress</a> to resist both building a physical border wall and any
other new deportation efforts that the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> wants.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: b24609d1d3298626588db93c5d116be3
title: Defense contractor CEOs
uri: Defense-contractor-CEOs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Defense_contractor_CEOs%29
content:
<p>
Does it make a difference that "the CEOs of four of the [US's] five
biggest defense contractors &mdash; Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin,
General Dynamics and the defense arm of Boeing
&mdash; <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2019/01/03/good-news-ladies-the-military-industrial">are
now women</a>"?
<p>
I do not believe the claim that female political leaders will in
general be less violent or less brutal than male leaders.  They seem
to vary much as male leaders do.
<p>
But we are talking here about business leaders of the US
military-industrial complex.  They do not decide directly whether to
fight any war or repress anyone.  But they constantly sponsor
persuasion that encourages war in a general way, and encourages
repression at least indirectly.  More concretely, they impoverish
Americans by diverting ever more of the country's resources to buying
arms from their companies.
<p>
Let's not get distracted from this by their gender.


feed_id: 694d1b0618a0328021ff9733fc57aff7
title: Google profits in Bermuda
uri: Google-profits-in-Bermuda
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Google_profits_in_Bermuda%29
content:
<p>
Google assigns profits from various EU countries to Bermuda,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/03/google-tax-haven-bermuda-netherlands">through
tax loopholes</a> in Ireland and the Netherlands.
<p>
The obvious response is for other EU countries to legislate that
Google (and other multinationals) may not dodge their national taxes
in this way.  I think the reason they do not is that the EU does not
allow this.  Would leaving the EU enable the UK to tax these companies
as they should be taxed?
<p>
I would be very interested in talking with an expert.


feed_id: 5d5afc8e87fcfd321eb28d47a4da541e
title: Drone-radio jammers
uri: Drone-radio-jammers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Drone-radio_jammers%29
content:
<p>
The UK
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/03/heathrow-and-gatwick-millions-anti-drone-technology">buying
drone-radio jammers</a> to stop drones from operating near major
airports.
<p>
This would stop people from operating ordinary commercial drones near
airports, but people determined to cause trouble could easily
reprogram a drone to make a nuisance of itself without radio control.


feed_id: aca7d402e7b5a6bb9426a9bee7177c2c
title: Subcontracted workers
uri: Subcontracted-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Subcontracted_workers%29
content:
<p>
A US appeals
court <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/03/nlrb-joint-employer-ruling/">upheld
a ruling</a> that makes companies responsible for mistreatment of
subcontracted workers.
<p>
I would celebrate this, but I fear it will be overturned by the
right-wing Supreme Court.


feed_id: d39ff742f2ecbcd171999e453cedd62f
title: Distraction campaign against Warren
uri: Distraction-campaign-against-Warren
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Distraction_campaign_against_Warren%29

content:
<p>
A <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/03/elizabeth-warren-likability-us-media-sexist-hillary-clinton">right-wing
distraction campaign</a> attacks Senator Warren as a presidential
candidate for being "unlikeable".
<p>
Warren has fought the financial industry for many years, which puts
her miles above Clinton and Obama, who are the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bankster">banksters</a>' pets.  If
Warren becomes the Democrats' nominee, I will vote for her.  But in
the overall range of progressive issues, Sanders is the one who
excels.  I think Warren should endorse him.


feed_id: 8aaf522985474bab7339992861346f43
title: Bombing internet cafes
uri: Bombing-internet-cafes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Bombing_internet_cafes%29
content:
<p>
The US
is <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/03/syria-bombing-troop-withdrawal/">bombing
internet cafes</a> in the Syrian towns still held by the remnants of
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>.  Meanwhile, the Kurds are negotiating a truce with PISSI so
they can use all their forces to defend against Turkey.


feed_id: 00f8275b2e457dbbc407e6e4ba4f0f93
title: 400-mile human chain
uri: 400-mile-human-chain
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28400-mile_human_chain%29
content:
<p>
Indian women made
a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/03/gender-activism-india-womens-wall-sabarimala-temple-kerala">400-mile
human chain</a> upholding their right to enter a temple which formerly
had been restricted only to men.


feed_id: 69377590853b7e7bceddea23d336e513
title: Italian medical policies
uri: Italian-medical-policies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Italian_medical_policies%29
content:
<p>
The head of Italian medical
research <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/03/italian-health-chief-resigns-over-anti-scientific-policies">has
resigned</a> because of the government's anti-vaccine policies.


feed_id: a314f77a2dfb04287a3970dc5b2c592e
title: Freedom-of-information in Australia
uri: Freedom-of-information-in-Australia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Freedom-of-information_in_Australia%29

content:
<p>
Australia
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jan/02/how-a-flawed-freedom-of-information-regime-keeps-australians-in-the-dark">developing
systematic disrespect</a> for freedom-of-information requests.


feed_id: 7106248048567e1f6ca652f102e5718d
title: Chipped school uniforms
uri: Chipped-school-uniforms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Chipped_school_uniforms%29
content:
<p>
Chinese Schools Track Students by
Requiring <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/chinese-school-tracks-students-by-requiring-them-to-wear-chip-enhanced-uniforms_2748391.html">Chip-Enhanced
Uniforms</a>.
<p>
If you can force someone to wear certain clothing, it's almost
equivalent to forcibly implanting a RFID.  Naturally, the school's
scheme of total surveillance also includes face recognition.


feed_id: 6a43ad838191bde55195cb1d86131f59
title: Imprisoned refugee minors
uri: Imprisoned-refugee-minors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Imprisoned_refugee_minors%29
content:
<p>
The staff of a prison for refugee minors were
observed <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/01/prosecutors-mulling-assault-charges-after-videos-show-children-being-dragged-and-hit">shoving
and hitting them</a>.  Maybe they will be prosecuted for this.
<p>
I hope to see a campaign to encourage that prosecution.


feed_id: 2537c52dad271a6bbc5b0fb84569482d
title: Bernie Sanders 2020
uri: Bernie-Sanders-2020
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Bernie_Sanders_2020%29
content:
<p>
Bernie
Sanders <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/01/bold-progressive-agenda-happier-and-healthier-new-year">says
what he stands for</a>.
<p>
Americans, accept nothing less in 2020 than Sanders.


feed_id: 85bd3d34698aeb38e99aedb443e1e9d5
title: Facebook data ownership
uri: Facebook-data-ownership
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Facebook_data_ownership%29
content:
<p>
Facebook says its useds "own their own data", but "their own data"
doesn't mean what you would think.  It
includes <a href="http://web-old.archive.org/web/20181204052222/https://www.wired.com/story/whats-not-included-in-facebooks-download-your-data/">only
some of the data</a> Facebook keeps about its useds.
<p>
This is one reason why the demand that users "own their data" is
fundamentally inadequate.


feed_id: 2dd6465d28c56c2499050894a2240875
title: Attacks against Palestinians
uri: Attacks-against-Palestinians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Attacks_against_Palestinians%29
content:
<p>
Israel is trying to stop the terrorist attacks against Palestinians,
and
has <a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5437107,00.html">arrested
two people</a> accused of this.
<p>
Israel has the duty to stop that terrorism and should have started
many years ago.  Meanwhile, these suspects deserve respect for their
rights, just as Palestinian suspects do.


feed_id: 65be6d57fc5a57a94251bd421d4ae373
title: Medical treatment for Gaza
uri: Medical-treatment-for-Gaza
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#29_January_2019_%28Medical_treatment_for_Gaza%29
content:
<p>
Israel <a href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/benevolent-bureaucrats-military-occupation">stopped
800 people</a> in Gaza last year from traveling to get medical
treatment which is impossible there.


feed_id: 827165458a0b5a6979f7cb73bcc15935
title: Racist Hyde-Smith
uri: Racist-Hyde-Smith
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Racist_Hyde-Smith%29
content:
<p>Racist Hyde-Smith <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/further/2018/11/28/heres-state-mississippi?cd-origin=rss">won the election for senator from Mississippi</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4bdd9d92d1e4c035d3134ca0c048f5cf
title: Australia: Right-wing government
uri: Australia-Right-wing-government
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Australia%3A_Right-wing_government%29

content:
<p>Right-wing government in Australia <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/09/life-on-the-breadline-i-am-sick-and-tired-of-trying-to-be-a-cheerful-poor-person">plays the same games as right-wing government in the US and the UK</a>: demanding that poor people be perfect and never make a mistake, and punish them if it looks like they have made a mistake.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5d4ae9532bd0df753a95002e94478d8b
title: US government credit score merit
uri: US-government-credit-score-merit
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28US_government_credit_score_merit%29

content:
<p><a href="https://slate.com/technology/2018/11/dhs-credit-scores-legal-resident-assessment.html">The US government wants to judge applications for residency based on credit scores</a> -- as if credit scores were a direct measure of personal merit.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: a39bd05cacb6023f50ede473f9275dd9
title: Sammy Woodhouse Rotherman
uri: Sammy-Woodhouse-Rotherman
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Sammy_Woodhouse_Rotherman%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/29/rapist-father-victim-children-sammy-woodhouse-rotherham-child-abuse">Rapist Fathers Should Not Have Rights over Their Victims’ Children</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4a75129d67c59dac1fe203264da75504
title: Even republicans agree global heating occurring
uri: Even-republicans-agree-global-heating-occurring
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Even_republicans_agree_global_heating_occurring%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/29/even-republicans-at-odds-with-trumps-climate-posture-poll-finds">Even most Republicans now agree that global heating is occurring</a>.  However, we have a long way to go to show most Americans that human activity is the cause.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 26112db589985b8360b4738ab599a182
title: China: efforts to save life on earth
uri: China-efforts-to-save-life-on-earth
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28China%3A_efforts_to_save_life_on_earth%29

content:
<p>Without much help from the US, Europe or Brazil, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/29/china-urged-lead-way-efforts-save-life-on-earth-un">we are left hoping that China will prevent the impending mass extinction of species</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 31a86035d93e0f7dacc169e7f9223817
title: Varoufakis proposes redirections
uri: Varoufakis-proposes-redirections
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Varoufakis_proposes_redirections%29

content:
<p>Varoufakis, working with Sanders, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/01/liberal-world-order-new-international-yanis-varoufakis-david-adler">proposes to redirect various international institutions to serve the goals they were created for</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 176c22190908fea5379334df1f9cca0d
title: Berta Cáceres murder convictions
uri: 2019-01-31-Berta-Cáceres-murder-convictions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Berta_C%25C3%25A1ceres_murder_convictions%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/01/berta-caceres-honduras-questions-killing">The people directly involved in murdering Berta Cáceres have been convicted</a>, and others just above them face trial.  But there is evidence that ministers and other powerful people were involved somehow.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 060f551db2e3493b82a38ad9ba456a09
title: Censure Rep. Steve King for racism
uri: Censure-Rep-Steve-King-for-racism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Censure_Rep._Steve_King_for_racism%29

content:
<p><a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/z9_iI7YQGF0/1816241">Calling on the Republics of the House of Representatives to censure Rep. Steve King for his racism</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 8fb5d18fd233a6551ec5a2091a1a3a7e
title: Children without medical coverage
uri: Children-without-medical-coverage
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Children_without_medical_coverage%29

content:
<p><a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/2Gyi1Xv-ynM/1816041">Republican efforts to take away medical coverage for some children seems to have had some success</a> -- the number of children without medical coverage rose in 2017.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 68ce1de3431f9f8db7570409f824075d
title: Jamal Khashoggi street
uri: Jamal-Khashoggi-street
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Jamal_Khashoggi_street%29
content:
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/01/jamal-khashoggi-way-washington-city-may-rename-saudi-embassy-street">Washington, DC, may rename the street outside the Salafi Arabian embassy to Jamal Khashoggi Street</a>b.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: b89c3fe8773eec3231f8fb724d8f9fa4
title: Fake news spreads
uri: Fake-news-spreads
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Fake_news_spreads%29
content:
<p>An experiment suggests that even a <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-made-deceptive-robots-to-see-why-fake-news-spreads-and-found-a-weakness-104776">1% level of fake news can sabotage society's ability to reach consensus</a>.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 5687c01c63b281b294b99b23010f955c
title: McNamee's Refusal to Recuse himself
uri: McNamee-s-Refusal-to-Recuse-himself
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28McNamee%27s_Refusal_to_Recuse_himself%29

content:
<p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/11/15/mcnamees-refusal-recuse-himself-considering-his-own-coal-bailout-plan?cd-origin=rss">McNamee’s Refusal to Recuse Himself From Considering His Own [Company's] Coal Bailout Plan Disqualifies Him for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission</a>.</p>
<p>He would be a lousy choice even if he were not blatantly corrupt.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: bc0bb3918ce0b42315a41ce79432509e
title: Fethullah Gulen punishment
uri: Fethullah-Gulen-punishment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Fethullah_Gulen_punishment%29
content:
<p><a href="http://feeds.dailykosmedia.com/~r/dailykosofficial/~3/tsWzUWJrSrQ/1813387">The cheater's staff is looking for ways to hand over Fethullah Gulen to Erdoğan for punishment</a>, as a bribe so Erdoğan will stop trying to hold the acting monarch of Salafi Arabia responsible for murdering Jamal Khashoggi.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 4a895f5c555fc3e4181e04be265edf90
title: British activists block flight
uri: British-activists-block-flight
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28British_activists_block_flight%29

content:
<p>British activists that blocked a deportation flight with nonviolent interference <a href="https://theintercept.com/2018/11/17/stansted-deportation-flights-uk/">are threatened with life inprisonment</a>.</p>
<p>The activists are accused of blocking the runway, but they are not the ones who did that.  It was the state.  The state followed a policy of maximum overreaction, based on the worst imaginable case, which it had every reason to know was not occurring.  It can't justly blame its overreaction on the activists.</p>
<p>The article explains that the UK denies some deportees the right to appeal decisions, and cheats others out of that right by deporting them illegally fast.</p>
</li></p>


feed_id: 42950bd7fe9b4380682dfcf351835182
title: Urgent: Oak Flat land swamp
uri: Urgent-Oak-Flat-land-swamp
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Oak_Flat_land_swamp%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/oak_flat_2019">call
on Congress</a> to cancel the Oak Flat land swap, which would turn
over land to a multinational mining company that is likely to spread
pollution.
</p>
<p>
It is also considered sacred by an indigenous group.  For me, that
carries less weight; they didn't live in the area until after 1600.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: b33c344e4e152eae0db7680d45eda645
title: Urgent: Line 3 oil pipeline
uri: Urgent-Line-3-oil-pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Line_3_oil_pipeline%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.climatetruth.org/sign/stop-line-3-pipeline/">oppose</a>
the Line 3 tar sands oil pipeline.
</p>
<p>
I put this into the comment field.
<blockquote>
Grave as the local dangers of the Line 3 pipeline are, its global
danger is even worse. Just when we need to drastically reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, this pipeline would lead to increasing them.
</blockquote>
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: a5fcd9cd16c0f125166aab0d33c8eb09
title: Recycling plastic
uri: Recycling-plastic
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Recycling_plastic%29
content:
<p>
Recycling plastic is technically
difficult.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/12/plastic-waste-recycling-throwaway-culture">Only
a tiny fraction</a> of the plastic that is collected for "recycling"
is actually recycled.


feed_id: d3e2c2141c3a9a8d7186d7e9ac76ca1c
title: Human rights advocates
uri: Human-rights-advocates
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Human_rights_advocates%29
content:
<p>
President Maduro of Venezuela
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jan/03/venezuela-human-rights-arrests-nicolas-maduro">arresting
human rights advocates</a> even if they have not engaged in partisan
politics, for criticizing his policies.
<p>
The US government has
started <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/jan/04/trump-administration-un-human-rights-violations">ignoring
UN complaints</a> about US violations of human rights.
<p>
This is, in effect, dismisses the defense of human rights.  It
will encourage human rights violation all around the world.
<p>
It will encourage China to brazenly imprison both Chinese citizens and
foreign visitors
under <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/04/china-thinks-it-can-arbitrarily-detain-anyone-it-is-time-for-change">torture
and brainwashing conditions</a> almost as bad as in Guantanamo.


feed_id: 7d93fa38af8edac917c609467cef1fc7
title: Housing in California
uri: Housing-in-California
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Housing_in_California%29
content:
<p>
Short-sighted insurance and zoning regulations are pushing California
housing away from the cities where there are jobs,
and <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2019/01/04/hey-california-stop-encouragin">into
fire-prone areas</a> where fire insurance will not be available in the
future at any price.


feed_id: b0f60dc7b55d6b48a60a3b5a782f2723
title: Imprisoned in China
uri: Imprisoned-in-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Imprisoned_in_China%29
content:
<p>
Canada says
that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/04/canada-says-13-citizens-detained-in-china-since-huawei-cfos-arrest">around
200 Canadians</a> are under arrest or in prison in China, but that's
the usual amount and doesn't seem to represent arbitrary retaliation.
<p>
Whether it is retaliation or not, the crucial point is that people
arrested in China, whatever the motive, don't get a fair trial, and
sometimes no trial at all.  And they may be tortured.
<p>
I <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-may-aug.html#29_July_2017_(Guantanamo_zero_evidence_torture)">wish
I could say</a> that my country never did such things.


feed_id: b63cb494e609c16c99e5023c28cd5e8d
title: 'Green death' movement
uri: Green-death-movement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28%27Green_death%27_movement%29
content:
<p>
The <a href="https://earther.gizmodo.com/i-dug-a-green-grave-and-learned-the-truth-about-the-dir-1831175305">"green
death" movement</a> encourages letting human corpses decay and push up
daisies, and trees, rather than embalming them so that they will
remain unchanged for thousands of years.


feed_id: 4ab7033daa2e12090793ce75dc7b5dd4
title: US puppets
uri: US-puppets
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28US_puppets%29
content:
<p>
The US empire treats nominally independent countries as puppets.  One
of the worst
examples <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/03/hidden-structure-us-empire">is
from Bosnia</a>.  The US pressured it to exile naturalized citizens,
often hand them over for torture &mdash; in Egypt, in Guantanamo,
elsewhere.
<p>
The US labeled them enemies because they had fought for the Bosnian
Muslims motivated by their religion.  This doesn't imply they
supported al-Qa'ida.  But even if they did, they should not have been
punished like this, disregarding laws, whether or not they committed
any crime.
<p>
I think the article's very short aside about the civil war in Syria is
one-sided.
<p>
Meng Wanzhou faces an extradition hearing in which Canada is obligated
to demand evidence of specific crimes &mdash; exactly what the
Bosnians deserved but did not get.


feed_id: 786cb588cad1383b05533500179a948b
title: Institute for Statecraft
uri: Institute-for-Statecraft
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Institute_for_Statecraft%29
content:
<p>
A supposed UK "charity", the "Institute for
Statecraft", <a href="https://grayzoneproject.com/2018/12/17/inside-the-temple-of-covert-propaganda-the-integrity-initiative-and-the-uks-scandalous-information-war/">disguises
the location</a> of its headquarters, as well as the fact that its
funding comes from the state and its director is a colonel in military
intelligence.  Its mission is to correct "fake news" by spreading
other news, which we must suspect is a mixture of truth and falsehood.


feed_id: b5589b715b27901eb461b04d11a8b249
title: 'Reeducation' camps
uri: Reeducation-camps
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28%27Reeducation%27_camps%29
content:
<p>
Chinese "reeducation" camps in Xinjing are making clothing that is
<a href="https://apnews.com/99016849cddb4b99a048b863b52c28cb">exported
to US schools</a> and sports teams.


feed_id: 1ea78c73b9d0751ca8a7397f3f141b91
title: Thugs stationed in high schools
uri: Thugs-stationed-in-high-schools
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Thugs_stationed_in_high_schools%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">Thugs</a> permanently stationed in high schools offer the US government a
pipeline to information about students, to collect trivia which might
or might not label them as "gang associates".  People are often
<a href="https://features.propublica.org/ms-13-immigrant-students/huntington-school-deportations-ice-honduras/">arrested
because of this labeling</a>.
<p>
Some of the students thus labeled do participate in gangs' crimes.
Some do not.  The supposed signs are a basis only for suspicion,
but they are treated as more.
<p>
It is an injustice to punish people for unidentified possible crimes,
without proof of any one.  It is an injustice to punish people for
what they draw when they doodle, or for "association" at all.


feed_id: d427945e7c94a4feb18265737c2c1a64
title: Single mothers in debtors' prisons
uri: Single-mothers-in-debtors-prisons
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Single_mothers_in_debtors%27_prisons%29

content:
<p>
Single mothers
are <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/racial-justice/race-and-criminal-justice/single-moms-get-sucked-cruelest-debtors-prison-weveP">especially
likely</a> to get caught in US debtors' prisons.  Sooner or later, the
day comes when they can't pay a fine and take care of their children.


feed_id: ec904f6adaed763558f4f83bff29455c
title: Google's surveillance
uri: Google-s-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Google%27s_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
Collecting the many ways Google is involved with US government
surveillance, abroad and in the US, amounts
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/dec/20/googles-earth-how-the-tech-giant-is-helping-the-state-spy-on-us">quite
a package</a>.


feed_id: a839d914fb03b47960f98b13396500aa
title: Selling surveillance systems
uri: Selling-surveillance-systems
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Selling_surveillance_systems%29
content:
<p>
A <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40276568">giant
British arms company</a> sold sophisticated whole-country surveillance
systems to repressive regimes.


feed_id: 572062c26debee766005991b09109114
title: Undermining Medicare for All
uri: Undermining-Medicare-for-All
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Undermining_Medicare_for_All%29
content:
<p>
The opponents of Medicare for All want
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/03/now-everybody-medicare-all-opponents-say-lets-dilute-it">undermine
the plan</a> with changes that would make it more expensive by letting
companies sell coverage to young, healthy people.


feed_id: 03244ae73c9a313cc68e39b0c94fb817
title: Toyota robots
uri: Toyota-robots
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Toyota_robots%29
content:
<p>
Toyota wants to design robots that "know what people are thinking".
Not by telepathy, of course, but
by <a href="https://www.industryweek.com/technology-and-iiot/toyota-wants-put-robot-every-home-and-make-it-your-pal">watching
and listening to them</a> all the time.
<p>
It is not just the robot that will know.  So will Toyota's data
center, and any entity or government that Toyota gives access to, or
that contrives to take the data.
<p>
Unless the robot's software is under your control, don't think of it
as your "pal".


feed_id: b5cc8ebf359f572ffd7dcd8a9c5f1aa7
title: Restoring net neutrality
uri: Restoring-net-neutrality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#31_January_2019_%28Restoring_net_neutrality%29
content:
<p>
The fight to restore network neutrality is not over.  Democrats will
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/01/02/fight-net-neutrality-continues-congress-exposes-its-own-corruption">make
Ajit Pai testify</a> about lying about the fraudulent comments that
supported his actions.
<p>
If you want to look in battleforthenet.com/scoreboard for how each
member of Congress voted, you can do that without running nonfree
Javascript by clicking
on <a href="https://battleforthenet.com/scoreboard/all">VIEW FULL
SCOREBOARD</a>.


feed_id: 889c4ba0e75a0d62408d76c110dfe570
title: Medical diagnoses
uri: Medical-diagnoses
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_February_2019_%28Medical_diagnoses%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/30/facebook-is-predicting-if-youll-kill-yourself-thats-wrong">Devices and platforms</a>, using AI, are making medical diagnoses
but the companies that get the information claim not to be covered
by medical regulations for protecting patients.


feed_id: 60f2cf4450cfa669ec47e323bc7e853a
title: Deregistered charity
uri: Deregistered-charity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_February_2019_%28Deregistered_charity%29
content:
<p>
Canada has deregistered a "charity" which contributed funds to
<a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/4893430/canada-charity-jewish-group-foreig-armed-forces/">military training in Israel and to Israeli use of Palestinian land</a>,


feed_id: bb99fa8642a2b93bf50866616b45065c
title: Expel
uri: Expel
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_February_2019_%28Expel%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://imemc.org/article/israel-plans-to-expel-36000-negev-bedouins/">Israel Plans to Expel 36,000 Negev Bedouins</a> (from the villages
which Israel says are unauthorized).


feed_id: 3cadf46133f9a2599a10aa274b1b3b1a
title: Veto over research
uri: Veto-over-research
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_February_2019_%28Veto_over_research%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/31/us-academics-feel-the-invisible-hand-of-politicians-and-big-agriculture">Big Agriculture</a> is giving a lot of money to universities, and
exercising
a veto over research.
<p>
This is one of the many ways in which big companies endanger everyone.


feed_id: 9d0b01d831b98196854f10ed9b3b62f0
title: Engine for equality
uri: Engine-for-equality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_February_2019_%28Engine_for_equality%29
content:
<p>
A <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/31/world-bank-imf-bretton-woods-banking-keynes">vision
    for how the World Bank could be converted</a> into a beneficent
engine for equality.
<p>
However, what is more likely is that the bully will use it as another
weapon for plutocrats.


feed_id: 0682fa23e9d0e601e60cc8751ccf3de0
title: Get Around Sanctions
uri: Get-Around-Sanctions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_February_2019_%28Get_Around_Sanctions%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/31/europe-sets-up-scheme-to-get-round-us-sanctions-on-iran">Europe Sets Up Scheme</a> to Get Round US Sanctions on Iran.
<p>
Sanctions can be justified or not, but I can't see why other countries
should or would allow the US to unilaterally compel them to impose
sanctions on some other country.


feed_id: cce057fa9aa21ae5211af34a54bc4e4c
title: Israeli teenager charged with killing Palestinian
uri: Israeli-teenager-charged-with-killing-Palestinian
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#3_February_2019_%28Israeli_teenager_charged_with_killing_Palestinian%29

content:
<p>
An Israeli teenager has been 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/24/israeli-teen-charged-with-manslaughter-in-stoning-of-palestinian-car">charged
with killing a Palestinian by throwing a rock</a> at the car she was
in.


feed_id: 9c4ccad8c3c0477ef1d56bed59def80a
title: Protester surveilled by UK thugs
uri: Protester-surveilled-by-UK-thugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#3_February_2019_%28Protester_surveilled_by_UK_thugs%29

content:
<p>
Persistent protester John Catt was surveilled for decades by UK <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>
because of his politics.  He has now 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/24/john-catt-protester-wins-fight-to-wipe-political-activities-from-police-database">won
a court order telling them to delete their records about him</a> from
a secret surveillance database.
<p>
Since the database is secret, how will we know if they really delete
it?


feed_id: c719a54e2aaa329a2eec0328f062d128
title: Powerful new opioids allowed by FDA
uri: Powerful-new-opioids-allowed-by-FDA
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#3_February_2019_%28Powerful_new_opioids_allowed_by_FDA%29

content:
<p>
The FDA seems 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/24/fda-opioids-big-pharma-prescriptions">unwilling
to restrain drug companies</a> from introducing powerful new opioids.


feed_id: 5f6c192bd653480f0e390a2cddc1c30d
title: Sea level rise
uri: 2019-02-03-Sea-level-rise
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#3_February_2019_%28Sea_level_rise%29
content:
<p>
As sea level rises, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/31/california-coastal-habitats-existential-threat-rising-seas">coastal
wetlands will have to move inland</a> or the ecosystems and their
species will be lost.  To preserve them requires making human
activities move out of the way.


feed_id: 740a908e5bac95b5850371ba07190e1c
title: US tests face-recognizing on street
uri: US-tests-face-recognizing-on-street
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#3_February_2019_%28US_tests_face-recognizing_on_street%29

content:
<p>
The US has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jun/05/facial-recognition-us-mexico-border-crossing">secretly
tested</a> face-recognizing everyone on the street.
<p>
At a border crossing is perhaps the one place where the use of face
recognition is not oppressive.  To enter the US, each person will be
required to show an identity document anyway.
<p>
Using face recognition to systematically identify people on the street
anywhere else should be illegal outside of special cases.


feed_id: 3d3750972c3fa990f709ca780dffe102
title: Very urgent: State of the Union
uri: Very-urgent-State-of-the-Union
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Very_urgent%3A_State_of_the_Union%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/dems-dontgo-SOTU-2019">call
on Democrats</a> to boycott the State of the Union speech.
</p>
<p>
Blocking the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> from speaking to Congress was a good lever against him,
but since Pelosi conceded on this in exchange for only temporarily reopening
the government, come Feb 15 she will have the same problem again and won't
have this lever to use.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: ddce939088d6cf9597c5905fd952add6
title: Urgent: Facial recognition
uri: Urgent-Facial-recognition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Facial_recognition%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://act.demandprogress.org/sign/tell-amazon-microsoft-and-google-dont-sell-facial-recognition-technology-any-governments/">call
on Amazon, Microsoft, Google</a>, not to sell facial recognition
technology to governments.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 906b1a1485aba4d19f287d4c9037c437
title: Urgent: Strip-searching students
uri: Urgent-Strip-searching-students
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Strip-searching_students%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/binghamton/">oppose
strip-searching students</a> for appearing "giddy".
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 497c83d420314b0598d071ca4652d6d6
title: Glaciers in the Alps
uri: Glaciers-in-the-Alps
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Glaciers_in_the_Alps%29
content:
<p>
Famous glaciers in the Alps, depicted in famous
paintings, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/jan/06/climate-change-ravages-turner-majestic-glaciers-ruskin--alps-emma-stibbon-exhibition">have
disappeared</a>.
By 2100 the Alps are likely to be bare peaks.


feed_id: d3d07986635e9337d5ae915a158e28bf
title: Strike in Zimbabwe
uri: Strike-in-Zimbabwe
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Strike_in_Zimbabwe%29
content:
<p>
Doctors
are <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/04/doctors-strike-zimbabwe-government-imposes-austerity-attract-more-chinese">on
strike in Zimbabwe</a> because the new dictator is squeezing the
people to attract Chinese and other international "investment".
<p>
Lending to the dictators of poor countries is, in effect, buying an
opportunity to squeeze that money out of the people later.


feed_id: f57a4ee3dbef607a786b148d4af1cac4
title: David Sirota
uri: David-Sirota
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28David_Sirota%29
content:
<p>
David Sirota, who reported on Beto O'Rourke's fossil fuel funding and
his more-right-wing-than-most-Democrats voting record in Congress, is
the <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/04/factual-reporting-david-sirota-stirred-epic-freakout">target
of systematic attacks</a> by the supporters of plutocratist Democrats.


feed_id: 2790ed5ee5e9f1b9a669bfe6c3c30857
title: Tax rates
uri: Tax-rates
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Tax_rates%29
content:
<p>
Ocasio-Cortez <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/04/call-me-radical-ocasio-cortez-suggests-70-tax-rate-ultra-rich-help-pay-green-new">advocates
high tax rates</a> for the highest income bracket.
<p>
This is a step in the right direction, but to succeed at taxing the
rich more than a few percent we need to change laws for tax shelters.
<p>
Getting Congressional Democrats to support things like this will
require <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/04/what-expect-house-democrats">pressuring
them continually</a>.


feed_id: dcc7f46938e83a2ee1b24449eb552a90
title: Paygo rule
uri: Paygo-rule
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Paygo_rule%29
content:
<p>
Some progressive House Democrats negotiated to make the paygo rule
weaker, <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/04/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-pay-go/">then
voted for it</a>.
<p>
Maybe they achieved something significant with that negotiation.
Perhaps they did help the progressive cause.  To judge that depends
on what they could have achieved by voting no, and I don't know that.
<p>
I don't think this should reduce our criticism of the plutocratist
Democrats.


feed_id: 2c41d84045cf9c3aeba382a06bb55523
title: Waiting asylum seekers
uri: Waiting-asylum-seekers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Waiting_asylum_seekers%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> talks of making asylum seekers wait in Mexico for years for
their cases to be considered, but the
US <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/05/mexico-us-immigration-policy-overhaul">needs
Mexico's approval</a> for this, and Mexico could not cope with it.


feed_id: 2814d518afd3a50611e4b18a6fd2792c
title: Maduro
uri: Maduro
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Maduro%29
content:
<p>
Right-wing governments in the
Americas <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/04/nicolas-maduro-venezuela-rebuke-foreign-ministers-lima-group">made
a joint statement</a> calling on Maduro to step down.
The article does not say that the countries named are all
right-wing, but that is the case.  Brazil, in particular, is now led
by a man that seems to aim to outdo Maduro in repression.
<p>
Nonetheless, I too am suspicious of Maduro's latest election.


feed_id: cd369aa58b9ec978059b89476f51c761
title: Importing asbestos
uri: Importing-asbestos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Importing_asbestos%29
content:
<p>
The US is importing increasing amounts of asbestos.  The
EPA <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/01/03/trump-epa-moves-shield-info-asbestos-imports-and-use-public">rejected
a call</a> for more reporting about the imports.


feed_id: 833602b973424b5271b920c45534989d
title: US ground troops
uri: US-ground-troops
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28US_ground_troops%29
content:
<p>
Removing some US ground troops from other countries could be a first
step towards peace, but to really reach peace
requires <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/03/loose-cannon-peace">ending
the aerial bombardment</a>.


feed_id: 08b987191e0b3b18ad17d9b1053c8d22
title: Right to drive in Salafi Arabia
uri: Right-to-drive-in-Salafi-Arabia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Right_to_drive_in_Salafi_Arabia%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>
should <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/04/the-guardian-view-on-saudi-arabias-jailed-activists-let-them-go">free
the women</a> who campaigned for the right to drive a car.


feed_id: 0d3f721de271b7b516e17fb7629a0b15
title: Abortion in Ireland
uri: 2019-02-03-Abortion-in-Ireland
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Abortion_in_Ireland%29
content:
<p>
Now that Ireland has abortion services, religious fanatics are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/04/activists-protest-against-irelands-new-abortion-services">blocking
patients</a> and spreading disinformation with phony web sites.


feed_id: e65cd8309094daaa8a637723a84e42b7
title: The French on equality
uri: The-French-on-equality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28The_French_on_equality%29
content:
<p>
The French regard equality as a positive value.  Most Americans have
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/04/what-could-french-yellow-vests-teach-us-about-ourselves">accepted
the story</a> that they deserve suffering if they lose the game, even
though plutocrats have stacked the deck against them.


feed_id: 958e735923a9e5a3e2b224b8524313fa
title: Allergy beliefs
uri: Allergy-beliefs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Allergy_beliefs%29
content:
<p>
Half of Americans that believe they are allergic to some kind of food
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/04/half-of-people-who-think-they-have-a-food-allergy-do-not-study">not
really allergic</a> to it.


feed_id: a1eedd263988c6be6c95fd0c97660ad5
title: DR Congo election
uri: DR-Congo-election
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28DR_Congo_election%29
content:
<p>
The Democratic Republic of the Congo held an election, but the
government
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/04/congo-catholic-church-knows-election-clear-winner-drc-us-african">not
saying who won</a>.


feed_id: b39722fba3ad1563825bbcd32b7352e3
title: Cell tower simulators
uri: 2019-02-03-Cell-tower-simulators
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Cell_tower_simulators%29
content:
<p>
If you use a cell phone in the US, you can be tracked and listened to
by the US government, the Russian government, and the Chinese
government, <a href="https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/422778-are-the-chinese-and-russians-listening-to-your-phone-calls">using
cell tower simulators</a>.
<p>
I am surprised that the US government cannot find them.  They are
radio transmitters; it should be possible to see which direction
the signal is coming from.


feed_id: 4fe77dd7e58d831dffee202e832153dd
title: Hindu fanatics
uri: 2019-02-03-Hindu-fanatics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Hindu_fanatics%29
content:
<p>
The Indian women who visited a temple, from which women of a fertile
age were banned, have been 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/23/woman-indian-temple-family-sabarimala-kerala">forced
to hide from violence by Hindu fanatics</a>, and by their own
relatives.


feed_id: 235b20bbaf234104ce135ee6b951a026
title: US sanctions
uri: US-sanctions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28US_sanctions%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a>'s 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/23/huawei-executive-detained-canada-extradition-us">statement
of political motives</a> for charging Huawei executive Mang Wanzhou
provide legal arguments for Canada to refuse to extradite her to the
US.
<p>
I distrust Huawei products; I suspect them of spying for China.  (US
companies are known to spy for the US; under the PAT RIOT Act, they
are compelled to.)
<p>
However, the case against Ms Mang has nothing to do with privacy or
spying.  It is about allegedly violating US sanctions on trade with
Iran, sanctions which the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> applied in order to destroy the
nonnuclear deal with Iran.  It is arrogant for the US to try to make
foreign countries follow US sanctions.


feed_id: 5a37021b9fcd59e174179776c1735ec6
title: Forcible exile of citizen
uri: Forcible-exile-of-citizen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Forcible_exile_of_citizen%29
content:
<p>
Australia has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/29/neil-prakash-stripped-of-australian-citizenship">canceled
the citizenship</a> of Neil Prakash, on the pretext that supposedly he
should be entitled to citizenship in Fiji.
<p>
The article does not say whether Prakash has ever been in Fiji.  I get
the impression that he has only a theoretical relationship with that
country.  Is there any reason to believe that Fiji will recognize him
as a citizen?  Since he appears to be a violent Islamist, it might
not.  Then he would be stateless.
<p>
Even if that doesn't happen this time, it will happen to someone else.
<p>
If Prakash is guilty of the crimes that are alleged, they are grounds
for putting him in prison.  But countries should never forcibly exile
their citizens.


feed_id: d368df71f98ded6e6b8780426147534e
title: Microrobots for oil pipeline inspection
uri: Microrobots-for-oil-pipeline-inspection
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#2_February_2019_%28Microrobots_for_oil_pipeline_inspection%29

content:
<p>
Microrobots to inspect oil pipelines 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/31/uk-invests-millions-in-micro-robots-able-to-work-in-dangerous-sites">could
be very useful</a>, but experience shows that oil companies 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#25_April_2015_(After_the_Big_Spill)">would
rather cut corners than spend money to inspect</a>.


feed_id: 372dc9d41386fe90c6997450740bcbf7
title: Engine for equality
uri: 2019-02-03-Engine-for-equality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#1_February_2019_%28Engine_for_equality%29
content:
<p>
A <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/31/world-bank-imf-bretton-woods-banking-keynes">vision
    for how the World Bank could be converted</a> into a beneficent
engine for equality.
<p>
However, what is more likely is that the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> will use it as another
weapon for plutocrats.


feed_id: 82363defd51c7c6e0efadb210e7c1991
title: Urgent: Repression of immigrants
uri: Urgent-Repression-of-immigrants
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Repression_of_immigrants%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.amnestyusa.org/page/16725/action/1">call
on Congress</a> to reject more repression of immigrants and more
surveillance of everyone in the name of repression of immigrants.
</p>
<p>If you send a message, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 4868d7d6c2be594df15343c655a59332
title: Urgent: Impeach Kavanaugh
uri: 2019-02-04-Urgent-Impeach-Kavanaugh
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Impeach_Kavanaugh%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/impeach-kavanaugh">call
on Congress</a> to investigate and impeach Kavanaugh for perjury.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 3a90e806ea072f21d1461201ddc23333
title: Urgent: Special Counsel Transparency Act
uri: Urgent-Special-Counsel-Transparency-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Special_Counsel_Transparency_Act%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/senate-protect-mueller">call
on Senate Republicans</a> to pass the Special Counsel Transparency
Act.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: da63ee4c3466be0bf247ef94d337f78c
title: Mandatory arbitration
uri: Mandatory-arbitration
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Mandatory_arbitration%29
content:
<p>
US states
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/08/forced-arbitration-sexual-harassment-metoo">starting
to prohibit companies</a> from imposing mandatory arbitration, and
nondisclosure, in sexual harassment cases.
<p>
But that is not enough.  Companies should not be allowed to impose
arbitration or nondisclosure on their workers or customers for any sort
of dispute.


feed_id: b71dd5f1ff1d1a556ed2379d7549f638
title: Definition of poverty
uri: Definition-of-poverty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Definition_of_poverty%29
content:
<p>
The US government definition of poverty is far too low; the real
number of poor
people <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/07/best-definition-poverty-rate-should-be-tripled">is
much larger</a> than what the government says.


feed_id: cffdabc7170e696f02aa3c066f87eef3
title: Sunrise Movement
uri: Sunrise-Movement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Sunrise_Movement%29
content:
<p>
The Sunrise Movement
is <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/07/nationwide-tour-targeting-untapped-youth-power-sunrise-movement-aims-make-green-new">planning
political campaigning</a> to pressure Democrats in Congress to support
the Green New Deal.
<p>
This is vitally important &mdash; we need it to win by the 2020
election.


feed_id: 8b81325c60b5147dc40eac3d55b8fd7d
title: Climate Risk Disclosure Act
uri: Climate-Risk-Disclosure-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Climate_Risk_Disclosure_Act%29
content:
<p>
The <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/07/senator-warrens-push-climate-risk-disclosure">Climate
Risk Disclosure Act</a> would require publicly traded corporations to
disclose how their business is threatened by <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a>.


feed_id: 7608fa44eab93c8897f8199cac0ef416
title: Overprotective upbringing
uri: Overprotective-upbringing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Overprotective_upbringing%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://letgrow.org/a-helicoptered-young-man-writes-to-us/">An
American reports</a> on the harmful effects of his overprotective
upbringing.
<p>
He may have a chance to to make people a few years younger than him
aware of these problems, and they can spread the word.


feed_id: 64fb223f533e1865598c69938fee3d10
title: UK bus cuts
uri: UK-bus-cuts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28UK_bus_cuts%29
content:
<p>
Due to bus cuts in the UK, many areas of the country have no bus
services.  Poor people living there cannot get to work or to medical
appointments.  Most ironically, unemployed people will
be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/07/need-to-sign-on-youll-have-to-walk-24-miles-to-jobcentre">unable
to get to the jobcenter</a> unless they can walk long distances.


feed_id: 7472452bda0b4cde97c23e2ea791721c
title: Tip of the heatberg
uri: Tip-of-the-heatberg
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Tip_of_the_heatberg%29
content:
<p>
Heating of the atmosphere and the surface is just the tip of the
heatberg; 90% of
heating <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/07/global-warming-of-oceans-equivalent-to-an-atomic-bomb-per-second">goes
into the ocean</a>.


feed_id: e8a3d35cbd7e5f997b73c48f9aee85d9
title: UK undercover thug
uri: UK-undercover-thug
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28UK_undercover_thug%29
content:
<p>
A UK undercover <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a>, infiltrating animal rights groups, lied to the
women he had long-term relationships with &mdash; and
then <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/06/police-spy-confuses-inquiry-about-sexual-relations-with-two-women">lied
to an official inquiry</a> about it.
<p>
The first wrong was infiltrating opposition groups at all.


feed_id: 5322d5f574aba5145f48d03c1b6250d4
title: Arbitrary searches in India
uri: Arbitrary-searches-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Arbitrary_searches_in_India%29
content:
<p>
India has abolished the idea of privacy, and protection against
arbitrary searches, by authorizing many government agencies
to <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/all-computers-can-now-be-monitored-by-govt-agencies/article25792523.ece">seize
data and decryption keys</a> from any computer.  Individuals as well
as businesses are required to obey on pain of imprisonment.  No court
order is required.
<p>
This means that India has effectively abolished the principle of not
being forced to incriminate oneself.
<p>
The tendency to digitize and remember all communication tends to
eliminate physical privacy.  It is natural that grasping governments,
which put their authority above human rights, will use this as an
excuse to eliminate legal privacy.


feed_id: c3d5a227e24d372b3591b5450583ccd7
title: War against Gaza
uri: War-against-Gaza
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28War_against_Gaza%29
content:
<p>
It
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/07/ten-years-first-war-gaza-operation-cast-lead-israel-brute-force">ten
years since</a> Israel launched a war against Gaza and killed 1400
people.
Israeli generals call bombarding Gaza "mowing the lawn", in effect asserting
that the human beings there are no more than leaves of grass.


feed_id: 10e5fe25f3bdbd4108e170709f1823b6
title: Identity of the messenger
uri: Identity-of-the-messenger
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Identity_of_the_messenger%29
content:
<p>
Progressive Ideas Matter to Voters. So Why Do Democrats Fixate on the
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/07/democratic-ideology/">Identity
of the Messenger</a>?


feed_id: af0016f34fe3d66f6ab40028f33d0471
title: Car searches around US border
uri: Car-searches-around-US-border
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Car_searches_around_US_border%29
content:
<p>
The US border <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> have a long list of excuses for searching any car
within miles of the US border.  For every car, there is an excuse if
they want it.  This is only part of
a <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/07/cbp-border-patrol-enforcement-law-course/">system
of repression</a>.


feed_id: 2bca3c71dfe17462c631da627e51d9a8
title: Social isolation
uri: 2019-02-04-Social-isolation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Social_isolation%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/06/social-exclusion-radicalisation-brain-scans">Research
suggests</a> that a sense of social isolation might be an important
factor in radicalizing Islamists.
<p>
<a href="http://cosmicshambles.com/words/blogs/deanburnett/why-brain-scans-cannot-show-that-someone-will-become-a-jihadist">The
article exaggerates</a> how much the study shows.
<p>
The first counterargument is valid but not pertinent.  If everyone
tends to feel hurt when subject to social exclusion, that doesn't
refute the idea that it can contribute to Islamist radicalization.  It
could help radicalize people in different groups for different causes.
<p>
The study discussed (without a reference) is not proof of the
conjecture, but the conjecture could be true.  If it is, that suggests
action that could help reduce violence, not limited to the extreme
which is terrorism.  Namely, to help reduce society's tendency to
cause feelings of social exclusion.


feed_id: 02937c6f702feb70443d85e4b2d7b844
title: Heads of US departments
uri: Heads-of-US-departments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Heads_of_US_departments%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">The cheater</a> has decided to bypass getting the heads of departments
approved by the Senate
by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/06/trump-acting-cabinet-members-give-him-more-flexibility">leaving
them as "acting" heads</a>.


feed_id: 445dfc49d2d5cf1a39979678c2a114a1
title: Earthquakes warning system
uri: Earthquakes-warning-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Earthquakes_warning_system%29
content:
<p>
Los Angeles set up an earthquakes warning
system, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/03/earthquake-early-warning-app-los-angeles-shakealertla">for
snoopphone users only</a>.


feed_id: c246be43a5daba4fd8b1f164e63245fb
title: Money, Job, Marriage myth
uri: Money-Job-Marriage-myth
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Money%2C_Job%2C_Marriage_myth%29
content:
<p>
The 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jan/06/happiness-index-wellbeing-survey-uk-population-paul-dolan-happy-ever-after">Money,
Job, Marriage Myth</a>: Are You Happy Yet?


feed_id: 865850e02cde512ba2a9d88e5246115e
title: Penury and despair due to debts
uri: Penury-and-despair-due-to-debts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Penury_and_despair_due_to_debts%29

content:
<p>
The limitations on bankruptcy in the Czech Republic are driving
almost 8% of the population into penury and despair due to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/06/czech-democracy-threat-debt-crisis">debts
they have no hope of paying</a>.
<p>
This sort of has happened to many in the US with student debt, ever
since the US made it impossible to get out of that debt through
bankruptcy.
<p>
In Spain, an unknown number of people are "fiscally dead", which means
they cannot work other than underground because their income would be
seized for debt.  If you have a mortgage on a house and can't pay it,
you will lose the house but be stuck with the debt for the rest of
your life.


feed_id: 4452c4e35238a38f8bc9f8b8353234ad
title: British industrial policy
uri: British-industrial-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28British_industrial_policy%29
content:
<p>
The 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/06/chris-grayling-i-salute-you-as-a-titan-of-enterprise-and-innovation">brilliance
of British industrial policy</a> is often hard for us to appreciate.


feed_id: 58af9cd9914c9df5e484bf1ef09a76a7
title: DNA testing
uri: DNA-testing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28DNA_testing%29
content:
<p>
A woman that has been in a coma in a hospital for a decade had a baby.
The search for who raped her 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/05/phoenix-police-woman-coma-decade-gives-birth-boy">might
involve taking DNA samples from all the male employees</a>.
<p>
15 years ago, if I were not the father of the baby, I would have seen
no reason to object to the testing of my DNA.  It would have shown I
was not the guilty party, and that's all it would have done.
<p>
Nowadays, I would be concerned about possible harm that might come to
me as a result of having my DNA on file, regardless of why they had
taken it.


feed_id: f73dd9131858405592bb1fed09340575
title: The First Step Act
uri: The-First-Step-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28The_First_Step_Act%29
content:
<p>
The First Step Act 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/04/its-time-get-serious-about-prison-reform">needs
to be followed by more steps</a>.  The US imprisons far too many
people, and puts many in solitary for years, even subjecting many to
physical torture.


feed_id: 44a06d2e192920cd41048fc42f754502
title: HR.1
uri: HR-1
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28HR.1%29
content:
<p>
The bill HR.1 would 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/04/democrats-congress-unveil-ambitious-plan-fix-our-election-system">fix
dozens of cracks and loopholes in US democracy</a>.
<p>
I support all of them, except one:
<blockquote>
Preventing states from imposing restrictions on voting by mail;
</blockquote>
I am concerned that your boss or your spouse might force you to vote
by mail, and use that to compel you to vote as <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#perse">perse</a> wants.  Many US
companies and managers 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#26_January_2019_(Employee_vote_persuasion)">try
to tell their staff how to vote</a>, and lying about what you did in
the voting booth is your defense, which you would lose if you can vote
by mail instead.  I don't understand this item:
<blockquote>
Affirming Congress’s right to restore the Voting Rights Act of
1965, which granted the Justice Department veto power over
jurisdictions with histories of voting discrimination;
</blockquote>
It is important to restore the Voting Rights Act, but does this bill
do so, or does it only insist that Congress _could_ do so?
<p>
It will be hard to pass this bill; Republicans will oppose it.
But they may lose the next election due to opposing it.


feed_id: 19c2dde046f3f95f53d2801db8f92d72
title: dooH niboR in Brazil
uri: dooH-niboR-in-Brazil
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28dooH_niboR_in_Brazil%29
content:
<p>
Brazil's new president <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#doohnibor">dooH niboR</a> plans to 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/04/bolsonaro-unveils-mass-privatization-plan-brazil-while-slashing-taxes-rich-and-wages">reduce
the minimum wage for the poor, and reduce taxes for the rich</a>.
<p>
He gets his support, like the numbskull in the US, mainly from people
who practice a reversed sect of Christianity: hate thy poor neighbors
and obey the powerful.


feed_id: 0b0c0bc2e0179e6af78acd772b4efbff
title: Sabotaging the US
uri: Sabotaging-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Sabotaging_the_US%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">The bully</a> could sabotage the US in many ways 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/04/i-can-do-it-if-i-want-trump-threatens-declare-national-emergency-build-border-wall">by
declaring a state of emergency</a>.  He would have many powers that he
could use against any target of his choice.


feed_id: eec5bfcd9ae1c211d2f3e2f61f352f72
title: Students strike for Earth's climate
uri: Students-strike-for-Earth-s-climate
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Students_strike_for_Earths_climate%29

content:
<p>
60,000 students around the world went on strike recently 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/24/school-strikes-over-climate-change-continue-to-snowball">demanding
action to defend Earth's climate</a>.


feed_id: 9dbc46040acad3aedbb7abf9afe7f4fc
title: Building social cohesion
uri: Building-social-cohesion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Building_social_cohesion%29
content:
<p>
Local gathering places can build social cohesion by offering a place
for people to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/24/neighbourhood-project-barking-dagenham">mix
with neighbors that are not similar to them</a>, people that they
would not meet in interest-based activities.


feed_id: b375655c417449f6290221e514746fc7
title: White House "press briefings"
uri: White-House-press-briefings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28White_House_press_briefings%29
content:
<p>
White House "press briefings" are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/31/white-house-press-briefings-demise">becoming
once-a-month events</a>.  Perhaps they will disappear entirely.
<p>
Since they are used only to present lies, that would be no loss.
President Sanders could bring them back.


feed_id: e684ea9737305ca0f7ecda3ae6c5d82e
title: DACA in exchange for border wall funding
uri: DACA-in-exchange-for-border-wall-funding
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28DACA_in_exchange_for_border_wall_funding%29

content:
<p>
Proposal: trade funding for the border wall for 
<a href="https://theweek.com/articles/813772/how-democrats-drive-hard-bargain-over-wall">reestablishment
of DACA</a>.
<p>
The article errs on one point: an incomplete border wall <em>can</em>
do harm &mdash; to local ecosystems such such as that in the ;
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/13/butterfly-sanctuary-border-wall-mission-texas">National
Butterfly Sanctuary</a>.
<p>
The deal proposed here might be a good idea if it can prevent the next
year's wall construction from affecting those parts of the border.


feed_id: 5f6bcc475355ff9901d65b508e5c6bc5
title: Obsessive parenting
uri: Obsessive-parenting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#4_February_2019_%28Obsessive_parenting%29
content:
<p>
American parents have bought into the idea that they have a
responsibility to over their children 
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/25/upshot/the-relentlessness-of-modern-parenting.html">all
the time</a>.
<p>
Part of the issue concerns providing students with enrichments to
their education.  Only wealthy parents can do this thoroughly, so this
tends to perpetuate and increase inequality.
<p>
We could instead do as parts of the US used to do, and include
enrichments in public schools so that all children could have them
available.  But this costs money.  We used to get it by taxing the
rich.  We need to do so again.
<p>
Part of the issue is obsessive overprotection.  This is a useless
burden for American parents regardless of their level of wealth.
<p>
If Japanese children can take the subway (which implies crossing
streets walking to and from the station) on their own at age 6,
American children can do it too.  We have to learn to direct them
towards such independence.


feed_id: 32b6b931a5e105ea2517185af7ab81f2
title: Urgent: World Bank president
uri: Urgent-World-Bank-president
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_World_Bank_president%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the World Bank 
<a href="https://act.priceofoil.org/sign/world-bank-president/">not to
let the bullshitter choose its next president</a>.


feed_id: f078710444007f7ab8dacac9727d8895
title: Urgent: Tax the rich more
uri: Urgent-Tax-the-rich-more
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Tax_the_rich_more%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/tax-the-rich/">support</a>
taxing the rich more.


feed_id: 387bb4c8ab7a09ad3b27cab61f48e73b
title: Reporter apologizes for being manipulated
uri: Reporter-apologizes-for-being-manipulated
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_February_2019_%28Reporter_apologizes_for_being_manipulated%29

content:
<p>
NBC TV reporter William Arkin apologized for being 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/03/veteran-nbcmsnbc-journalist-blasts-the-network-for-being-captive-to-the-national-security-state-and-reflexively-pro-war-to-stop-trump/">manipulated
into supporting the security state</a> in the name of defeating the
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a>.


feed_id: af6dab164456b02f0145192e45aaa78c
title: Birthrate
uri: Birthrate
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_February_2019_%28Birthrate%29
content:
<p>
Egypt is now trying to encourage people to have fewer children, but
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jan/03/experts-urge-egypt-to-rethink-two-is-enough-population-strategy">its
efforts are weak</a>.
<p>
Each woman that starts using reliable contraception will avoid some
births.  But the patriarchal requirement for her to get a man's
permission to use it undermines the goal.
<p>
Here is an idea: the government could encourage and support farm
families to adopt children from struggling poor families, when both
families start using contraception.  "If you want another child on
your farm, adopt an existing one!"


feed_id: 6f8671f9ae9eaa4b674313afef459b00
title: Serving the public instead of plutocrats
uri: Serving-the-public-instead-of-plutocrats
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#5_February_2019_%28Serving_the_public_instead_of_plutocrats%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/03/its-your-congress-people-make-it-work-or-you">How
to pressure your congresscritter</a> to side with the public instead
of with the plutocrats.


feed_id: 96cf07b29b342e280bab1b79bf0f3832
title: Urgent: Discrimination against queer people
uri: 2019-02-06-Urgent-Discrimination-against-queer-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Discrimination_against_queer_people%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://www.signherenow.org/petition/protect-against-discrimination/courage/">call
on Congress</a> to ban discrimination against queer people.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: d327060f3dc71436c5cd308d075ab57c
title: Power of a dictator
uri: Power-of-a-dictator
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28Power_of_a_dictator%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/dems_shutdown_2019">US
citizens</a>: The bully is using his official power
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/10/trump-government-shutdown-democracy-power-dictatorship">bully
the rest of the government</a>, trying to seize the power of a
dictator.
<p>
It is vital to make this fail, because if he succeeds with it once,
he will threaten it whenever Congress defies him.  And that will make
him indeed a dictator.


feed_id: b566fedc9837ce28f00779b0ae21200a
title: Green New Deal
uri: 2019-02-06-Green-New-Deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28Green_New_Deal%29
content:
<p>
Why Sustainable Agriculture
Should <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/08/why-sustainable-agriculture-should-support-green-new-deal">Support
a Green New Deal</a>.
<p>
I don't know whether these ideas about agriculture are valid,
biologically and economically.  I don't know enough about that
field to try to judge, and I don't know of anyone I can regard
as an authority on the matter.


feed_id: cfa003c977b4913cfa32ebc89c71cbd9
title: NYC medical coverage
uri: NYC-medical-coverage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28NYC_medical_coverage%29
content:
<p>
New York City
has <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/08/huge-step-right-direction-de-blasio-unveils-guaranteed-healthcare-plan-all-nyc">proposed
a system</a> of universal medical coverage for all residents of the
city.


feed_id: c5633498d4540a6a5a978f4e525b3d61
title: LA teacher strike
uri: 2019-02-06-LA-teacher-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28LA_teacher_strike%29
content:
<p>
Los Angeles public school teachers are going on strike
to <a href="https://jacobinmag.com/2019/01/utla-los-angeles-teachers-strike-privatization/">block
systematic privatization</a> of the schools.


feed_id: 2efde9218173782fa5737e3cef258370
title: Redistributing fake news
uri: Redistributing-fake-news
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28Redistributing_fake_news%29
content:
<p>
A study found that users aged 65 and over are far more likely to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/10/older-people-more-likely-to-share-fake-news-on-facebook">redistribute
fake news</a>.  They may not understand the need to judge the validity
of an article.


feed_id: c674be233f972678a71504c460ae5e79
title: US troops in Syria
uri: 2019-02-06-US-troops-in-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28US_troops_in_Syria%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/10/turkey-says-it-will-launch-syria-offensive-if-us-delays-pullout">Turkey
demanded</a> that the US withdraw its troops from Syrian Kurdish
territory or else Turkey will attack there.
<p>
In effect, Erdoğan is figuring Trump will back down when threatened.


feed_id: 3eddc4853a09bab8e589f12088aa4213
title: Overprotecting children
uri: 2019-02-06-Overprotecting-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28Overprotecting_children%29
content:
<p>
A study suggests that overprotecting children
may <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/10/by-mollycoddling-our-children-were-fuelling-mental-illness-in-teenagers">encourage
mental illness</a> in teenagers.


feed_id: 8e5c909118575969d4ed16d24fd8dc26
title: Defining populism
uri: Defining-populism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28Defining_populism%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/jan/10/we-the-people-the-battle-to-define-populism">Defining
populism</a>: a populist movement is one that consistently promises to
channel the unified will of the people, and by doing so defeat the
schemes of the powerful elite.
<p>
I don't think Bernie Sanders denies that a substantial fraction of
Americans are right-wing and disagree with him.  Thus, I think he is
not really a populist by this definition.


feed_id: 53a2f4723642333599420a6420034c10
title: Cyntoia Brown
uri: Cyntoia-Brown
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28Cyntoia_Brown%29
content:
<p>
Cyntoia Brown
has <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/09/cyntoia-brown-clemency-sex-work-self-defense/">received
clemency</a> and will be released from prison.
<p>
Many people feel disgust for sex workers, and are inclined to treat
them unfairly.  The same happens to blacks, because of racism, but I
think sex workers get it even worse.  I think Brown's conviction was
an example of this disgust at work.
<p>
I agree with the article that her age did not matter to the issue.
She had the right to self-defense at age 16, and she would have had
the same right if she were 26, 36, 46, or 86.  We don't need to label
all teenage sex workers as ipso facto "trafficking victims" in order
to respect their rights.


feed_id: a6f2cfc8edcb6ca8b887c4ccf1582f7c
title: SF General Hospital
uri: SF-General-Hospital
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28SF_General_Hospital%29
content:
<p>
San Francisco General Hospital, a public
hospital <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/1/7/18137967/er-bills-zuckerberg-san-francisco-general-hospital">systematically
gouges patients</a> that come to the emergency room.  It refuses to
cooperate with private insurance companies, so whatever charges they
don't cover bankrupt the patient.
<p>
The hospital was recently named after Zuckerberg, but he is not in
charge of it, so I don't expect that he is personally responsible for
this practice.  However, the grasping spirit demonstrated by renaming
a public hospital after a billionaire donor could be related to it.
<p>
With Medicare for All, hospitals would not have any way to do this.
They would get paid by Medicare, and they would get the amount
Medicare pays.


feed_id: 79e966099e0ddd0b17ff49efbe9e57bf
title: Killings of Palestinians
uri: Killings-of-Palestinians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28Killings_of_Palestinians%29
content:
<p>
The Israeli army says it investigates killings of Palestinians, but
the investigations
are <a href="https://972mag.com/idf-doesnt-investigate-palestinian-deaths-whitewashes/139521/">not
intended to find anything wrong</a>.


feed_id: d1561404f2a0771586365ae1210923ce
title: Fluoride in Juneau
uri: Fluoride-in-Juneau
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28Fluoride_in_Juneau%29
content:
<p>
After Juneau stopped putting fluoride in the water supply, there
was <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-what-happened-when-a-city-in-alaska-took-fluoride-out-of-their-drinking-water">a
substantial increase</a> in the rate of cavities in children's teeth.


feed_id: ae910cdda29cd09b4d7f2595d281fc65
title: Tracking data for phones
uri: Tracking-data-for-phones
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28Tracking_data_for_phones%29
content:
<p>
Tracking data for mobile phones in the US is easily available to lots
of businesses and individuals, because the phone
networks <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/nepxbz/i-gave-a-bounty-hunter-300-dollars-located-phone-microbilt-zumigo-tmobile">readily
sell it</a>.
<p>
The fact that the state can get data about your past actions, perhaps for
years, is dangerous even if the state gets a search warrant.  That means
that in effect the phone networks are spying on all mobile phone users
in advance for Big Brother.  Any person's location data should only start
if a warrant authorizes it.


feed_id: 43d580ee3ad1aa813d4caaa64a87c4e4
title: Dissolving corporations
uri: Dissolving-corporations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28Dissolving_corporations%29
content:
<p>
The US used to dissolve corporations that trampled the public.  It
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/08/its-time-bring-back-corporate-death-penalty">should
do so again</a>.
<p>
I would rather avoid the term "death penalty" to describe this, however,
because corporations are not alive.  They are not, morally, persons
and not morally entitled to human rights.


feed_id: 6b800133075792d260acf222fd93ec3d
title: Victims' rights laws
uri: Victims-rights-laws
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28Victims%27_rights_laws%29
content:
<p>
Killer <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> are using vague "victims' rights" laws
to <a href="https://reason.com/blog/2019/01/02/are-we-about-to-see-a-wave-of-police-usi">shield
their identity</a>.
<p>
Given how rare it is for <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>' crimes to be properly investigated,
this practice makes a bad situation even worse.


feed_id: 428cb4c91800894ef3cbaea2fc82ad56
title: UK using loopholes to deport people
uri: UK-using-loopholes-to-deport-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28UK_using_loopholes_to_deport_people%29

content:
<p>
The UK is once again
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/04/deportation-flights-jamaica-government-windrush-scandal">using
loopholes to deport people</a> to Jamaica.


feed_id: fec92e99b523f7878d622b89fd67d64d
title: Price spike on old drug
uri: Price-spike-on-old-drug
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28Price_spike_on_old_drug%29
content:
<p>
Sanders Investigates a
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/02/04/sanders-investigates-375000-price-spike-old-drug">$375,000
Price Spike</a> on Old Drug.
<p>
The same stupid law affected the drug colchicine which has been used
to treat gout for a long time &mdash; so long that it was
grandfathered in when drug licensing was established.  Some scoundrels
discovered it had never gone through licensing, so they obtained a
monopoly on it and made it fairly expensive.


feed_id: 07adaae623e0c3a50130cd1a6eb1be55
title: Tory policies
uri: Tory-policies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28Tory_policies%29
content:
<p>
Under Tory policies, you can be
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/feb/04/dwp-apologise-for-telling-seriously-ill-man-to-find-a-job">almost
unable to walk and still be labeled "fit for work"</a>.


feed_id: 56ac69aa3e119a64e0da2bbc93a95979
title: Urgent: Prevention of Arms Race Act
uri: Urgent-Prevention-of-Arms-Race-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Prevention_of_Arms_Race_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/citizen-cosponsor-prevent-nuclear-arms-race">call
on Congress</a> to pass the Prevention of Arms Race Act.


feed_id: 302317f6e93c65440ba70860b63c082f
title: Urgent: Repeal bully's discrimination
uri: Urgent-Repeal-bully-s-discrimination
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Repeal_bullys_discrimination%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/no-muslim-ban-2019">call on
Congress</a> to repeal the bully's discrimination against Muslims in
immigration.


feed_id: c814336c27c99c000795ca8c0dbf6719
title: Statistics of massacres
uri: Statistics-of-massacres
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28Statistics_of_massacres%29
content:
<p>
Patrick Ball uses statistics to figure out roughly how many people
were massacred,
<a href="https://psmag.com/social-justice/using-machine-learning-to-hold-human-rights-abusers-accountable">based
on incomplete and spotty records of deaths</a>.
<p>
When I first learned about Patrick Ball, he had determined from data
analysis that the Serbs had forced the Albanians out of their homes in
Kosovo, rather than (as the Serbs claimed) the Albanians' fleeing and
pretending to be attacked.


feed_id: 4b3fe7487400d7b19907539aa308f284
title: Capitalism and artificial scarcity
uri: Capitalism-and-artificial-scarcity
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28Capitalism_and_artificial_scarcity%29

content:
<p>
Capitalism
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/05/degrowth-call-radical-abundance">increases
production by creating artificial scarcity</a>, which forces most
everyone to work desperately hard to compete for what has been made
scarce.
<p>
Thus, eliminating the artificial scarcities can enable people to live
comfortably while producing less &mdash; and thus reduce the strain on
Earth's natural systems that we are now overloading.
<p>
Artificial scarcity of material things reduces the supply, but even
without artificial scarcity those things are not totally abundant.
<p>
Forbidding the sharing of copyable works is the ultimate instance of
artificial scarcity, since it makes something scarce which would
otherwise be available without practical limit.


feed_id: 11da41eafc38614b2226c5052ea0eef9
title: Divorce by text message in Salafi Arabia
uri: Divorce-by-text-message-in-Salafi-Arabia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28Divorce_by_text_message_in_Salafi_Arabia%29

content:
<p>
In <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>, not only your boyfriend can drop you by text message.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/06/saudi-arabia-to-notify-women-of-divorce-by-text-message">Your
husband can do it</a>, too.
<p>
And that's a step forward from last year, when he didn't have to tell
you that you were divorced.
<p>
Islamic law
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-nov-feb.html#04_February_2013_(Sharia_law_means_mutilation_and_killing)">trashes
human rights for men</a>, too.


feed_id: 52d11d03be688491761e3484038a40c7
title: DRC election results
uri: DRC-election-results
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#6_February_2019_%28DRC_election_results%29
content:
<p>
DRC Election Results
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/06/drc-election-results-postponed-officials-say-remain-patient">Postponed</a> as Officials Say "Remain Patient".
<p>
Developing consistent and plausible phony results takes time!


feed_id: 46fa2f42c3b052f6b6cf7be9c7f57312
title: Automated copyright censorship
uri: 2019-02-08-Automated-copyright-censorship
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28Automated_copyright_censorship%29

content:
<p>
The threat of automated copyright censorship in Europe appeared to have
subsided, but it 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/01/german-government-abandons-small-businesses-worst-parts-eu-copyright-directive">has
awakened again</a>.


feed_id: b8cdca7009034374013ff44bcc181f11
title: Regulation of face recognition technology
uri: Regulation-of-face-recognition-technology
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28Regulation_of_face_recognition_technology%29

content:
<p>
Washington Bills Would 
<a href="https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2019/02/washington-bills-would-ban-the-warrantless-use-of-facial-recognition-technology/">Ban
the Warrantless Use of Facial Recognition Technology</a>.
<p>
It is a grave mistake to think that the danger of face recognition is
that it might be inaccurate.  The real danger is that it might be
accurate.  Face recognition can be used to identify criminals.  But it
can also be used to identify dissidents and whistleblowers, and that
is 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">dangerous
for democracy</a>.


feed_id: d2d17137a1ccdeb4fd07a6d7bd47a005
title: Border thugs use brainwashing techniques
uri: Border-thugs-use-brainwashing-techniques
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28Border_thugs_use_brainwashing_techniques%29

content:
<p>
Just a few minutes after putting people in a holding pen, US border
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> pull out the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/07/detained-us-immigration-jfk-white-woman-british-passport">brainwashing
techniques</a>, including denying visitors use of a toilet.


feed_id: e7276b2ffa6b1002f2eb72f4b257d782
title: Asylum after living in airport terminal
uri: Asylum-after-living-in-airport-terminal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28Asylum_after_living_in_airport_terminal%29

content:
<p>
Five years after
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jan/07/syrian-who-lived-in-airport-new-life-canada-hassan-al-kontar">living
in an airport terminal</a>, refugee Hassan al-Kontar has received
asylum in Canada.


feed_id: ad0695ae8b2d3fa995e17d5dcf674ecc
title: Landlords consult simplistic databases
uri: Landlords-consult-simplistic-databases
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28Landlords_consult_simplistic_databases%29

content:
<p>
US landlords consult unreliable and simplistic databases that 
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/1/18205174/automation-background-check-criminal-records-corelogic">veto
allowing people to rent an apartment</a>.
<p>
It is the general shortage of housing that makes this so harmful.  In
the absence of the shortage, some landlord would have to rent to you.


feed_id: 8f468065cfec74d02e4ab8db27b2d986
title: Advocating protests
uri: Advocating-protests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28Advocating_protests%29
content:
<p>
Brazil is considering laws that could 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/01/brazil-2019-free-speech-and-privacy-crosshairs-what-are-threats">classify
advocating protests as "terrorism"</a>.  Also for more surveillance
and forcing decryption.


feed_id: 7aa0dadda79f02de092a0d9af58f78b2
title: Religious nuts with academic positions
uri: Religious-nuts-with-academic-positions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28Religious_nuts_with_academic_positions%29

content:
<p>
Religious nuts with academic positions in India 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/07/india-scientists-claim-ancient-hindus-invented-stem-cell-research-dismiss-einstein">disgraced
a scientific conference with science denial</a>.
<p>
Before giving moral accolades to ancient Hindu texts, we should think
about the fact that
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-may-aug.html#18_July_2017_(Dalits)">caste
prejudice</a> and sexism are a tightly integrated part of their world
view.
<p>
It is not known whether the mythical Lanka from the Ramayana
corresponds to a real place, let alone what place that was.


feed_id: 45b31f7a132b876f9bc9220f5740e49c
title: Controlled fusion power research
uri: Controlled-fusion-power-research
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#7_February_2019_%28Controlled_fusion_power_research%29

content:
<p>
Controlled fusion power research continues to advance, and it may yet
function some day.  But it 
<a href="https://medium.com/s/2069/finally-fusion-power-is-about-to-become-a-reality-c6b8b5915cf5">won't
function soon enough</a> to enable us to replace fossil fuels in time
to avoid global disaster.
<p>
Fortunately, we already have the technology needed to avoid global
disaster.  All we need is the determination to defeat the plutocrats
that are fighting against correcting the problem.


feed_id: f78337e7f8826d5282947b5af965b42a
title: Urgent: Oil drilling in ANWR
uri: Urgent-Oil-drilling-in-ANWR
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Oil_drilling_in_ANWR%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/National?actionId=AR0136375">rebuke</a>
the bogus environmental impact statement intended to pave the way for
oil drilling in ANWR.
</p>
<p>
To sign without JS code, use lynx.
If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 2691148b1d0e9bd59df4c7d5b4d99a0d
title: Flawed democracy
uri: Flawed-democracy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Flawed_democracy%29
content:
<p>
The United States is characterized as a "flawed
democracy", <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/11/united-states-doesnt-even-make-top-20-global-democracy-index">in
25th position</a>, in the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy
Index.


feed_id: 6402b7710e5cb63597ddc0d94ce667ed
title: Fact-checking
uri: 2019-02-08-Fact-checking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Fact-checking%29
content:
<p>
Separating fact-checking from moral reasoning is
sometimes <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/11/fact-checking-has-flourished-its-more-complicated-it-looks">a
subtle question</a>.


feed_id: e9e34c6c29a61812ed10946de283e345
title: Wall vs surveillance
uri: Wall-vs-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Wall_vs_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
Democrats in
Congress <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/11/not-good-answer-privacy-advocates-reject-democratic-proposal-technological-wall">propose
increased surveillance</a> as a substitute for the bully's wall.
<p>
Without knowing just what sort of "scanning technology" cited in the
article, I can't judge whether it that would be a specific injustice.
But I can point out that continuing the "war on
drugs" <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#31_October_2018_(War_on_drugs)">does
a lot of harm</a>, and it is a foolish approach to the problem of
addiction.


feed_id: cc0dc06be0a9e545d87edb74b512af21
title: Ruling the US by decree
uri: Ruling-the-US-by-decree
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Ruling_the_US_by_decree%29
content:
<p>
Warning: the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> may try
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/11/will-trump-rule-decree">rule
the US by decree</a>.
<p>
To stop him would depend on Republicans in Congress.  So far it seems
they will back the bullshitter no matter how far he goes.


feed_id: 26c935188ada07ec89f3883e772ccc0a
title: 23andMe samples
uri: 23andMe-samples
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%2823andMe_samples%29
content:
<p>
The DNA sampling company 23andMe
just <a href="https://returntonow.net/2019/01/09/big-pharma-just-bought-access-to-your-dna-from-genealogy-company-23andme/">sold
a lot of shares</a> to a Big Pharma company which can now use all the
DNA samples that people sent in.
<p>
There are two bad things about this:
<ul>
<li>Whatever research benefits these people's DNA makes possible is
  available only to one pharma company.</li>
<li>That company is now in a position to violate lots of people's
  privacy.</li>
</ul>


feed_id: e4f79818b0c49918c5fd920995041f65
title: DCCC leadership
uri: DCCC-leadership
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28DCCC_leadership%29
content:
<p>
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has formed its
leadership team out
of <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/10/progressives-slam-dccc-tapping-only-pro-business-centrists-leadership-roles-ignoring">plutocratist
Democrats</a>.
<p>
That's no different from the past, but now the number of progressives
they have excluded is greater and their right-wing bias is more stark.
<p>
The Democrats in Congress have given the Green New Deal only lip
service, setting up a committee
that <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/10/democratic-leaders-failed-their-first-big-test-climate">won't
make the slightest effort</a> to do what is needed.
<p>
Joseph Stiglitz: that was stupid of
them, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/10/yellow-vests-green-new-deal">and
self-defeating</a>.
However, it is what the plutocrats that pay them want.


feed_id: 2afc670e1d043f0dfc7a79991381164a
title: Homeless in British cities
uri: Homeless-in-British-cities
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Homeless_in_British_cities%29
content:
<p>
You can watch the number of homeless
people <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/12/my-walk-to-work-shows-me-how-homelessness-is-transforming-britain">increase
in British cities</a>.  Nowadays many of them are derelicts, but
people who work for Amazon and Uber and do not get paid enough to have
a place to live.


feed_id: 999ef661d22ac1485ac29ef8dd855c4b
title: Israel boycott bill
uri: Israel-boycott-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Israel_boycott_bill%29
content:
<p>
The US
Senate <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/10/second-time-during-shutdown-four-democrats-vote-gop-punish-boycotts-israel">rejected
the bill</a> that would have tried to allow states to punish companies
that support the Palestinians' boycott of Israel.
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#19_October_2018_(Boycott_of_Israeli_institutions)">I
don't support</a> that boycott myself, but the right to do so should
be respected.


feed_id: e12b9646d37b63f692a6dd0ca9c6ea8e
title: Sign insulting Abbott
uri: Sign-insulting-Abbott
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Sign_insulting_Abbott%29
content:
<p>
Australian
thugs <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jan/11/serial-sydney-protester-danny-lim-arrested-for-offensive-behaviour">arrested
a man</a> for a sign insulting former prime minister Tony Abbott.
<p>
Tony
Abbott, <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#13_October_2017_(Former_PM_of_Australia_spews_bullshit)">planet
roaster</a>
and <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-sep-dec.html#06_November_2014_(Repeal_of_Australias_carbon_tax)">plutocratist</a>,
deserves more than insult &mdash; he deserves to be loathed.  But I
wouldn't use the word "cunt" to insult him, or anyone, or anything.
Indeed, since any use of the word conveys insult, it has no use that I
will accept, so I have never used the word.  I reject associating part
of a woman's body with insult &mdash; count me out.


feed_id: 2819b891b096984290ba35ed34d1e616
title: Xinjiang
uri: Xinjiang
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Xinjiang%29
content:
<p>
In Xinjiang, reporters get
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/11/if-you-enter-a-camp-you-never-come-out-inside-chinas-war-on-islam">experience
some of the repression</a> that China visits on Uighur citizens.


feed_id: fab302d1d324cd83d9618399cd407f8d
title: Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei
uri: Sayed-Ahmed-Alwadaei
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Sayed_Ahmed_Alwadaei%29
content:
<p>
The UN
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/11/bahrain-wrongly-detained-family-of-uk-protester-un-rights-group-rules">condemned
Bahrain</a> for imprisoning the family of exile Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei
to punish him for protesting in Britain.


feed_id: 6174e59e1f97ca25e3c4f78e14a19430
title: Real corporation owners
uri: Real-corporation-owners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Real_corporation_owners%29
content:
<p>
The UK government
keeps <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/11/mps-attack-ministers-over-delay-to-tax-havens-public-registers">postponing
the requirement</a> for its remaining colonies to require corporations
to report their real owners.
<p>
One suspects that its true mission is to defend tax-dodging for the
rich.


feed_id: 19ce42ff85850ac79d7335e9261d562c
title: Nicaragua's supreme court
uri: Nicaragua-s-supreme-court
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Nicaragua%27s_supreme_court%29
content:
<p>
A member of Nicaragua's supreme
court <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/11/nicaragua-rafael-solis-ortega-civil-war-resignation-letter">resigned</a>,
accusing Ortega of establishing a dictatorship and saying that it will
provoke an armed uprising.


feed_id: 5438dbc9dafb759b3d3e0db8fc6ccb99
title: Powerful House committees
uri: Powerful-House-committees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Powerful_House_committees%29
content:
<p>
As expected,
Pelosi <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/10/so-frustrating-pelosi-accused-shutting-bold-progressives-out-powerful-committees">kept
progressive leaders out</a> of the most powerful committees in the
House of Representatives, the ones that must approve spending.
<p>
The plutocratist Democrats will be able to block progress on the most
important issues, such as universal medical care and the Green New Deal.


feed_id: 281f1e3d51cb8c090bd0cc4e1e4e6daf
title: Iowa ag-gag law
uri: Iowa-ag-gag-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Iowa_ag-gag_law%29
content:
<p>
Iowa's "ag-gag" law, designed to criminalize undercover reporting
about farming
practices, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/10/victory-free-speech-and-animal-welfare-federal-judge-strikes-down-iowa-ag-gag-law">has
been ruled unconstitutional</a>.


feed_id: d5896973391a60f426353a88177b3f17
title: Urgent: Social Security 2100 Act
uri: 2019-02-09-Urgent-Social-Security-2100-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Social_Security_2100_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/social-security-2100">call
on Congress</a> to pass the Social Security 2100 Act.


feed_id: 983e20fe7c8acec57aeda1b189d6040d
title: New Yorkers' opposition to Amazon
uri: New-Yorkers-opposition-to-Amazon
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28New_Yorkers_opposition_to_Amazon%29

content:
<p>
New Yorkers' opposition to Amazon has
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/feb/08/amazon-hq-2-new-york-reconsiders-plans">convinced
some executives to cancel their plan to put a large subsidized office
there.
<p>
Bravo, New Yorkers!  Keep up the fight!


feed_id: e17e5f344da9cc7bb9918ada37a367d5
title: Bank deregulation
uri: 2019-02-09-Bank-deregulation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Bank_deregulation%29
content:
<p>
The bank deregulation law of 2018, which was supposedly not going to
lead to mergers of big banks, is 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/02/08/elizabeth-warren-was-right-new-law-is-already-making-banks-bigger/">already
doing so</a>.


feed_id: 19830418d0bb53bbc1170e77ca1fddd3
title: Compromise
uri: Compromise
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Compromise%29
content:
<p>
Ocasio-Cortez has the right idea about 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/06/democrats-says-ocasio-cortez-have-compromised-away-too-much-who-were-suppose-be">compromise</a>.
<p>
Here's 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/compromise.html">how I explain
it</a>.


feed_id: c2a06337054c9448c1270234c23aebf9
title: High-pitched sound from cricket
uri: High-pitched-sound-from-cricket
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28High-pitched_sound_from_cricket%29

content:
<p>
The high-pitched sound heard by US diplomats in Cuba appears to be
made by a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/06/sonic-attack-on-us-embassy-in-havana-could-have-been-crickets-say-scientists">cricket
found in the Caribbean</a>.


feed_id: 1315bb60c985fff561325fe79330eade
title: Islamic law
uri: 2019-02-09-Islamic-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Islamic_law%29
content:
<p>
Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, from <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>, was going to Australia
via Thailand.  Officials from <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a> 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/06/saudi-woman-held-bangkok-fears-will-be-killed-repatriated">stole
her passport in Bangkok airport, so the airport stopped her from
travelling on, and she was faced with possible deportation.
<p>
Thailand says she 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/07/saudi-woman-fleeing-family-wont-be-deported-say-thai-officials">will
not be deported</a>.  That is good because, if sent back, she could be
walled up in a room for the rest of her life, as she was for months
already.  Or simply murdered.
<p>
This shows one way that Islamic law violates the human rights of
Muslims: they are denied the right to change their religion.


feed_id: 18c803e238ecff6a88707c8d8f9e5a74
title: Transarency
uri: Transarency
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Transarency%29
content:
<p>
The US Department of Labor's new <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/08/trump-administration-labor-google-lawsuit-gender-pay-gap">"transparency" rule</a> makes it easier for employers to get away with discrimination.


feed_id: b4f62c10c135e5a3355b082b03bf559a
title: Confederate Monuments
uri: Confederate-Monuments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Confederate%20Monuments%29
content:
<p>
The movement to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/08/racism-confederate-statues-taken-down">remove monuments that praise the Confederacy</a> is getting stronger and making progress.


feed_id: e02ba547fbe00b0dbf6fc53faa76b41e
title: Unfair Election
uri: Unfair-Election
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Unfair%20Election%29
content:
<p>
A Thai princess will run for prime minister, in an election that will be even <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/08/thai-princess-to-run-for-prime-minister-against-ruling-military-junta">less fair than with the other candidates</a>, since saying anything critical about her will be a crime.
<p>
However, it could also <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/08/princesss-ubolratana-decision-run-thailand-pm-shot-in-arm-thai-politics">knock our military rule.


feed_id: 5b98a26b1bf9e6632649edba8faf8256
title: Hypocritical Senator
uri: Hypocritical-Senator
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#8_February_2019_%28Hypocirtical%20Senator%29
content:
<p>
Antisocialist Senator Rand Paul condemns government programs that actively help people, but he <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/02/07/rand-paul-fairweather-libertarian?cd-origin=rss">makes exceptions when they help him</a>.


feed_id: 70c34f115cd43cc9640cd8325fcc0a0e
title: Very urgent: Automated copyright censorship
uri: Very-urgent-Automated-copyright-censorship
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Very_urgent%3A_Automated_copyright_censorship%29

content:
<p>
EU citizens: phone your MEPs to condemn
the <a href="https://boingboing.net/2019/02/07/universally-loathed.html">proposed
automated copyright censorship scheme</a>.
</p>
<p>
German and French citizens, phone your members of parliament
and/or other political parties to oppose this policy.
</p>


feed_id: 027438e9527b9a5752078e603a4fe7bd
title: Urgent: Green New Deal
uri: 2019-02-10-Urgent-Green-New-Deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Green_New_Deal%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/pass-the-green-new-deal/">support</a>
the Green New Deal.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: afa9168c4981b5e5b44c04dd67f50991
title: 'Smart' TVs
uri: Smart-TVs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28%27Smart%27_TVs%29
content:
<p>
The reason why you can only buy "smart" (read "spy") TVs nowadays is
that the TV itself
is <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/7/18172397/airplay-2-homekit-vizio-tv-bill-baxter-interview-vergecast-ces-2019">sold
at a break-even price</a>.  The profit on them comes from selling
products to the users and from spying on them.  If they sold
non-"smart" TVs, they would have to charge more.
<p>
If I wanted a TV set, I would definitely pay extra to get one that
could not spy on me.  Indeed, I would refuse to <em>have</em> a
"smart" TV at all, unless I knew I could block it from communicating
anything about my activities.  (That would convert it into a mere
appliance, and I would not need to care what is inside it.)
<p>
The same applies for a cable box; but I can imagine that a cable box
requires a contract I would consider immoral and thus refuse to sing.
<p>
I don't in fact want those things, because they would lead me to waste
time.  As a child, I was a TV addict.  I cut it off cold-turkey when I
went to college.


feed_id: f346579c510c239fe2136ff9f2beca49
title: Plans to attack Iran
uri: Plans-to-attack-Iran
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Plans_to_attack_Iran%29
content:
<p>
The
militarist <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/13/white-house-asked-pentagon-plans-strike-iran">asked
the US military</a> for plans to attack Iran.


feed_id: 7444bdb1ae141e57f9a96105309bc8aa
title: Green New Deal
uri: 2019-02-10-Green-New-Deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Green_New_Deal%29
content:
<p>
Ocasio-Cortez's <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/13/ocasio-cortezs-climate-genius-stroke-her-greennewdeal-most-serious-response-crisis">Climate
Genius Stroke</a>: Her #GreenNewDeal Is the Most Serious Response to
the Crisis Yet.


feed_id: 465b0716333c0ed504b51f4f404807c9
title: DRC election
uri: DRC-election
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28DRC_election%29
content:
<p>
African
Nations <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/13/african-nations-call-for-recount-in-drc-election">Call
for Recount</a> in DRC Election.


feed_id: db116bfbf3a8439d6030ebc669757f51
title: US border thug policy
uri: US-border-thug-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28US_border_thug_policy%29
content:
<p>
The US border <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> have had for
decades <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/12/border-patrol-history/">an
unofficial policy</a> jailing children, taking them away from their
parents, and physical torture.
<p>
Whatever we do in the future, it should not include this agency.


feed_id: ba3f5890e9beb8ca4f13f5da502e0e07
title: Phone-cracking rules
uri: Phone-cracking-rules
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Phone-cracking_rules%29
content:
<p>
The US government has the power to learn almost everything about
anyone's life by breaking into per phone, but it
is <a href="https://buffalonews.com/2019/01/05/when-can-the-government-hack-into-your-computer-a-case-involving-a-scam-targeting-wegmans-could-decide/">not
clear what rules it follows</a> to get permission to do so.
<p>
Please don't call this operation "hacking".  The officials that do it
are surely not doing it with the playful cleverness that constitutes
hacking.  So please don't insult us hackers by using that word to mean
"breaking
security".  <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/on-hacking.html">Please
call it "cracking"</a>.


feed_id: 768966b0c78c6b03f140de4a65bfa15d
title: Cameras in Penang
uri: Cameras-in-Penang
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Cameras_in_Penang%29
content:
<p>
The city of Penang has
installed <a href="https://www.malaymail.com/s/1708422/penang-launches-countrys-first-facial-recognition-cctv-surveillance">over
750 face recognition cameras</a> so that the thug department can track
people on the street at will.
<p>
The article says this will be used to track "criminals", but the cameras
can be used to track anyone, even to track everyone.


feed_id: 84c275cfe4c767e04a1e0669d2e03833
title: Drone attacks by Houthis
uri: Drone-attacks-by-Houthis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Drone_attacks_by_Houthis%29
content:
<p>
The Houthis now imitate the US
in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/13/houthis-threaten-more-drone-strikes-after-yemen-airbase-attack">launching
drone attacks</a> in Yemen.
<p>
We can't expect them to stop fighting outside the agreed-on cease-fire
zone.  So how about extending the cease fire to the whole of Yemen?


feed_id: 93fe4dfa28db8b13b1ad407243d08491
title: Nelson Espinal
uri: Nelson-Espinal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Nelson_Espinal%29
content:
<p>
The US deported Nelson Espinal back to Honduras.  One week
later, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/13/nelson-espinal-death-deported-migrant-caravan-us-border-honduras">he
was murdered</a>, just as he said he feared.


feed_id: 8a9761679e6bba34fe0df454b9426bc7
title: Christianity in China
uri: Christianity-in-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Christianity_in_China%29
content:
<p>
China's repression of Christianity
includes <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/13/china-christians-religious-persecution-translation-bible">censorship
of the Bible</a>.
<p>
I condemn repression of Christianity, but we must keep in mind
that when Christianity gets too powerful, it can itself become
a repressive force.  In the US it has almost reached that point
as Christian fanatics are the supporters of the bullshitter.


feed_id: 6c2c655944a352febd9c75910d12163e
title: Barr as attorney general
uri: Barr-as-attorney-general
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Barr_as_attorney_general%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#cheater">The cheater</a> seems to have proposed Barr as attorney general as a way to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/13/donald-trump-william-barr-attorney-general-senate-confirmation-robert-mueller">put
himself above the law</a>.
<p>
It is irrational to accept a disastrously bad appointment on the grounds
that someone else worse could be found.  The rational response is to oppose
the disastrously bad one, and if a worse one follows, oppose that one too.


feed_id: f90438d1dda9f46300e6ed3cd475cd0c
title: Suspected gang members
uri: Suspected-gang-members
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Suspected_gang_members%29
content:
<p>
The UK <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> have a system that designates teenagers and adults as
suspected gang members, often based on nothing but surmise about their
associations, which ends up targeting them
for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/12/metropolitan-police-gangs-matrix-racist-policing">various
forms of repression</a> based on their race.


feed_id: 8cf1a5ce3726068ebf66f795b24dd0a8
title: Smoking in Jordan
uri: Smoking-in-Jordan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Smoking_in_Jordan%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/12/ministers-smoking-in-parliament-jordan-must-clean-up-its-act">On
efforts</a> to reduce smoking in Jordan.


feed_id: 2b06e45f5d4a19e45116957c2c0ec733
title: Deficit in France
uri: Deficit-in-France
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Deficit_in_France%29
content:
<p>
Macron
got <a href="https://mondediplo.com/2019/01/01gilets-jaunes-rise">special
EU permission</a> to run a deficit more than 3% in France, so he could
placate the French people for a while.
<p>
Why not do this for Italy, which really needs it?  Why not Greece?
<p>
Macron seems to be aiming to do this mainly with temporary relief of
pressure, so that the long-term process of <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#doohnibor">dooH niboR</a> will proceed
steadily as planned.


feed_id: f043009ad6d86b740c6310930f5dfe4f
title: Sea Shepherd attacked
uri: Sea-Shepherd-attacked
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Sea_Shepherd_attacked%29
content:
<p>
Sea Shepherd is operating a boat in the Gulf of California to protect
Vaquita porpoises.  Mexican fishing
boats <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/10/mexican-fishermen-attack-sea-shepherd-vaquita-porpoise">attacked
it</a>, trying to burn it or sink it.


feed_id: bd5683690bf28677d6fe5f0bbb15d733
title: Peaceful protesters
uri: 2019-02-10-Peaceful-protesters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Peaceful_protesters%29
content:
<p>
The protesters that blocked a UK deportation flight were 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/02/07/stansted-15-sentencing-hearing/">not
sentenced to prison</a>.
<p>
UN Tells UK: 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/07/un-tells-uk-stop-using-terror-charges-against-peaceful-protesters">Stop
Using Terror Charges against Peaceful Protesters</a>.


feed_id: a4bf25db6f86c58b75409bea1a72aaa2
title: Investigation of Khashoggi's murder
uri: Investigation-of-Khashoggi-s-murder
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Investigation_of_Khashoggis_murder%29

content:
<p>
Salafia Arabia 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/07/jamal-khashoggi-saudi-arabia-turkey-united-nations">"seriously
undermined" Turkey's investigation</a> of Khashoggi's murder.
<p>
This is not surprising, since Salafia Arabia murdered him.


feed_id: 052c78141faa4a0686762037b63488cb
title: Automated copyright censorship
uri: 2019-02-10-Automated-copyright-censorship
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Automated_copyright_censorship%29

content:
<p>
France and Germany made a "compromise" that will leave no way for
companies in Europe to post anything submitted by users without using
<a href="https://juliareda.eu/2019/02/article-13-worse/">automated
copyright censorship filters</a>.


feed_id: 562a3c2e8be0c5f5552106bb587faec8
title: Global heating
uri: 2019-02-10-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/09/warning-deadly-irukandji-jellyfish-heading-further-south-as-number-of-stings-surge">spreading
dangerous and deadly jellyfish further along the Australian coast</a>.
<p>
By comparison, sharks are hardly a significant danger.


feed_id: 1f09c4b656fd9872695c340ebc649562
title: High school inspires bullying
uri: High-school-inspires-bullying
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28High_school_inspires_bullying%29

content:
<p>
A high school in Arizona 
<a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/privacy-technology/my-child-has-show-her-entire-school-shes-failing-scarlet-badge">requires
students that are missing credits needed to graduate wear a red badge
so as to shame them</a>.  This is very effective in inspiring bullying
against them.  Probably less so in helping them do better.
<p>
It turns out to be an illegal violation of those students' privacy.


feed_id: 7fb896777bee8a5d6f778d66c800535c
title: Canadian thugs arrest protesters
uri: Canadian-thugs-arrest-protesters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Canadian_thugs_arrest_protesters%29

content:
<p>
Canadian <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> have arrested indigenous protesters that were 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/08/canada-14-arrested-indigenous-anti-pipeline-protest-camp">blocking
pipeline construction teams from entering their land</a>.
<p>
Under the principle of necessity, they would be justified in
destroying the construction equipment, since it is being used to bring
about mass murder.
<p>
Murder, per se, is not their immediate goal, but that changes nothing
&mdash; building fossil fuel infrastructure will kill hundreds of
millions, and any reasonable person should know that.  How many of
those millions would be due to this pipeline, if it is completed, is a
question we don't need to answer.


feed_id: 78d8ba7d18272f7280d546738bd1bece
title: Climate defense
uri: 2019-02-10-Climate-defense
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Climate_defense%29
content:
<p>
Climate defense: "the fight for 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/07/miraculous-hope-climate-realists">what's
left and the people who get left with it</a>."
<p>
I think things are a little better than the article presents it.  It
is not quite true to say that the enemy "is us" &mdash; rather, it is
a system, which we are part of, but which is effectively controlled by
the plutocracy.  So we have to fight them for the decision about
whether governments should mobilize the world to save itself, or tread
the non-rich down.


feed_id: fa89512c0fda1f13195382568a9e40b3
title: Seattle's warning about Amazon
uri: Seattle-s-warning-about-Amazon
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#10_February_2019_%28Seattles_warning_about_Amazon%29

content:
<p>
Seattle warns NYC: 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/07/dismal-worker-treatment-soaring-housing-costs-seattle-lawmakers-warn-new-york-about">Amazon
will do the city harm</a>.
<p>
This is over and above the harm of the payment to Amazon to come and
do that.


feed_id: ac72deafcb5aca77d485b1874bb17b56
title: Social networks
uri: Social-networks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_February_2019_%28Social_networks%29
content:
<p>
The UK is considering 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/feb/06/why-uk-is-taking-on-social-networks-child-safety">making
social networks legally responsible for the specifics of users'
postings</a>.  That requirement would shut them down.
<p>
Some requirements about certain algorithms might be feasible to
implement, and then one could discuss whether they are good or bad.


feed_id: 064724c673282222ff2afb702ba20e44
title: Resisting facial recognition
uri: Resisting-facial-recognition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_February_2019_%28Resisting_facial_recognition%29
content:
<p>
UK <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> did an announced test of facial recognition, and 
<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/facial-recognition-cameras-technology-london-trial-met-police-face-cover-man-fined-a8756936.html">mistreated
people who tried to cover their faces</a>.
<p>
Bravo to those who resist!  Britons, next time, aim for a high
participation rate.


feed_id: d72e4b1d4b2111b865de3d9388bf7abc
title: Camera doorbells
uri: Camera-doorbells
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_February_2019_%28Camera_doorbells%29
content:
<p>
Big companies are selling camera doorbells that allow home owners, the
companies, and in many cases the state as well, to 
<a href="https://www.adn.com/nation-world/2019/01/31/privacy-battle-brews-over-home-security-cameras/">watch
everyone who passes by</a>.
<p>
With face recognition, these systems will identify everyone who passes
by.
<p>
We must do whatever it takes to eliminate these systems.


feed_id: d44bd570754f83d24d57f9a8fb0d8d8f
title: Iraqi Kurdistan tortures teenagers
uri: Iraqi-Kurdistan-tortures-teenagers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_February_2019_%28Iraqi_Kurdistan_tortures_teenagers%29

content:
<p>
Human Rights Watch says that Iraqi Kurdistan 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jan/08/children-allegations-tortured-to-confess-isis-links-kurdish-security-forces-human-rights-watch">tortures
teenagers</a> to get them to confess to working for PISSI.


feed_id: 912ca878c886d7e9b764d9c6fa9a15f5
title: Green New Deal
uri: 2019-02-12-Green-New-Deal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_February_2019_%28Green_New_Deal%29
content:
<p>
Right-wing fallacious attacks on taxing the rich for a Green New Deal
show Americans 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/08/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-70-percent-tax-rich">how
wise that would be</a>.


feed_id: 2cb1702ca13fabb58f5b826ca2e6e3e5
title: Tapped encrypted communications services
uri: Tapped-encrypted-communications-services
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#11_February_2019_%28Tapped_encrypted_communications_services%29

content:
<p>
UK spy agencies 
<a href="https://www.justsecurity.org/62114/give-ghost-backdoor/">plan
to secretly order companies to provide a tap</a> on encrypted
communications services.
<p>
It's not precisely a back door, but it requires making the client
software malicious, indeed dishonest.
<p>
Note how the criticism presumes that GCHQ itself is not a "bad actor".
How can we assume that?  The UK government not long ago sent
undercover <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> to infiltrate dissident groups by
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#03_July_2014_(Undercover_UK_thugs)">pretending
to love activists</a>.


feed_id: 2d5e138ff75b65d5101f1681d08ac09c
title: Urgent: Intervention in Yemen
uri: 2019-02-12-Urgent-Intervention-in-Yemen
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Intervention_in_Yemen%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone your congresscritter in favor
of <a href="https://act.winwithoutwar.org/go/4761">ending US
support</a> for Salafi Arabia's intervention in Yemen.
</p>
<p>
The Capitol Switchboard
numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641 and 888-355-3588.
</p>


feed_id: b586cb9e89d01dde7ffeb8df3a905179
title: Oil spill lover
uri: Oil-spill-lover
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Oil_spill_lover%29
content:
<p>
The ruiner must love oil spills, since he wants
to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/15/trump-relax-rules-oil-companies-bp-deepwater-horizon-disaster">cancel
the safety rules</a> that were put in place after the Big Spill, to
prevent another pollution event.


feed_id: 49da5ab18b45716c072a781080d0016b
title: Positive comments
uri: Positive-comments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Positive_comments%29
content:
<p>
Overcoming internet trolls
by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/15/the-swedish-online-love-army-who-battle-below-the-line-comments">posting
positive comments</a>.


feed_id: 1b11d4bb62337617ab6f835d07217547
title: Pacific Gas and Electric
uri: Pacific-Gas-and-Electric
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Pacific_Gas_and_Electric%29
content:
<p>
Pacific Gas and
Electric <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/14/california-wildfires-pacific-gas-and-electric-bankruptcy">has
gone bankrupt</a> because of its liabilities for starting giant fires.


feed_id: b1a3c92f69b8573421969377aa4c6d1d
title: Working for Russia
uri: Working-for-Russia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Working_for_Russia%29
content:
<p>
The
bullshitter <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/13/donald-trump-russia-new-york-times-washington-post-fbi-putin">Fails
to Answer Yes Or No</a> When Asked If He Ever Worked for Russia.


feed_id: e4cc53056453b618831bf964a081d617
title: Thugs' union in El Paso
uri: Thugs-union-in-El-Paso
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Thugs%27_union_in_El_Paso%29
content:
<p>
Beto O'Rourke sought to break the power of the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a>' union in El
Paso, not to prevent them from getting away with crimes, but
just <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/13/beto-o-rourke-public-sector-unions/">so
as to pay them less</a>.


feed_id: cc7aaaf948b227ac06ffb5cd900ffc39
title: Turkey and the Syrian Kurds
uri: Turkey-and-the-Syrian-Kurds
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Turkey_and_the_Syrian_Kurds%29
content:
<p>
The
bullshitter <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/14/trump-says-he-will-devastate-turkey-economically-if-it-attacks-kurds">threatened
Turkey with economic warfare</a> if it attacks the Syrian Kurds.
<p>
A threat like that might be an effective defense measure if issued by
someone who keeps his word.
<p>
The troops constitute a kind of commitment: if attacked, they will by
default fight back.  That constitutes a deterrent, notwithstanding
the bullshitter's unreliability.  A mere threat doesn't do that,
so Erdoğan may ignore it.


feed_id: 1375c10a6768755a4c9b886a9ba65c6e
title: Elections in Thailand
uri: Elections-in-Thailand
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Elections_in_Thailand%29
content:
<p>
The Thai military have postponed elections, which
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/14/thailand-biggest-democracy-protests-in-years-held-as-military-junta-delays-elections">stimulated
protests</a>.


feed_id: 35c9e83584a1abd045e2c12367b7c007
title: Iranian exiles
uri: Iranian-exiles
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Iranian_exiles%29
content:
<p>
Iran is accused
of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/14/a-dutch-electricians-raises-issues-of-trust-in-iran">assassinating
two Iranian exiles</a> that were living in the Netherlands.
<p>
Iran accuses them of violent rebellion.  I have no basis to judge the
truth of those claims, but if the claim against Notamed is true, we
would have to weigh it against the scattershot execution policies of
the Islamic Republic in 1981.


feed_id: 9ab1a88a2d02230406aa1702034cfc70
title: Dubai book festival
uri: Dubai-book-festival
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Dubai_book_festival%29
content:
<p>
Writers
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/14/stephen-fry-and-pen-urge-uae-to-free-ahmed-mansoor-ahead-of-book-festival">under
pressure not to participate</a> in Dubai's book festival, because of
Dubai's repression.


feed_id: 37169e3890eed5d294c5ce1786f1c0da
title: Boko Haram
uri: 2019-02-12-Boko-Haram
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Boko_Haram%29
content:
<p>
Women in Nigeria who escaped from Boko Haram have freedom, to the
extent a woman can have freedom in that patriarchal culture, but they
can't get work and go hungry.  Some of
them <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/14/woman-boko-haram-nigeria-militant-group">go
back to Boko Haram</a>.


feed_id: 5d44e9bbf391ba649a093a4eff0313f5
title: Sheds in Oakland
uri: Sheds-in-Oakland
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Sheds_in_Oakland%29
content:
<p>
Oakland, California, is moving people from sidewalks to
sheds, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/14/oakland-homelessness-crisis-cabin-tiny-tuff-sheds-does-it-work">whether
they like it or not</a>.
<p>
A shed could be physically better and some people could be glad to
move to one.  But the sheds require people to have roommates even if
they can't get along.  Those who feel unsafe in them are forbidden to
go back to the sidewalk.
<p>
I don't see any reason Oakland can't offer sheds to those who prefer them
while also allowing encampments.


feed_id: 4115f62f72cc8c9917b43139dadf4dd6
title: UK patients and disabled people
uri: UK-patients-and-disabled-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28UK_patients_and_disabled_people%29

content:
<p>
The UK has a tradition of consulting organizations of patients and
disabled people to improve the services for them, but this
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/14/austerity-denying-patients-care-service-users-voice">falling
by the wayside</a>.


feed_id: 2cceb17acc51d19c219c07ee9565024d
title: Menstruation in Nepal
uri: Menstruation-in-Nepal
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Menstruation_in_Nepal%29
content:
<p>
Nepal
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jan/14/destroy-period-huts-or-forget-state-support-nepal-moves-to-end-practice-chhaupadi">pressuring
families quite firmly</a> to stop confining women to special huts when
they are menstruating, and to let girls go to school when
menstruating.


feed_id: b8ae6e1376076193aaa33d6ab3c8325e
title: Garment worker strike
uri: Garment-worker-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Garment_worker_strike%29
content:
<p>
The <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> in Bangladesh
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/14/bangladesh-strikes-thousands-of-garment-workers-clash-with-police-over-poor-pay">repressing
a strike</a> by garment workers.
They are paid very little and are forced to work in dangerous conditions.


feed_id: d70ed1a694fd3e2cbd9caa4be0d23a4d
title: Traditional masculinity
uri: Traditional-masculinity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Traditional_masculinity%29
content:
<p>
The American Psychological
Association <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/12/psychology-masculinity-men-apa-guidlines">warns
against raising boys</a> with the traditional idea of masculinity that
calls for suppressing feelings that are regarded as weaknesses.
<p>
I was fortunate &mdash; I never learned that lesson.


feed_id: 4997c2ca9b35cb0a77c8f14d2eb2506b
title: Very urgent: Oppose funding border wall
uri: Very-urgent-Oppose-funding-border-wall
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_funding_border_wall%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/call/no-wall-downpayment-calls/">phone
your congresscritters</a> to oppose giving funds for the bully's
border wall.


feed_id: 701612746d48d544ea91668627517d58
title: North Dakota's repression of protesters
uri: North-Dakota-s-repression-of-protesters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28North_Dakotas_repression_of_protesters%29

content:
<p>
North Dakota is
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/02/11/north-dakota-public-records-pipeline-protest/">amending
its constitution to conceal</a> how state and private thugs repress
pipeline protesters.


feed_id: 912640b939fac6687dbe32a2836f43c1
title: Blockchain technology
uri: Blockchain-technology
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Blockchain_technology%29
content:
<p>
There's
<a href="https://www.schneier.com/essays/archives/2019/02/theres_no_good_reaso.html">No
Good Reason to Trust Blockchain Technology</a>.


feed_id: ca1ccd85f4cccbfe5b2e40625edc8956
title: Regulation of biometric data collection
uri: Regulation-of-biometric-data-collection
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Regulation_of_biometric_data_collection%29

content:
<p>
Illinois
<a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/privacy-technology/surveillance-technologies/ruling-warning-companies-collecting-biometric">will
enforce its law</a> regulating companies from collecting biometric
identifiers.


feed_id: ae9c3aaf9701b0fb0a842b09608364b6
title: Corruption investigators kicked out
uri: Corruption-investigators-kicked-out
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Corruption_investigators_kicked_out%29

content:
<p>
Guatemala's president has
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/08/guatemalan-president-condemned-after-ejecting-un-anti-corruption-group">kicked
out UN corruption investigators</a>.  I suppose he has an idea of what
they would have found.
<p>
With the US
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-mar-jun.html#5_June_2018_(Investigation_of_China_deals)">setting
a bad example</a>, it is hard to pressure other countries not to
follow it.


feed_id: 486d87151e3ba2ad86ccf150002e612e
title: The former British Empire
uri: The-former-British-Empire
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28The_former_British_Empire%29
content:
<p>
Accusing the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/08/obe-empire-david-olusoga">former
British Empire</a> of being responsible for present-day "racism,
police brutality, privatisation, militarism, ongoing economic
dispossession and the retention of the spoils of empire."
<p>
I am not sure it is fair to blame the British Empire for militarism
(which is millenia old) and police brutality (<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> torture people all
around the world).  I suspect that privatization would have been
imposed anyway, though the empire may have helped to pave the way.
<p>
The empire played a big role in the other three.


feed_id: 7a51096f91c69af579b487d0ee54a9b7
title: Journalist sentenced to prison
uri: Journalist-sentenced-to-prison
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28Journalist_sentenced_to_prison%29

content:
<p>
Turkish journalist Pelin Ünker has been sentenced to prison for
"defamation" because she
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/jan/09/journalist-pelin-unker-sentenced-to-jail-in-turkey-over-paradise-papers-investigation">published
facts about how one of Erdoğan's henchmen used companies in Malta as
tax havens</a>.
<p>
They don't even bother to deny the facts that she published.


feed_id: 69cd88691729765796009bdbbd5c8df4
title: US greenhouse gas emissions
uri: US-greenhouse-gas-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28US_greenhouse_gas_emissions%29
content:
<p>
US greenhouse gas emissions
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/08/carbon-emissions-trump-agenda-climate-change">jumped 3% in 2018</a>.


feed_id: 993eab602d7837156ea3da8511cf5b41
title: Urgent: No Fossil Fuel Money pledge
uri: 2019-02-14-Urgent-No-Fossil-Fuel-Money-pledge
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_No_Fossil_Fuel_Money_pledge%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.climatetruth.org/sign/house-climate-committee-nffm/">call
on House Climate Committee members</a> to take the
no-fossil-fuel-money pledge.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 373897799fd166bb1be22426945a977f
title: Urgent: Force-feeding prisoners
uri: Urgent-Force-feeding-prisoners
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Force-feeding_prisoners%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/protect-immigrant-hunger-strikers">call
on House committees</a> to make the deportation thugs stop
force-feeding prisoners.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 847c8a9787af6fce746c0abda5b47369
title: Air traffic control
uri: 2019-02-14-Air-traffic-control
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Air_traffic_control%29
content:
<p>
The US government shutdown made air traffic control less safe.
Controllers were not getting paid, so
they <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/16/warning-catastrophic-event-air-traffic-controllers-union-official-says-flying">may
have been moonlighting</a> rather than sleeping.


feed_id: 646d39838c2a199eb8c30aaabeb1dae1
title: Tracking toothfish
uri: Tracking-toothfish
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Tracking_toothfish%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/17/tracking-technology-to-reveal-whether-food-produced-legally-and-sustainably">A
new system proposes</a> to track each individual fish from when it is
caught to when it is served in a restaurant, using blockchain, to stop
illegal fishing of Patagonian toothfish.
<p>
It is easier to preserve a database record across time
than to make sure it always corresponds to the same actual fish.
<p>
In this particular case, that problem may not matter.
It may be sufficient to make sure that the number of toothfish
that are sold is no more than the number that were caught lawfully.
If customers keep restaurants honest by checking the record of
an individual fish, they might find it impossible to make use
of the fish caught by poachers.
<p>
If the poachers of this fish, a luxury product, can't sell to
expensive restaurants, they won't find it profitable.
<p>
However, if a restaurant could sell the "same" fish multiple times, the
system would not achieve its goal.


feed_id: a007f7d259678c534af42e7fd6480a3c
title: Apple and data brokers
uri: Apple-and-data-brokers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Apple_and_data_brokers%29
content:
<p>
Apple is crusading to regulate data
brokers <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/17/apple-chief-tim-cook-calls-for-laws-to-tackle-shadow-economy-of-data-firms">in
a rather weak way</a> that would let them more or less continue what
they are doing.
<p>
If on-line retailers let you pay using <a href="https://taler.net">GNU
Taler</a>,
and likewise respect your anonymity in other ways,
they won't have any data about you worth selling.


feed_id: 59149da5630659e8ec91104d59151d87
title: INF treaty
uri: INF-treaty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28INF_treaty%29
content:
<p>
The US
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/16/us-russia-inf-treaty-nuclear-missile">preferred
to end</a> the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty rather than
work on restoring compliance with it.


feed_id: 2aea0ae178ba7ae8dcbfcfc3ebda18dc
title: Moodymann
uri: Moodymann
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Moodymann%29
content:
<p>
Thugs <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/16/moodymann-police-instagram-video-detroit">arrested
Detroit DJ Moodymann</a> for "breaking and entering" into his own car,
using the keys.  Apparently they are on a power trip and arrest him
frequently for no good reason.
<p>
A <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> that shows such ill-will towards the citizens person is
supposed to serve is not fit for the job at all.


feed_id: 234c440f807f4ae266314c56ded5120b
title: After first war on Gaza
uri: After-first-war-on-Gaza
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28After_first_war_on_Gaza%29
content:
<p>
Ten Years After the First War on Gaza, Israel
Still <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/07/ten-years-first-war-gaza-operation-cast-lead-israel-brute-force">Plans
Endless Brute Force</a>.


feed_id: 15cdecee484005074aa1d1ef0b4b331b
title: Palestinian homes
uri: Palestinian-homes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Palestinian_homes%29
content:
<p>
Since 2006, Israel has
demolished <a href="http://imemc.org/article/btselem-israel-demolishes-palestinian-homes-makes-palestinians-homeless/">1,400
Palestinian homes</a>.


feed_id: fc265076e8a2228b1249f44aa75ac2f0
title: Farms in Gaza
uri: Farms-in-Gaza
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Farms_in_Gaza%29
content:
<p>
The Israeli army damages farms in Gaza
by <a href="https://972mag.com/gaza-israel-herbicides-intl-law/139591/">spraying
herbicides</a>.
These chemicals also endanger farmers, because they are
carcinogenic.
<p>
An unused no-mans-land as a buffer zone at the border is
a good idea, but if Israel wants to make one unilaterally,
it should do so on the Israeli side of the border.


feed_id: e69fd07db26c721c17a80a9b02b8adf6
title: Unrecycled plastic
uri: Unrecycled-plastic
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Unrecycled_plastic%29
content:
<p>
A number of companies associated with making plastic have a plan to
put a fair pile of money into reducing the unrecycled plastic &mdash;
but <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/16/industry-alliance-sets-out-1bn-to-tackle-oceans-plastic-waste">not
by making less plastic</a>.


feed_id: 835c7c59dfa08f600ce3a416a65d6d74
title: Food and water in the desert
uri: Food-and-water-in-the-desert
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Food_and_water_in_the_desert%29
content:
<p>
In Arizona on the border with Mexico, what is
the <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/17/no-more-deaths-border-documents-trial/">right
way to leave food and water</a> so border-crossers won't die in the
desert?
<p>
It might indeed be better to protect wildlife by filling large drums
of water, rather than leaving small bottles.  The same sort of method
could be used for food.
<p>
However, if this system were practiced adequately there to do the job,
I suppose activists would not feel they had work to do there.


feed_id: 9b37364c3277e04a7e368fcbc0b6aed0
title: Unlocking phones in a raid
uri: Unlocking-phones-in-a-raid
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Unlocking_phones_in_a_raid%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://reason.com/archives/2019/01/16/judge-rules-police-cannot-require-people">One
US court ruled</a> that thugs can't arbitrarily require everyone in a
home unlock per phone biometrically merely because <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#perse">perse</a> was present
there at the time of a raid.
<p>
This is a small and tentative step; we need to move much further than
that to make the protections of the fourth amendment effective again.
And we need to put an end to assembling many digital dossiers about
each person.


feed_id: e1f7683ffd723f7e114dc54fb5664e1c
title: Leaving the EU
uri: 2019-02-14-Leaving-the-EU
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Leaving_the_EU%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/17/semi-brexit-england-wales-leaving-eu-solution">A
strange proposal</a>: England and Wales could leave the European Union
while Scotland and Northern Ireland remain part of it.


feed_id: c8432aeb7144ed2f705ffe8ccb789766
title: Children denied medicine
uri: Children-denied-medicine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Children_denied_medicine%29
content:
<p>
The US immigration prison where sick children
are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/17/pennsylvania-detention-center-sick-children">systematically
denied medicine</a>.  Children there generally get sick, or sicker.


feed_id: bb2f2e9bf4c5ca7dcd90fcf4e3a3d6a7
title: UK poverty and hunger
uri: UK-poverty-and-hunger
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28UK_poverty_and_hunger%29
content:
<p>
The Tory
government <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/17/amber-rudd-denial-benefits-crisis-universal-credit">continues
to exacerbate</a> the poverty and hunger that it has inflicted on
millions, pretending compassion while announcing occasional small
steps forward, in between the giant steps back.
<p>
We should not forget, however, that it was <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bliar">Tony B'liar</a> and New Labour
that began the process
of <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#6_September_2016_(Income_change_under_Thatcher_and_Bliar)">making
wealth trickle upward</a>.  They did not target the poor particularly,
but they gave the rich more power which they used to take from working
people.  This weakened traditions of compassion and solidarity, which
then made it easy for the Tories to win popularity by promising to do
more and better trickle-up, and hold it by squeezing the poor (but not
acknowledging they were doing so).


feed_id: 13fdb2f654830f12d8e28ff28c987d2b
title: Environmental protection in Brazil
uri: Environmental-protection-in-Brazil
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Environmental_protection_in_Brazil%29

content:
<p>
Bolsonaro's war on the environment has launched with an arbitrary (and
illegal) <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/16/brazil-environment-chief-accused-of-war-on-ngos-as-partnerships-paused">suspension
of funding</a> for environmental protection NGOs.


feed_id: b023122768c384c3d56a198623e65cdb
title: The former British Empire
uri: 2019-02-14-The-former-British-Empire
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#12_February_2019_%28The_former_British_Empire%29
content:
<p>
Accusing the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/08/obe-empire-david-olusoga">former
British Empire</a> of being responsible for present-day "racism,
police brutality, privatisation, militarism, ongoing economic
dispossession and the retention of the spoils of empire."
<p>
I am not sure it is fair to blame the British Empire for militarism
(which is millennia old) and police brutality (<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> torture people all
around the world).  I suspect that privatization would have been
imposed anyway, though the empire may have helped to pave the way.
<p>
The empire played a big role in the other three.


feed_id: 992fcdd6111f35323345b22372b6b88e
title: Sudden shift from drought to flood
uri: Sudden-shift-from-drought-to-flood
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Sudden_shift_from_drought_to_flood%29

content:
<p>
Queensland 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/13/we-have-death-and-devastation-at-every-turn-the-flood-massacre-of-queensland-cattle">shifted
suddenly</a> from years of drought to a flood that destroyed farms and
killed hundreds of thousands of cattle.
<p>
The author does not tie this to the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> that is likely
responsible.  Extreme weather in both directions is one of the typical
results.


feed_id: dac5c3667110384988d32c6a61d8a1e5
title: Bully's supporters attack BBC cameraman
uri: Bully-s-supporters-attack-BBC-cameraman
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Bullys_supporters_attack_BBC_cameraman%29

content:
<p>
A BBC cameraman covering one of the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a>'s rallies was 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/12/jeremy-hunt-condemns-attack-bbc-cameraman-trump-rally">attacked
by his supporters</a>.
<p>
What the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> says in his events is meant to inflame his supporters
and distract the public from what the <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#bully">bully</a> is doing.  It would be
better for reporters to stay away and cover events of some real
significance.


feed_id: ffce0567a70fa961ce3d7c01436dd27e
title: Bernie Sanders
uri: 2019-02-15-Bernie-Sanders
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Bernie_Sanders%29
content:
<p>
Plutocratist Democrats are 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/02/12/bernie-2020-campaign-has-corporate-democrats-running-scared">already
working hard to defeat Sanders</a>.  Their left hand says that the
dozens of others are all progressive so we no longer need Sanders,
while their right hand says that few of us will insist on Sanders.
<p>
Either way, their real message is "Vote for someone who is less
reliably progressive than Sanders."


feed_id: a01fabc59c7f2a0039b4c51d79f1a8ab
title: "Fusion" centers
uri: Fusion-centers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Fusion_centers%29
content:
<p>
"Fusion" centers are not just about terrorism any more.  They combine
surveillance data from many sources, and in effect 
<a href="https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/31368-details-of-fusion-center-surveillance-revealed">bring
local and state <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thug</a> departments more or less under federal
control</a>.  They investigate and redistribute the videos the cameras
that any level of government puts on your streetcorner, and even
cameras in businesses.


feed_id: 935742b87602164f8ac8c20fb1431509
title: Operation Choke Point
uri: Operation-Choke-Point
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Operation_Choke_Point%29
content:
<p>
In "Operation Choke Point", the US government, under Obama, tried to
<a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/obamas-operation-choke-point-finally-unmasked">shut
down certain businesses extrajudicially</a> by making banks drop them.


feed_id: 1b50749c4d9e156f73173034011a4486
title: No side
uri: No-side
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28No_side%29
content:
<p>
Let's not take either side in the "battle between 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/09/infantile-politics-compulsive-trump-bashing">Trump’s
abhorrent America First nationalism and the political establishment’s
neoliberal imperialism</a>."
<p>
Neither side is our side.


feed_id: 8ec86c71b096253350f0404ddb4dbce4
title: "Ghost user" back door
uri: Ghost-user-back-door
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Ghost_user_back_door%29
content:
<p>
The "ghost user" is a 
<a href="https://www.justsecurity.org/62114/give-ghost-backdoor/">back
door</a> by another name.


feed_id: 88441059013f6b7995ed6c5476a6aefe
title: Letting children walk on their own
uri: Letting-children-walk-on-their-own
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Letting_children_walk_on_their_own%29

content:
<p>
A couple found that a therapy office would allow their child to walk a
block to the office.  They only needed to 
<a href="https://letgrow.org/part-2-of-parents-fight-to-let-their-8-year-old-walk-one-block-by-herself-the-waiver/">sign
a waiver that the therapists would not be liable</a> for anything that
might befall the child during that brief walk.
<p>
If only it were so easy all the time.


feed_id: c504c820f5e775d8504e535cd7a062b0
title: Students call for prohibiting advocacy
uri: Students-call-for-prohibiting-advocacy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Students_call_for_prohibiting_advocacy%29

content:
<p>
Oxford students call for prohibiting advocacy of the traditional
Catholic position on homosexuality, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/jan/09/oxford-students-call-for-professors-removal-over-alleged-homophobia">calling
it "harassment"</a>.
<p>
I disagree totally with the idea that sex should be limited to
attempts to procreate.  It is just the opposite: procreation makes
more burden for the Earth, whereas sex, when it makes the participants
happy and assuming precautions against conception and spreading
disease, is good.
<p>
But even though I disagree thoroughly with those views, I defend 
the right to advocate them.


feed_id: 608f06af14e90c4039691542b705d5fb
title: US military resisting supervision
uri: US-military-resisting-supervision
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28US_military_resisting_supervision%29

content:
<p>
The US military is resisting supervision to the extent that the
official public list of US military bases 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/08/bases-bases-everywhere-except-pentagons-report">says
nothing about Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Niger, Tunisia, Cameroon or
Somalia</a>.
<p>
The US is 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/09/syria-isis-airstrikes-us-military/">bombing
more in Syria</a>, and telling us less about it.


feed_id: 97a5e5e13bad1e62db005627b52fc96c
title: Expulsion of corruption investigators
uri: Expulsion-of-corruption-investigators
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Expulsion_of_corruption_investigators%29

content:
<p>
Guatemala's Supreme Court says that the president 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/09/guatemala-jimmy-morales-un-anti-corruption-cicig-court-blocked">cannot
expel UN corruption investigators</a>.


feed_id: 78eb36430001d4adfc61c185da837cc5
title: Treatment of prisoners
uri: Treatment-of-prisoners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Treatment_of_prisoners%29
content:
<p>
Treating prisoners with utmost possible harshness and suspicion
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/09/stop-prisoners-reoffending-phones-photos-family">creates
more crime</a>.


feed_id: f332e17872b50c9d29993c38675f7e68
title: Respecting people's right to say no
uri: Respecting-people-s-right-to-say-no
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#14_February_2019_%28Respecting_peoples_right_to_say_no%29

content:
<p>
Writer Yann Moix said that he 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/08/french-author-defends-remarks-about-women-over-50-yann-moix">cannot
be attracted to women in their 50s</a>, and people are condemning him,
claiming he has an obligation to be attracted to them.
<p>
You might as well demand that a homosexual be attracted to people not
of the same sex.  Or that a heterosexual be attracted to people that
are of the same sex.  There is no arguing about tastes.  If we respect
people's right to say no, we should not rebuke them when they do.
<p>
Of course, many people (especially men, but not only) despise those
they find unattractive.  That is a mean way to treat people who
haven't done anything wrong.
<p>
But being unattracted by someone is not the same as despising per.
Yann Moix understands this.


feed_id: 0f705893e6c9dc951b8cd2b8159ff0aa
title: Urgent: Mueller's report
uri: Urgent-Mueller-s-report
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Muellers_report%29
content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://act.pfaw.org/sign/release-the-mueller-investigation-report-publicly-senate/">call
on the Senate</a> not to allow Mueller's report to be buried.


feed_id: f84dc7e01aad610836e61da12c6aaba6
title: Thugs in Rio de Janeiro
uri: Thugs-in-Rio-de-Janeiro
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_February_2019_%28Thugs_in_Rio_de_Janeiro%29
content:
<p>
Witnesses say that <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> in Rio de Janeiro
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/14/brazil-13-dead-gang-policy-shoot-to-kill-rio">murdered
gangsters who had surrendered, and a few others too</a>.


feed_id: 53c28f3fdfd8e9f86f3c4aa34a945b3a
title: Global heating and young people
uri: Global-heating-and-young-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_February_2019_%28Global_heating_and_young_people%29

content:
<p>
Young people, including teenagers, are
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/02/12/youth-movements-changing-tactics-face-climate-crisis">trying
various creative approaches</a> to make the world curb global heating.
<p>
The younger you are, the more likely <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> will cut your life
short.


feed_id: 391be55d0091a84108b097a002298465
title: Urgent: Drop charges against Senator de Lima
uri: Urgent-Drop-charges-against-Senator-de-Lima
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Drop_charges_against_Senator_de_Lima%29

content:
<p>
Everyone:
<a href="https://act.amnestyusa.org/page/38329/action/1">call on the
Philippines</a> to drop charges against Senator de Lima, which seem to
be trumped up to repress opposition to President Do-Dirty's murderous
War on Drugs.


feed_id: 9951467a72078c914d41a6113e9c92e9
title: Surveillance cameras
uri: 2019-02-16-Surveillance-cameras
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_February_2019_%28Surveillance_cameras%29
content:
<p>
Today at an airport I sat down at a table which had a tablet facing
me.  I am not sure what it's supposed to do for people, but I realized
that one thing it might be doing <em>to</em> me was watching me with a
camera.  It is full of nonfree software and there is no basis to
suppose it isn't malicious.
<p>
So I put my coat down over it before sitting down.
<p>
Sure, there are other cameras in the airport, making recordings.  We
are under total surveillance by the state, there.  But the tablet
might be spying for various companies that have no access to the
surveillance camera recordings.  If there are two snoopers, and I can
block one of them, that is an improvement.


feed_id: 5b32b1ad0d359871c7a33ffed74e5667
title: Coca Cola Company obesity plans
uri: Coca-Cola-Company-obesity-plans
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_February_2019_%28Coca_Cola_Company_obesity_plans%29

content:
<p>
Coca Cola Company is involved in planning China's approach to avoiding
obesity, which focuses on exercise
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/10/coca-cola-influence-china-obesity-policy-protect-sales-bmj-report">rather
than eating less sweets</a>.


feed_id: 9ad45b9eac70b95558a5466005aa602b
title: EPA mercury regulations
uri: EPA-mercury-regulations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_February_2019_%28EPA_mercury_regulations%29
content:
<p>
The EPA recently
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/09/epa-rule-change-could-kill-thousands">proposed
to weaken mercury regulations</a> estimated to save 11,000 lives per
year.


feed_id: 0bcc8545880c45a7bb74e98c99efa12c
title: Coal lobbyist as head of EPA
uri: Coal-lobbyist-as-head-of-EPA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_February_2019_%28Coal_lobbyist_as_head_of_EPA%29
content:
<p>
The planet-roaster-in-chief has nominated
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/01/09/trump-nominates-ex-coal-lobbyist-andrew-wheeler-head-epa">coal
lobbyist</a> Andrew Wheeler to head the EPA.
<p>
He will continue to be
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/09/trump-nomination-wheeler-ensures-epa-will-continue-put-profits-polluters-over-human">on
the side of the polluters</a>.


feed_id: 9263318090760f965c3e5445c7b9dac5
title: Fabricated statistic about terrorists
uri: Fabricated-statistic-about-terrorists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#15_February_2019_%28Fabricated_statistic_about_terrorists%29

content:
<p>
The US government fabricated statistic to claim most terrorists are
foreigners or immigrants,
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/09/flawed-terrorism-report-shows-administrations-skewed-priorities">by
not counting the domestic terrorists</a>.


feed_id: 43bd13e514a1849db85bc4eda7a044f6
title: Urgent: Subsidies for movies
uri: Urgent-Subsidies-for-movies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Subsidies_for_movies%29

content:
<p>
Citizens of Massachusetts: call your state representative and senator
to <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/02/12/supporters-controversial-mass-film-tax-credit-aim-make-permanent/Wr9keQMK0CS2C6oJ3VHNuJ/story.html">oppose
subsidies for movies</a>.  States should not compete to attract
businesses away from other states.
</p>
<p>
If we don't stop this, next thing you know they will want to offer
twice as much money as New York City offered as a handout to Amazon.
</p>
<p>If you phone, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: ccd667be46329005e9c54af2d916c395
title: Urgent: Paycheck Fairness Act
uri: 2019-02-17-Urgent-Paycheck-Fairness-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Paycheck_Fairness_Act%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/aoc-paycheck-fairness">support</a>
the Paycheck Fairness Act.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: b2a1180ae8d4df8d6e8971f29313aaec
title: Repression in Indonesia
uri: Repression-in-Indonesia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Repression_in_Indonesia%29
content:
<p>
Indonesia
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/22/west-papuan-leaders-blame-deaths-of-three-babies-on-indonesian-crackdown">accused
of heavy repression</a> in response to a guerrilla attack in West
Papua.
<p>
I believe the accusation, both because Indonesia has done such things
before, and because another article said Indonesia was not allowing
journalists into the area.


feed_id: d67dd0bcbaf6a78086ee9aaa2c86018a
title: Lincoln Memorial confrontation
uri: Lincoln-Memorial-confrontation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Lincoln_Memorial_confrontation%29

content:
<p>
A verbal confrontation at the Lincoln Memorial between protesting
right-wing white students and a group of protesting blacks became
verbally
nasty.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/21/new-video-confrontation-kentucky-students-native-american">It
sheds light</a> on the level of hostility in the US.
<p>
The students probably were bigots and racists, since they were wearing
right-wing extremist symbols such as "MAGA".  That is no ground to
infer anything about their parentage, or to insult homosexuals by
calling someone "faggot".  Nor to insult them for their race.  The
right way to oppose them is to focus on criticizing the views they
choose to advocate.


feed_id: c44cf3c3a22ea675ee103e3b44456cb2
title: Car seat prosecution
uri: Car-seat-prosecution
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Car_seat_prosecution%29
content:
<p>
A
mother <a href="https://letgrow.org/child-in-car-seat-falls-out-of-moving-car-so-mom-faces-possible-jail-time-that-is-cruel/">faces
prosecution</a> in Minnesota because her child's car seat fell out of
the car on the road.
<p>
Punishing parents for mistakes is stupid as well as unjust.  The
accusation itself causes stress to the family, which harms the
children as well as the parents.
<p>
This is part of the overall US pattern of pressuring parents, even by
threats, if they fail to be stiflingly overprotective.
Antiabortionists
even <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2018-sep-dec.html#14_September_2018_(Repression_in_Guatemala)">extend</a>
this
to <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-sep-dec.html#11_November_2017_(Miscarriage)">miscarriages</a>.
<p>
It constitutes one additional secondary reason why it
is <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/children.html ">better not
to have children</a>.


feed_id: caa62e3c25fea144519825ed588b9fa9
title: Energy democracy
uri: Energy-democracy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Energy_democracy%29
content:
<p>
2019 Is the Year
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/20/2019-year-embrace-energy-democracy-or-face-social-and-climate-breakdown">Embrace
Energy Democracy</a> &mdash; Or Face Social and Climate Breakdown.


feed_id: 247988c1a36064061621b4316426cf51
title: Enslaved workers in Thailand
uri: Enslaved-workers-in-Thailand
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Enslaved_workers_in_Thailand%29
content:
<p>
Thailand's supreme
court <a href="https://www.freedomunited.org/news/thai-supreme-court-backs-1-7-million-baht-payout/">upheld
a legal victory</a> for workers enslaved in a chicken farm.


feed_id: d3c9e8b58aef05918142a15dbb2a939a
title: MLK's views
uri: MLK-s-views
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28MLK%27s_views%29
content:
<p>
Martin Luther King held views that
were <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/21/martin-luther-king-was-radical-not-saint">labeled
as radical</a>.
<p>
Nowadays, they are not so radical &mdash; many of them are supported
by most Americans.


feed_id: e82eb8e12b11f9cfd9d012f97ab127c2
title: Opposition news in Nicaragua
uri: Opposition-news-in-Nicaragua
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Opposition_news_in_Nicaragua%29
content:
<p>
Nicaraguan <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#thug">thugs</a> raided an opposition news publisher; the editor
has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/21/nicaraguan-journalist-carlos-fernando-chamorro-flees-to-costa-rica-ortega">fled
to exile</a> in Costa Rica.


feed_id: 4937035bd33fead647d1467328370fec
title: Muslims in the Philippines
uri: Muslims-in-the-Philippines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Muslims_in_the_Philippines%29
content:
<p>
The Philippines
government <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/21/philippines-muslims-vote-in-referendum-on-new-autonomous-region">approved
an "autonomous region"</a> for the part of Mindanao inhabited mostly
by Muslims.
<p>
The article does not say whether the agreement reduces freedom of
religion and other human rights in that region.  Islamic
law <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#04_July_2014_(Nigerian_Atheist_receives_death_threats)">tramples
various human rights</a>,
so there is reason to be concerned about that danger.


feed_id: b4055dce245155097ff2e63e877fe717
title: Summit in Rwanda
uri: Summit-in-Rwanda
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Summit_in_Rwanda%29
content:
<p>
The British Commonwealth disregards its charter about democracy and
human rights
by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/20/rwanda-rights-and-the-commonwealth">hosting
a summit in Rwanda</a>.


feed_id: 3988459dd91e2d9f8f825808fba41406
title: Fundraiser t-shirts
uri: Fundraiser-t-shirts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Fundraiser_t-shirts%29
content:
<p>
Globalization's irony: Spice Girls t-shirts, sold to raise money to
campaign for equality, were made in a factory in Bangladesh by women
getting paid
around <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/20/spice-girls-comic-relief-tshirts-made-bangladesh-factory-paying-staff-35p-an-hour">30
cents per hour</a>.
<p>
The book No Logo explained how <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#business-supremacy">business-supremacy treaties</a> knocked
down the unions that were starting to raise the wages of factory
workers in some low-wage countries.
<p>
The article also shows, tangentially, how the practice of despising
sex workers is tied into broader misogyny.


feed_id: 81c5292f9003d1e40afba8578b98450c
title: Prosecutor as president
uri: Prosecutor-as-president
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Prosecutor_as_president%29
content:
<p>
In an age when the US imprisons far too many
people, <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/20/a-problem-for-kamala-harris-can-a-prosecutor-become-president-in-the-age-of-black-lives-matter/">a
prosecutor as president</a> (or other elected official) is in general
a bad idea.


feed_id: 54575e87ca8f5d5061b037360051e8be
title: Spending money on Facebook
uri: Spending-money-on-Facebook
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Spending_money_on_Facebook%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.revealnews.org/blog/a-judge-unsealed-a-trove-of-internal-facebook-documents-following-our-legal-action/">Facebook
staff discussed</a> in a tone of cupidity how they were leading minors
to spend their parents' money playing games.  Facebook kept the
parents confused about the situation, too.


feed_id: 3f3f2f78139dcfc03f79f32d8c50b5b3
title: Charter schools
uri: 2019-02-17-Charter-schools
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Charter_schools%29
content:
<p>
Charter schools are like tree roots growing into cracks in the
building of public education.  If not stopped, they
will <a href="https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2019/01/rising-tide-teacher-strikes-finally-exposing-corrupt-charter-school-agenda.html">bring
it crashing down</a>.
<p>
Teacher's strikes
are <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/18/swelling-tide-major-teacher-strikes-shifting-our-politics-against-charter-agenda">weakening
the political support</a> that charter schools have obtained in the
plutocratist system.


feed_id: ea242bd4f71f9e839cdc1930564c7577
title: Dropgangs
uri: Dropgangs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Dropgangs%29
content:
<p>
Black markets are developing
a <a href="https://opaque.link/post/dropgang/">sort of cell system</a>
by which the participants can't identify each other and can't betray
each other.  The customers never see any of them, and they can't
identify the customers either.
<p>
As sale of prohibited goods becomes anonymous and safe, lawful sales
of lawful goods are becoming a dangerous system of massive
surveillance.  When will we be able to buy those through a darknet,
for our privacy?
<p>
If Tor sold its DRM-free contract-free e-books through a darknet, I
would in principle (some details are crucial) be glad to buy them
straight from the publisher that way.


feed_id: d0468fa84792b34f9fce251d92ab6b9a
title: Forced arbitration
uri: 2019-02-17-Forced-arbitration
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#16_February_2019_%28Forced_arbitration%29
content:
<p>
Google's employees
have <a href="https://medium.com/@endforcedarbitration/googlers-for-ending-forced-arbitration-launch-public-education-campaign-via-social-media-e46d7608cd0e">launched
a campaign</a> to end forced arbitration in the US.  Not solely for
cases of sexual harassment &mdash; the campaign includes all forms of
mistreating workers.
<p>
Don't forget customers and clients!


feed_id: c79b2045d81ace70cb32f335a30c18b2
title: Urgent: Ilhan Omar
uri: Urgent-Ilhan-Omar
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Ilhan_Omar%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/stand-with-omar">call
on congressional Democratic leaders</a> to stand by Ilhan Omar against
right-wing attacks.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 63e977e92a396bf6e34fd7f2f85cc563
title: Urgent: Paid family leave
uri: Urgent-Paid-family-leave
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Paid_family_leave%29
content:
<p>
In the
US: <a href="https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/target_2019_paid_leave/">call
on Target</a> to give its employees 12 weeks of paid family leave.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: c853c600fede248fa24420814af94521
title: Urgent: Taxes for rich people
uri: Urgent-Taxes-for-rich-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Taxes_for_rich_people%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/tax-the-rich/">call
Democrats in Congress</a> to make rich people pay their fair share of
taxes.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 8f5fc5942a1257fd66b151ca2c6033f7
title: Urgent: Fossil fuel development
uri: Urgent-Fossil-fuel-development
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Fossil_fuel_development%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://secure.foodandwaterwatch.org/act/tell-congress-we-need-green-new-deal">call
for the Green New Deal</a> to include ending fossil fuel development.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 920dccb365142f14e8304886e0b2bd22
title: Tobacco fronts
uri: Tobacco-fronts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Tobacco_fronts%29
content:
<p>
Tobacco companies, fighting public health measures (such as increased
taxes) designed to reduce deaths from
smoking, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/23/tobacco-industry-free-market-thinktanks-cigarette-controls">hire
"free market" think tanks</a> as lobbying and PR fronts.
<p>
To the extent that cigarettes are smuggled, the effects of the tax
would be less.  One way to reduce that is to make agreements with
neighboring countries to increase the tax on tobacco.


feed_id: 85259a2a4380168654a22a57aa648aab
title: Elon Musk's foundation
uri: Elon-Musk-s-foundation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Elon_Musk%27s_foundation%29
content:
<p>
How Elon Musk's Secretive
Foundation <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/23/how-elon-musks-secretive-foundation-benefits-his-own-family">Benefits
His Own Family</a>.


feed_id: eb1c2c679a29f89a56f55dd91f337d42
title: Assange's lawsuit
uri: Assange-s-lawsuit
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Assange%27s_lawsuit%29
content:
<p>
Julian Assange
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jan/23/julian-assange-launches-legal-challenge-against-trump-administration-extradition">suing
the US</a> in the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, demanding
to know whether he faces US charges.


feed_id: 904c8d09c23285550e47ad0f31aceee7
title: Refugee eviction
uri: Refugee-eviction
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Refugee_eviction%29
content:
<p>
Italy
is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/23/italy-evicts-more-than-500-people-refugee-centre-near-rome">closing
a refugee center</a> and evicting the 500 refugees that live there.
<p>
Supposedly some of them will be housed elsewhere.  The rest, who knows?


feed_id: f16dc8291482d5ab8f222498c6e7ff89
title: William Barr
uri: 2019-02-18-William-Barr
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28William_Barr%29
content:
<p>
William
Barr <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/william-barr-has-long-history-abusing-civil-rights-and-liberties-name">Has
a Long History</a> of Abusing Civil Rights and Liberties in the Name
of "National Security".


feed_id: 0720ff2a4f6e6ec85c11756b1100f88b
title: Autonomous killer robots
uri: 2019-02-18-Autonomous-killer-robots
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Autonomous_killer_robots%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/22/call-global-ban-poll-shows-overwhelming-public-opposition-horrifying-killer-robots">A
survey of many countries</a> found that people strongly oppose
development of autonomous killer robots.


feed_id: 75645b76c345d5a8f8337c14f9d91855
title: Melting Greenland ice
uri: Melting-Greenland-ice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Melting_Greenland_ice%29
content:
<p>
Greenland ice is
melting <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/22/we-are-watching-ice-sheet-hit-tipping-point-greenland-melting-even-faster-feared">faster
than before</a>, suggesting 3 meters (10 feet) of sea level rise by
2100.
<p>
I have visited many cities which are likely to become sea as a result:
most recently, Kozhikode and Kochi in India.
<p>
The actual rise is likely to be more.  We don't know of all the
positive-feedback cycles that will make <a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#global heating">global heating</a> speed up.


feed_id: b450b473beb8ac3fe26ac02a16330b84
title: Sewer cleaners in India
uri: Sewer-cleaners-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Sewer_cleaners_in_India%29
content:
<p>
Some workers that clean sewers in
India <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/nhrc-notice-to-delhi-govt-over-death-of-sanitation-worker-while-cleaning-drain/articleshow/67627452.cms">don't
get safety equipment</a>, and fairly often have accidents that turn
fatal.


feed_id: 6ac0341acc35941e3561f9d8790935f9
title: TSA sick days
uri: TSA-sick-days
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28TSA_sick_days%29
content:
<p>
10% of the TSA's
workers <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/22/not-yet-strike-work-stoppage-nonetheless-unpaid-tsa-agents-calling-out-unsustainable">took
sick days</a> on Jan 20.  After a while, many would have to quit, and
air travel in the US would grind to a halt.


feed_id: b7eaa6636e2d3d4fd9b1f1e71d298199
title: FBI's mission
uri: FBI-s-mission
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28FBI%27s_mission%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/1/20/1828039/-An-amazing-admission-by-a-former-FBI-official">A
former FBI deputy assistant director</a> said that the FBI defined its
mission to include preventing the election of progressive and
socialist candidates.


feed_id: 8c8b7905b722866763f2dc56e3e437ef
title: 1960s assassinations
uri: 1960s-assassinations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%281960s_assassinations%29
content:
<p>
Relatives and
colleagues <a href="https://consortiumnews.com/2019/01/20/a-call-to-reinvestigate-american-assassinations/">call
for a new investigation</a> of the assassination in the 1960s of
President Kennedy, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and Senator Robert
Kennedy.


feed_id: bfe9c1990b6ae52c353a511341fb4285
title: Single payer medical bill
uri: Single-payer-medical-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Single_payer_medical_bill%29
content:
<p>
Democrats in
Congress <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/22/single-payer-gold-standard-hr-676-rest-peace">are
weakening</a> the single payer medical bill to make it more palatable
to insurance companies.


feed_id: 508584e4b55a7e69922979ca9eb081ff
title: Washington's teeth
uri: Washington-s-teeth
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Washington%27s_teeth%29
content:
<p>
George Washington lost his teeth, so
he <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/22/thinking-about-george-washingtons-teeth-mlk-jr-day">bought
teeth from his slaves</a>.


feed_id: da720ec2d033a5e38f88fcc239967b61
title: Republicans in Florida
uri: Republicans-in-Florida
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Republicans_in_Florida%29
content:
<p>
Florida's Republican governor
has <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/1/20/1828025/-Popular-elected-official-suspended-by-DeSantis-and-replaced-by-republican-cuz-that-s-a-thing-now">"suspended"
two officials</a> in charge of counting votes in Miami and replaced
them with Republicans.
<p>
Republicans in Florida have
a <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2004-nov-feb.html#18%20November%202004%20(Florida%20Republicans)">history</a>
of <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-sep-dec.html#16_September_2012_(Florida_voter_purge)">unfair</a>
election <a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#15_July_2014_(Floridas_congressional_districts)">practices</a>.


feed_id: a058cf3359a93422e412d9430cb0cc5c
title: Tracking in Moscow
uri: Tracking-in-Moscow
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#18_February_2019_%28Tracking_in_Moscow%29
content:
<p>
People on Moscow
streets <a href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/moscow-to-equip-city-streets-with-facial-reco-527271.html">will
be tracked</a> using face recognition.


feed_id: 9352c2812b43c5aba5621e0d835f869c
title: Urgent: Debt bondage
uri: Urgent-Debt-bondage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Debt_bondage%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: <a href="https://www.freedomunited.org/advocate/malaysia-end-debt-bondage/">Urge
Malaysia</a> to end debt bondage for migrant workers &mdash; instead
of enslaving them.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: b5f5a78c6be9d0bf8adf7602f5f623ff
title: Urgent: Venezuela
uri: Urgent-Venezuela
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Venezuela%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/tell-congress-no-venezuela-intervention_Feb">oppose
intervention</a> in Venezuela.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: bd07c96a98049fec4e6f4f39fe73bf89
title: Urgent: Private prisons
uri: Urgent-Private-prisons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Private_prisons%29
content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="http://act.presente.org/sign/wellsfargochasevalentines/">Call
on Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase</a> to stop funding private prisons.
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: ad03d8f18dcc9dedc2e45b0c92801b8c
title: Urgent: Extreme weather pay
uri: Urgent-Extreme-weather-pay
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_February_2019_%28Urgent%3A_Extreme_weather_pay%29

content:
<p>
US
citizens: <a href="https://www.coworker.org/petitions/all-stores-should-close-and-pay-employees-impacted-by-the-polar-vortex-1">call
for</a> requiring big companies' stores to pay their staff anyway when
they close due to extreme weather.
</p>
<p>
We should not forget the subcontracted workers and the ones whose
schedules are precarious!
</p>
<p>If you sign, please spread the word!</p>


feed_id: 3e3f7bd2e8ec9a68355e6a4ca17addc4
title: Google profiling
uri: Google-profiling
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2018-nov-feb.html#20_February_2019_%28Google_profiling%29
content:
<p>
Google Search profiles people and applies its filter
bubble <a href="https://www.cpomagazine.com/2019/01/19/new-duckduckgo-study-highlights-the-problem-of-the-google-filter-bubble/">even
when they are not logged in</a>.


