# articles

feed_id: a0f1702ac4c7949019a67815a15acdfe
title: Medical system
uri: Medical-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Medical_system%29
content:
<p>


"Before providing [DNA] specimens, <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3064518/the-rise-of-biorights-patients-demand-cash-control-for-donating-dna">patients are increasingly</a> looking
for compensation, commitments that useful medical information will be
returned to them, or control over how their biological samples will be
studied."
<p>
They are concerned about real problems, but proposing ineffective or
useless solutions.
<p>
Under a well-run medical system, where advances in treatment and
diagnosis are put to the service of everyone, and you don't risk
commercial disadvantage or punishment due to whatever is in your
sample, the chance that people will be cured because of one's
contribution would be all the reason anyone needs to contribute.  But
instead we have a system with real problems.
<p>
One real problem is that under the US medical system, new treatments
are in many cases too expensive for them.  Another real problem is that
insurance companies may use their DNA samples against them, and the state
could accuse them of crimes based on those samples.
<p>
The "solutions" people ask for do very little to fix these problems,
because they are individual "solutions" for a systemic problem.  Any
reasonable "compensation" for a DNA sample won't be enough to pay for
an expensive treatment.  Researchers could agree to provide whatever
useful medical information they discover, but can't promise to
discover anything useful for that particular patient.  As for "how"
the samples will be studied, it is hard to relate that to one's own
interest.


feed_id: 17d082aa97a824ddea51f55a96fd5e25
title: War on Pain Sufferers
uri: War-on-Pain-Sufferers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28War_on_Pain_Sufferers%29
content:
<p>

<a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/sad-news-about-the-disabled-mom-whose-school-made-her-get-out-of-the-car-to-pick-up-her-daughter/">The War on Pain Sufferers can kill</a>.


feed_id: a4449044c5b1c6c7835f5e4bcd94f0eb
title: "Sex offender"
uri: Sex-offender
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Sex_offender%29
content:
<p>

A father was concerned that his daughter was sexting, so he asked
thugs to convince her to stop.  (The last thing your child needs is to
have thugs involved in per life!)  He copied the photos as evidence,
so <a href="http://reason.com/blog/2016/10/11/dad-asks-cops-to-intervene-in-daughters">he was charged with possession of "child pornography" and labeled
as a sex offender</a>.
<p>
The "sex offender" list does little to protect anyone and a lot to
ruin people's lives.  But fundamentally it is unjust to prosecute
people for having a copy of anything whatsoever.


feed_id: 5838a9085fef1242ca87eb4da46a0b8f
title: EU pays dictator of Sudan
uri: EU-pays-dictator-of-Sudan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28EU_pays_dictator_of_Sudan%29
content:
<p>

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2016/oct/13/immigration-fears-make-the-eu-prepared-to-do-business-with-murderers">The EU is paying</a> the dictator of Sudan to keep immigration down.


feed_id: 89fcf765953e98441cba9ea1d5fec28a
title: The Houthis
uri: 2016-10-16-The-Houthis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28The_Houthis%29
content:
<p>

The Houthis <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/13/houthi-deny-missiles-us-yemen-war-iran-rebels-pentagon-saudi-arabia">say they were not</a> the ones that fired a missile at a US
destroyer.
<p>
I have no basis for judging whether to credit this.


feed_id: bbae5d5ca3336088f444fd385191645b
title: José Bové
uri: José-Bové
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Jos%C3%A9_Bov%C3%A9%29
content:
<p>


Facing public criticism, Canada decided that José Bové <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/12/following-public-pressure-jose-bove-noted-anti-globalization-activist-allowed-stay">can stay</a> and speak
against CETA.
<p>
This demonstrates there was never any valid reason to keep him out.


feed_id: 6809f0cacb25c603a9c85616a51f700e
title: Trump
uri: 2016-10-16-Trump
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Trump%29
content:
<p>

How many attacks on various groups <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/10/12/1581298/-First-he-said-a-Republican-reflects">does it take</a> to convince a
Republican not to support Trump?


feed_id: 8a189808807e1485bb83b60004507b52
title: Syria
uri: 2016-10-16-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Syria%29
content:
<p>

Russia <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/11/ignoring-russia-warnings-us-walking-towards-new-abyss-syria">is signaling that it would fight back</a> against an attack in
Syria by the US.


feed_id: a3a642d83f2b7266b066c1d5d2293749
title: Russian government cracking accounts
uri: Russian-government-cracking-accounts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Russian_government_cracking_accounts%29

content:
<p>

Google <a href="https://globalvoices.org/2016/10/11/google-warns-more-than-a-dozen-russian-journalists-and-activists-about-government-backed-attackers/">has warned</a> some Russians that the Russian government is trying to
crack their accounts.


feed_id: 0e31d34859421d07f04fd027849ea8e6
title: Disinformation against Wikileaks
uri: Disinformation-against-Wikileaks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Disinformation_against_Wikileaks%29

content:
<p>

Democrats <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/12/democratic-echo-chamber-inconvenient-truths-are-recast-putin-plots">are using</a> disinformation against the documents that Wikileaks
honestly releases.
<p>
Glenn Greenwald <a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/13/on-wikileaks-journalism-and-privacy-reporting-on-the-podesta-archive-is-an-easy-call/">punctures</a> the Democrats' invalid criticisms of the
publication of the leaks.
<p>
I agree with Greenwald that Wikileaks should have omitted personal
information that could hurt people and is politically irrelevant.
However, the Democratic Party should focus on correcting its wrongs
rather than on criticizing those that expose them.  And it must stop
arguing that people should help cover up those wrongs, because Trump.


feed_id: d4fe236812930112dab4d0cec6b44fa7
title: Prohibition on kratom
uri: Prohibition-on-kratom
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Prohibition_on_kratom%29
content:
<p>

The DEA <a href="http://reason.com/blog/2016/10/12/dea-withdrawing-awful-attempt-to-complet">is starting to reconsider</a> its plan to prohibit kratom.


feed_id: a49aca024b370c7a687c67e6faae686d
title: Paul LePage
uri: Paul-LePage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Paul_LePage%29
content:
<p>

Maine Governor LePage <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/11/politics/paul-lepage-authoritarian-power/index.html">said</a> he supports Trump to provide
"authoritarian power" because Obama is an "autocrat" (?!).


feed_id: 1bca19b218566d2f88e675a10915b4ad
title: Australia's coal mine
uri: Australia-s-coal-mine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Australia%27s_coal_mine%29
content:
<p>

Australia is using the Paris climate agreement <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2016/oct/14/we-should-be-putting-the-brake-on-the-carmichael-coalmine-not-hitting-the-accelerator">as an excuse</a>
to justify a new coal mine.
<p>
"Surely the government will make other cuts to cancel out the enormous
emissions from this coal" is an absurd argument, given that in fact
the Australian government is doing everything possible to keep
emissions high.
<p>
The officials' strings are surely being pulled by the coal company's
money, as part of a global plan to reject necessary cuts even though
that is likely to kill billions.  That the killing is not their goal,
merely a byproduct, is no excuse for it.
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/12/financial-powers-behind-dakota-access-pipeline-must-be-confronted">The Financial Powers Behind the Dakota Access Pipeline Must Be Confronted</a>.


feed_id: e6a366c5b755014d4517bd1d1c8a60dc
title: Philippine thugs' murder spree
uri: Philippine-thugs-murder-spree
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Philippine_thugs%27_murder_spree%29

content:
<p>

The Philippine thugs' murder spree is aimed at more than drug dealers.
Two disguised thugs were caught after murdering a woman described
as an "anti-crime campaigner".  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/14/philippine-killers-unmasked-as-policemen-according-to-authorities">They now face charges</a>.
<p>
The system of trials is not entirely reliable for determining who is a
criminal, but it is a lot more reliable than skipping directly to
punishment.


feed_id: f9d381ae6bbf11bee1c943206342b3af
title: Dakota Access Pipeline
uri: Dakota-Access-Pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Dakota_Access_Pipeline%29
content:
<p>

<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/10/presidential-candidates-remain-silent-dakota-access-pipeline-controversy">Clinton (like Trump) refuses to take a stand</a> regarding the Dakota
Access Pipeline.
<p>
I think this means she supports it and she would rather not be
criticized for that.


feed_id: 3261e6a8243c89ca3266804fd7401dae
title: Boko Haram
uri: 2016-10-16-Boko-Haram
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Boko_Haram%29
content:
<p>

The fanaticism of Boko Haram <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/13/nigera-polio-vaccine-drive-targets-41m-children-outbreak-africa">has blocked polio vaccination</a> campaigns
for years in its region, so a new vaccination drive will try to vaccinate
41 million children there.


feed_id: 61c781e50245abc057f17de0b9c7327f
title: Financing harmful projects
uri: Financing-harmful-projects
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Financing_harmful_projects%29
content:
<p>


The UK's Tory government <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/13/hinkley-hs2-heathrow-theresa-may-team-out-of-depth">intends to put</a> a hundred billion dollars
on infrastructure projects that are pointless or harmful.


feed_id: 7a6f3e8d8087d94378201478944d1254
title: Facebook and Black Lives Matter
uri: Facebook-and-Black-Lives-Matter
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Facebook_and_Black_Lives_Matter%29

content:
<p>

Facebook, its subsidiary Instagram, and Twitter, all gave special access
to a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/11/aclu-geofeedia-facebook-twitter-instagram-black-lives-matter">company monitoring Black Lives Matter protesters</a>.


feed_id: 4e0cf64e2cdb51abbb39c58332ed7862
title: Misrepresenting the situation in Syria
uri: Misrepresenting-the-situation-in-Syria
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Misrepresenting_the_situation_in_Syria%29

content:
<p>

<a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2016/02/18/the-media-are-misleading-public-syria/8YB75otYirPzUCnlwaVtcK/story.html">"Official" US news misrepresents the situation in Syria</a>.


feed_id: e653b1132e5ded1733c04dfeb8301079
title: Nice-style attack in Reno
uri: Nice-style-attack-in-Reno
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Nice-style_attack_in_Reno%29
content:
<p>

A Nice-style truck attack in Reno <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/11/native-american-rights-protesters-hit-by-truck-nevada">was apparently an act of terrorism</a>.  Fortunately, this time, no one was killed.
<p>
Strange that the word "terrorism" is not being used.
In the US, right-wing terrorists are as big a danger as Islamist
terrorists, though neither one is large as dangers go.


feed_id: 3ac82114aa72550c39a5e738dc369a43
title: Extremism reasons
uri: Extremism-reasons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Extremism_reasons%29
content:
<p>

18% of Muslim "violent extremists" in the US cited <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/11/homegrown-terrorists-are-mostly-motivated-us-atrocities-abroad-fbi">anger at US
military interventions in Muslim countries as a reason</a>.  It was the
most common single reason cited.
<p>
I expect the number of jihadis motivated by this in other countries is
in the thousands or tens of thousands.
<p>
Some of these interventions initially had a justification, but it has
evaporated.  Some of them never had any justification.  Either way, we
need to stop these wars, for our self interest as well as in the name
of justice.


feed_id: bb2088a7945bbba7e6c6ec750d0c00dd
title: Neoliberalism makes people suffer
uri: Neoliberalism-makes-people-suffer
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Neoliberalism_makes_people_suffer%29

content:
<p>

Neoliberalism, putting everyone into harsh competition, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/12/neoliberalism-creating-loneliness-wrenching-society-apart">is also making
people suffer</a> from loneliness that can kill.  Meanwhile, replacing direct
communication with digital communication adds to the problem.


feed_id: 605f4fc8da80d3413e9ebdab6fc2b98a
title: Sumatran rhinos
uri: Sumatran-rhinos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Sumatran_rhinos%29
content:
<p>

Sumatran rhinos <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/22/sumatran-rhinos-likely-to-become-extinct-warn-environment-experts">are likely to become extinct</a> unless urgent action is
taken.


feed_id: e0b00f4cae8b75c7f25e2e1971db5450
title: "Do Not Resist"
uri: Do-Not-Resist
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Do_Not_Resist%29
content:
<p>

A documentary, "Do Not Resist", <a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/12/do-not-resist-the-police-militarization-documentary-everyone-should-see/">shows how much US thugs have been militarized</a>
and how that spreads suffering.


feed_id: 28ee6a7ded82e1ed2ba966e1e3bac50f
title: Just Give Me Some Privacy
uri: Just-Give-Me-Some-Privacy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Just_Give_Me_Some_Privacy%29
content:
<p>

Just Give Me Some Privacy -- <a href="http://drexel.edu/now/archive/2016/October/Tor-Wikipedia-privacy/">Anonymous Wikipedia Editors and Tor Users 
Explain</a> Why They Don't Want You to Know Who They Are.


feed_id: 715acdb7901b032db991b778173d256e
title: Syria
uri: 2016-10-16-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Syria%29
content:
<p>

<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/11/american-military-intervention-cant-save-syria">American Military Intervention Can?t Save Syria</a>.


feed_id: e25f73a29f953451e033133aa80a6f48
title: Face recognition cameras in NY
uri: Face-recognition-cameras-in-NY
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Face_recognition_cameras_in_NY%29

content:
<p>


The <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/12/when-minority-report-becomes-new-yorkers-reality">ACLU condemns New York Governor Cuomo's plans</a> to fill the streets
with face recognition cameras.
<p>
I am very glad to see the ACLU go beyond proposals to limit access to
data already collected.  <a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">Limiting the collection</a> is what we need.


feed_id: 830c42a5272df590bc10aa75e87b05a1
title: Clinton and Walmart
uri: Clinton-and-Walmart
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Clinton_and_Walmart%29
content:
<p>

Clinton was on Walmart's board of directors, and when organizers asked her
to try to get a raise for workers, <a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/12/hacked-emails-show-hillary-clinton-repeatedly-praised-wal-mart-in-paid-speeches/">her team consulted with Walmart</a> about
how to respond.
<p>
That shows whose side she's on.


feed_id: 7f8a5e920c4aa38b53c0a716e9f405a1
title: Hungary's censorship
uri: Hungary-s-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Hungary%27s_censorship%29
content:
<p>


Hungary's main opposition newspaper has abruptly closed and removed
its archives from the internet.  People <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/13/hungary-future-europe-far-right-viktor-orban">suspect</a> that Orban forced
it to close.


feed_id: affaac1162109013dcebba4667c2fc93
title: Urgent: Let José Álverez rejoin family
uri: Urgent-Let-José-Álverez-rejoin-family
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Let_Jose_Alverez_rejoin_family%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.presente.org/sign/billclintonjose">call on Bill
Clinton</a> to push to let José Álvarez rejoin his
family in the US.
<p>
Álvarez lived in the US since age 12, without permission.  He
committed a
<a href="http://www.presstelegram.com/government-and-politics/20160505/deportation-over-21-year-old-charge-strands-long-beach-immigrant-in-mexico">nonviolent
drug crime</a> in 1995, served time in prison, and was released.  Then
he spent two decades in the US, gainfully employed.
<p>
When people who have been in the US just a few years commit serious
crimes, I am favor of deporting them, provided it is done reasonably
soon after the crime.
<p>
But it is an injustice to deport someone with decades of family ties
in the US because of a crime decades in the past.  It is an injustice
to deport any adult who has lived in the US since childhood.
<p>
And most of these nonviolent drug crimes should not be crimes anyway.
<p>
Nobody should have six children, but that is a different issue
and doesn't affect the conclusions on this one.


feed_id: 5f92d1d9389be58719790c68d3547ec7
title: Democratic Party's meager progressiveness
uri: Democratic-Party-s-meager-progressiveness
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Democratic_Partys_meager_progressiveness%29

content:
<p>
Big companies (and one union!) 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/11/warren-goldman-dccc/">told
the Democratic Party to cut down its (rather meager)
progressiveness</a> to get donations.


feed_id: 1f8aa532a5c8b1b2b2d584d387fcbf74
title: South Africa killing invasive trees
uri: South-Africa-killing-invasive-trees
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28South_Africa_killing_invasive_trees%29

content:
<p>
South Africa is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/oct/12/south-africa-drought-unemployment-jobs-water-alien-invasive-species-entrepreneurs-private-sector">trying
to cure its long-term drought</a> by killing invasive trees that use
lots of water.


feed_id: 176e1b407191fb56ce2c90917a58ad54
title: FBI surveillance orders outsourced
uri: FBI-surveillance-orders-outsourced
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28FBI_surveillance_orders_outsourced%29

content:
<p>
The FBI has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/12/security-fears-fbi-contracting-out-sensitive-surveillance-documents">outsourced
handling of evidence for surveillance orders</a> to a company.
<p>
Maybe this will lead to more whistleblowers.


feed_id: e74bbb7c797cca994471383723752c87
title: Making the UK "work for everyone"
uri: Making-the-UK-work-for-everyone
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Making_the_UK_work_for_everyone%29

content:
<p>
If May wants to make the UK "work for everyone", she had better change
the policies that are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/12/child-poverty-rise-50-percent-theresa-may">on
the way to increase child poverty</a>.
<p>
Some disabled people escape from 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/12/online-benefits-appeals-tribunals-disabled">denial
of disability support</a> by appealing against the denial.  The UK now
plans to limit appeals to sending paper documentation only, so that
some obvious and absurd errors will not be corrected.


feed_id: 37421221546a6c08331129cfedce37de
title: Cuban medical doctors
uri: Cuban-medical-doctors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Cuban_medical_doctors%29
content:
<p>
Cuban medical doctors are 
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/cuban-medics-in-haiti-put-the-world-to-shame-2169415.html">working
in 1/3 of the world's countries</a>, including Haiti.


feed_id: 54e9c00a8e41dcd6528f9788cc16d6ae
title: Tax evasion by Australian mining company
uri: Tax-evasion-by-Australian-mining-company
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Tax_evasion_by_Australian_mining_company%29

content:
<p>
A giant Australian mining company has paid 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/12/bhp-billiton-has-evaded-taxes-for-more-than-a-decade-says-wayne-swan">no
tax for a decade</a>.


feed_id: 9ab5db1cb9c9f008b375aa6d24d3e968
title: Campaign to kick homeless people out of SF
uri: Campaign-to-kick-homeless-people-out-of-SF
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Campaign_to_kick_homeless_people_out_of_SF%29

content:
<p>
Rich bastards in San Francisco are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/12/san-francisco-homeless-proposition-q-tech-investors">funding
a campaign</a> to kick out homeless people.
<p>
They would be given a bus ticket to some place they probably can't
remain.


feed_id: 9864639d5fe7500c131304b80aaf45be
title: Pressure to reduce car CO2 emissions
uri: Pressure-to-reduce-car-CO2-emissions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Pressure_to_reduce_car_CO2_emissions%29

content:
<p>
Investors have 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/12/investors-warn-car-industry-over-climate-change">told
car manufacturers to reduce CO<sub>2</sub> emissions</a>.


feed_id: 6f931ec76459f2c803af0f6a00657777
title: Privatization of state services
uri: 2016-10-16-Privatization-of-state-services
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Privatization_of_state_services%29

content:
<p>
Privatizing a part of the UK's NHS has already led to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/12/virgin-care-patients-being-forced-to-make-appointments-to-boost-profits-says-labour-mp-paula-sherriff">corrupt
practices at the expense of the treasury</a>.  That's what privatizing
state services tends to do.


feed_id: ab346d933d35ab7dd7f46e7cc03f4444
title: System of arbitrary punishment
uri: System-of-arbitrary-punishment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28System_of_arbitrary_punishment%29

content:
<p>
The ACLU and Human Rights Watch call for decriminalizing 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/12/aclu-human-rights-watch-personal-drug-decriminilization-report">possession
of forbidden drugs</a>.
<p>
The pressure to take a plea bargain even if you're innocent is so
strong that only 2 accused in a thousand actually have a trial.  It is
impossible that so few of the accused are innocent.  This is not a
system of justice, it is a system of arbitrary punishment.


feed_id: 299dd5880c009bd8ad54a3f21066e713
title: Republican mega-donors
uri: Republican-mega-donors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Republican_mega-donors%29
content:
<p>
Republican Mega-Donors 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/12/republican-party-congress-races-donors-donald-trump">Ramp
Up Efforts to Hold Congress after Trump Tape</a>.


feed_id: e7c2fab9717191d55f31a119b67b288a
title: Campaign finance restrictions
uri: Campaign-finance-restrictions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Campaign_finance_restrictions%29
content:
<p>
We need to be careful to 
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2016/10/10/does-the-first-amendment-cover-books-mov">prevent
campaign finance restrictions from stopping people from publishing
works through the usual publication outlets</a>.
<p>
These outlets should not be held responsible for the content of the
works they are used to distribute in the usual ways.
<p>
However, we can distinguish that from the case where a corporation
pays for election publicity.  If a company rents theaters to show a
movie that is for or against a certain candidate, that is clearly a
campaign expenditure by the company (but not by the theaters).


feed_id: 04356e924a0faa8e5e104862430be557
title: Republicans inconsistent about groping
uri: Republicans-inconsistent-about-groping
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Republicans_inconsistent_about_groping%29

content:
<p>
Republicans are horrified by the idea that women will be groped, but
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/10/10/1580324/-Remember-when-Republicans-were-hysterical-about-daughters-and-wives-being-groped-in-bathrooms">only
if it is by male-to-female transsexuals</a>.  (They are probably not
inclined to do such a thing.)  But when it is done by arrogant men
such as Trump, they look for an excuse.


feed_id: 624e893325bcae57dca2f51124d486fb
title: Thugs harassing pipeline protesters
uri: Thugs-harassing-pipeline-protesters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Thugs_harassing_pipeline_protesters%29

content:
<p>
Thugs are harassing pipeline protesters (and the general public in the
vicinity of protesters) constantly, with 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/10/surveillance-state-descends-dakota-access-pipeline-spirit-camp">cars,
armored vehicles, and helicopters</a>.


feed_id: 4b43634fd41254a02f747f737ef2aa8d
title: Women's accusations against Trump
uri: Women-s-accusations-against-Trump
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Womens_accusations_against_Trump%29

content:
<p>
Women who have accused Trump of 
<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-words-echo-womans-allegations-507763">forcing
himself on them</a>.


feed_id: 2cd0d377afc8d9cf602265d14e3b686e
title: Thug departments switching to encrypted radio
uri: Thug-departments-switching-to-encrypted-radio
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Thug_departments_switching_to_encrypted_radio%29

content:
<p>
Thug departments are switching to encrypted radio, but some have
turned off the encryption, finding that 
<a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/now-hear-this-emergency-agencies-turn-off-radio-encryption/">concealing
the information about their operations causes problems</a>.


feed_id: 591f69e090b9334ce2a49602538cb052
title: Rebels not welcome in Eastern Aleppo
uri: Rebels-not-welcome-in-Eastern-Aleppo
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Rebels_not_welcome_in_Eastern_Aleppo%29

content:
<p>
When the rebels took Eastern Aleppo, the inhabitants 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/aug/21/syrian-rebels-aleppo-local-hostility">did
not welcome them</a>.


feed_id: b02f8af1fd4937b8253ca1401a81a9cf
title: Allowing children to learn
uri: Allowing-children-to-learn
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Allowing_children_to_learn%29
content:
<p>
Allowing children to learn what interests them, in a nonstructured
way, can give them
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/oct/11/unschool-children-monitor-home-schooling-education">tremendous
life advantages</a>.
<p>
Does it give good results in families that don't have a tradition of
learning and curiosity, in deprived areas with no resources to
stimulate minds and no libraries?


feed_id: f8f531fbcc4af69a175fddff7f5cb993
title: US prisoners strike
uri: US-prisoners-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28US_prisoners_strike%29
content:
<p>
Striking US prisoners understand that the only effective action they
can take is to 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/11/new-slave-revolt">refuse
to be used as slaves</a>.


feed_id: 7a0475d5ea65177f0b21eaa072baa660
title: Ethiopia kidnaps dissident expat
uri: Ethiopia-kidnaps-dissident-expat
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Ethiopia_kidnaps_dissident_expat%29

content:
<p>
Ethiopia is systematically crushing dissent, and 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/11/un-condemns-ethiopia-crackdown-amid-fears-death-row-brit">kidnaped
a dissident expat from another country</a> who now faces execution in
Ethiopia.


feed_id: c279a20179a92fd939bb4a404a7d437c
title: Giving Haiti the money it needs
uri: Giving-Haiti-the-money-it-needs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Giving_Haiti_the_money_it_needs%29

content:
<p>
Giving Haiti the money it needs would be 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/11/the-guardian-view-on-haiti-time-to-repay-our-debts">partial
compensation for past injustice</a>.
<p>
The US helped force Haiti to pay the 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-mar-jun.html#16_May_2015_(Frances_debt_to_Haiti)">ransom
to France</a>.


feed_id: 426320d7a42b093ca3be305aec0a5a76
title: How congress may use lame duck session
uri: How-congress-may-use-lame-duck-session
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28How_congress_may_use_lame_duck_session%29

content:
<p>
Congress may use the lame duck session (after the election) to make
new 
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2016/10/06/lame-ducks-and-corporate-tax-privileges">tax
breaks or subsidies for companies</a>.


feed_id: f904000917980612ff497e401482636f
title: Withholding evidence useful to the defense
uri: Withholding-evidence-useful-to-the-defense
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Withholding_evidence_useful_to_the_defense%29

content:
<p>
In California, for a prosecutor to alter or withhold evidence useful
to the defense is 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2016/10/06/prosecutorial-misconduct-is-now-a-felony">now
a felony</a>.


feed_id: f38c6795b05b6836847b8f86d6e8e635
title: Aviation pollution
uri: Aviation-pollution
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Aviation_pollution%29
content:
<p>
Green Groups Warn 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/06/green-groups-warn-deal-lower-aviation-pollution-weak-shell-game">Deal
to Lower Aviation Pollution is 'Weak Shell Game'</a>.


feed_id: c436ba8ebdd65637f35d59414f8f06af
title: Urgent: Stop Native American land grab
uri: Urgent-Stop-Native-American-land-grab
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_Native_American_land_grab%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/land_grab">tell Congress</a>
to stop the modern day Native American land grab.


feed_id: e357525af64c4b055c6e5c29e372350b
title: Alabama's prison system
uri: Alabama-s-prison-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Alabamas_prison_system%29
content:
<p>
The US is investigating Alabama's prison system for 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/07/doj-launches-unprecedented-investigation-alabama-prisons">systematically
mistreating prisoners</a>.


feed_id: 055572294e87d6a43cc8de41e0772c0d
title: Trump's tax-dodging
uri: Trump-s-tax-dodging
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Trumps_tax-dodging%29
content:
<p>
Trump's tax-dodging was 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/07/donald-trump-tax-avoidance-businesses">probably
lawful</a>.  That doesn't make his actions right, or ethically
legitimate, but it shows we must change the tax law.


feed_id: 1c0fb7ad90a43e12545e28a588606ae4
title: Don't visit Thailand
uri: Don-t-visit-Thailand
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Dont_visit_Thailand%29
content:
<p>
"You know 
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/07/thailand-joshua-wong-deportation-hong-kong-demosisto'>this
is Thailand</a>, itâs like [54]China. Not like Hong Kong!"
<p>
Don't visit Thailand on vacation.  It is 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#30_March_2015_(Thailands_military_rulers)">ruled
by a tyrannical regime</a> that has
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-mar-jun.html#25_May_2014_(Thailands_military_rulers)">spit
on human rights</a> in
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-mar-jun.html#08_June_2014_(Crackdown_on_dissent_in_Thailand)">many</a> 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jan-apr.html#03_April_2015_(Thai_military_ruler_threatens_journalists)">ways</a>.  
Please don't spend your money there.


feed_id: f3823ce66617aa8be6dfc0372f94647c
title: Obesity rising due to junk food
uri: Obesity-rising-due-to-junk-food
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Obesity_rising_due_to_junk_food%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/07/junk-food-shortening-lives-children-obesity-diabetes-data">Junk
food</a> (probably mostly sugar) is causing rising obesity for
children; tens of millions have diseases caused by obesity.


feed_id: e7087ff119b6a302cd9588dc9730f73f
title: Effect of various treaties on farmers
uri: Effect-of-various-treaties-on-farmers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Effect_of_various_treaties_on_farmers%29

content:
<p>
Various treaties 
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/37906-seeds-of-corporate-power-vs-farmers-rights">either
push farmers under the power of giant multinationals or protect their
rights</a>.


feed_id: 2daa912ec9d3069c729748347e9f1a48
title: Voter registration for hurricane evacuees
uri: Voter-registration-for-hurricane-evacuees
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Voter_registration_for_hurricane_evacuees%29

content:
<p>
Florida Governor Scott won't give the people evacuating from Hurricane
Matthew 
<a href="https://thinkprogress.org/hurricane-matthew-voting-d412126ec0e6">more
time to register to vote</a>.


feed_id: 3c6b2cbc2c032dc6229fe27cd09ba7c0
title: Canada to allow refugees to sue gold mine owner
uri: Canada-to-allow-refugees-to-sue-gold-mine-owner
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Canada_to_allow_refugees_to_sue_gold_mine_owner%29

content:
<p>
Canada will allow refugees from Eritrea to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/07/eritrea-gold-mine-abuse-case-canada">sue
the Canadian owner of a gold mine in Eritrea</a> over how they were
treated.


feed_id: 0862e6a122878e35b8a066525c06fed3
title: The Paris agreement
uri: The-Paris-agreement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28The_Paris_agreement%29
content:
<p>
The Paris agreement could potentially be the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/07/paris-agreement-climate-change-carbon-emissions">beginning
of the changes we need</a>.
<p>
But it does not guarantee that they begin.


feed_id: 3e51582c4373f0bc2fecd1a2ae11ec71
title: Former president Horrible of Colombia
uri: Former-president-Horrible-of-Colombia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Former_president_Horrible_of_Colombia%29

content:
<p>
Former president Álvaro Uribe of Colombia procured disapproval
of the peace deal with the FARC, using a campaign of false rumors.
Now he is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/07/peace-deal-rejection-returns-alvaro-uribe-to-political-limelight">in
a position to block any new agreement</a>.
<p>
The FARC were Colombia's second-worst gang of terrorists.
The 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2011-mar-jun.html#25_April_2011_(Columbia_Paramilitaries)">worst
gang</a>, the
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jan-apr.html#12_April_2016_(Right-wing_terrorists_in_Colombia)">paramilitares</a>,
had 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2008-mar-jun.html#05%20June%202008%20(Columbia%20and%20terrorist%20paramilitaries)">links 
with el Presidente Horrible</a>. (as I called him — in Spanish,
"Horrible" sounds fairly similar to "Uribe").
<p>
The government signed a peace deal with the paramilitaries, who were
supposed to disband — but they 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2011-mar-jun.html#25_April_2011_(Columbia_Paramilitaries)">didn't
really do so</a>.
<p>
Peace with the FARC might enable Colombia to put more pressure
on the paramilitaries to really disband, but not if Horrible has anything
to say about it.
<p>
While Horrible was president, Santos was the minister of false
positives; the troops that murdered civilians for no reason except to
produce corpses were under his control.  I had a low opinion of him
for this and because he supported the business-supremacy treaty with
the US.  However, I must acknowledge that he has sincerely tried to
make peace with the FARC, which would be an admirable achievement.
<p>
Santos just received the Nobel Peace Prize for these negotiations.
Some say that this might enable him to rescue the accord.


feed_id: 643e70746be5719c631fcdf53203573b
title: Persecution for trying to avoid persecution
uri: Persecution-for-trying-to-avoid-persecution
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Persecution_for_trying_to_avoid_persecution%29

content:
<p>
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that 
<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160921184446/http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/09/20/sjc-judges-must-consider-high-rate-fios-between-boston-police-and-men-color/0baqga4wecvXxsWZwSnNlI/story.html">thugs
are not allowed to treat a black person's attempt to avoid them as a
sign of awareness of guilt</a>.  It could just be a sign that person is
afraid of being persecuted by bigoted thugs.
<p>
Whether the thugs in Boston actually practice racial profiling is a
separate question.  I don't know whether they do.  However, the issue
here is not what they do, but what a person has a rational reason to
think they are likely to do.


feed_id: 508feb267c57ae959b78c697c7a9c40d
title: Global heating and ticks
uri: Global-heating-and-ticks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Global_heating_and_ticks%29
content:
<p>
Ticks are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/28/tick-populations-booming-due-to-climate-change">spreading
geographically</a> due to global heating.  They transmit diseases to
humans and pets.
<p>
Tick bites make some people 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/07/tick-bites-that-trigger-severe-meat-allergy-on-rise-around-the-world">allergic
to mammal meat</a>.


feed_id: 1ada15fce8212f73459e37a3301adf55
title: Satanic Temple
uri: Satanic-Temple
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Satanic_Temple%29
content:
<p>
The Satanic Temple, a rationalist group which does not recognize the
existence
of gods or devils,
<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/after-school-satan-satanic-temple-portland-approved/">
now has an after-school program</a>.


feed_id: 1b42b76f82e37cc29897f1958fdb0348
title: Basis for prosecuting
uri: Basis-for-prosecuting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Basis_for_prosecuting%29
content:
<p>
A
<a href="http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2016/09/wells-fargo-fake-accounts-hidden-by-fake-whistleblowing-former-employees-including-hr-officials-allege-systematic-retaliation.html">
possible basis for prosecuting the Wells Fargo CEO</a> has appeared.
<p>
I doubt that the US government wants to prosecute a bankster.


feed_id: 10744d3b3de4910d2ae154f3e5e584a1
title: Russian meddling
uri: Russian-meddling
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Russian_meddling%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/09/thanks-internet-messing-with-elections-not-just-for-the-cia-anymore/">
The only thing that's new</a>, with apparently Russian meddling in US
elections, is that the US is the target.  In the past, the US has
often been the meddler.


feed_id: af3b13217b9016c3d6bd3ae51b07ab96
title: Expelled from Congress
uri: Expelled-from-Congress
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Expelled_from_Congress%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/13/eduardo-cunha-brazilian-politician-impeachment-dilma-rousseff-expelled">
Eduardo Cunha</a>, one of the main organizers of Rousseff's impeachment,
has
been expelled from Congress for corruption and perjury.


feed_id: 062a581bb49f9699ae4936bfef410180
title: Prison for using a phrase
uri: Prison-for-using-a-phrase
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28Prison_for_using_a_phrase%29
content:
<p>
<a jref="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/16/poland-approves-bill-outlawing-phrase-polish-death-camps">
Poland proposes a punishment of years in prison</a> for using the phrase
"Polish death camps".
<p>
I sympathize with the Polish government's wish to correct the error.
Those Nazi death camps were located in Poland, but they were not
Polish.  However, this method won't be very effective against foreign
media outlets, and meanwhile it violates human rights.
<p>
I wonder if quoting or describing this law in Poland, supposing it is
adopted, would be a violation of the same law.


feed_id: 390cb40edb30c5169362839dc9b4b35c
title: The Problem with Europe
uri: The-Problem-with-Europe
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_October_2016_%28The_Problem_with_Europe%29
content:
<p>
Joseph Stiglitz:
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/aug/10/joseph-stiglitz-the-problem-with-europe-is-the-euro">
The Problem with Europe Is the Euro</a>.
<p>
That may be the biggest economic problem, but the European Union
has another deeper problem: it is not democratic.  Fixing or
eliminating
the euro could end austerity, but as long as the
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_July_2016_%28Calls_for_reforming_the_EU_to_make_it_democratic%29">
EU is not democratic</a>
it will be susceptible to doing new wrongs.


feed_id: f0f927c3b0b706fe81dd6aa21217bbff
title: Urgent: End bombardment of Yemen
uri: Urgent-End-bombardment-of-Yemen
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_End_bombardment_of_Yemen%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on Obama to
<a href=http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/potus-end-us-support>
end US participation in the bombardment
of Yemen.
</a>


feed_id: 6cbbd47fb28bcfbe5f42bde256245ea5
title: Urgent: Release the Trump tapes
uri: Urgent-Release-the-Trump-tapes
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Release_the_Trump_tapes%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: call on NBC and MGM to
<a href=http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/nbc_trump_tapes/>
release the Trump tapes.
</a>


feed_id: 97e7c97540099648ef7fb850f0f0f2e5
title: Urgent: Nuclear arms race
uri: Urgent-Nuclear-arms-race
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Nuclear_arms_race%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: urge Senators Sanders and Warren to
<a href=https://secure3.convio.net/ucs/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=5446&autologin=true>
campaign against the
new nuclear arms race.
</a>


feed_id: 4e90682de355238d0c0b20e52f0bfb63
title: Babies
uri: Babies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Babies%29
content:
<p>
A campaign in India tries to teach the idea that
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/11/pink-ladoo-project-handing-out-sweets-challenging-gender-prejudice-india>
baby daughters are
just as good as baby sons.
</a>
<p>
I agree — but in overpopulated India it would be wiser to
celebrate each year without a baby of any kind.


feed_id: f16255f44e556779445e3cea28c343be
title: Sugary drinks tax
uri: Sugary-drinks-tax
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Sugary_drinks_tax%29
content:
<p>
The World Health Organization calls for
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/11/world-health-organisation-who-countries-tax-sugary-drinks>
a tax on all sugary drinks.
</a>
<p>
It seems like a good idea to me, but they should keep in mind that
artificial sweeteners seem perhaps to contribute to obesity by
confusing the brain.


feed_id: a8e7e4dad5a1b681c0483b2211fcd2f7
title: Olympic Games
uri: Olympic-Games
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Olympic_Games%29
content:
<p>
Rome has
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/11/italy-suspends-rome-2024-olympic-games-bid>
cancelled its application
</a>
to host the Olympic Games.
<p>
That is a wise decision.  The city has more important uses for its money
and should not suffer the other harms of the games.


feed_id: d21fb1f4720460226d017e279825f570
title: Yahoo blocks forwarding
uri: Yahoo-blocks-forwarding
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Yahoo_blocks_forwarding%29
content:
<p>
Yahoo has
<a href=https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/10/yahoo-makes-it-difficult-to-leave-its-service-by-disabling-email-forwarding/>
blocked users from setting up mail forwarding
</a>
to other mail
services.
<p>
Apparently, this is a measure to stop users from switching.


feed_id: eb2d85ef069ee47688ee1cffd0d40ab5
title: Flooding and fires
uri: Flooding-and-fires
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Flooding_and_fires%29
content:
<p>
It is becoming common for hurricanes to
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/11/hurricane-flooding-us-climate-change>
cause as much flooding
as Hurricane Sandy did.
</a>
<p>
Forest fires have doubled.  National parks are suffering from changing
ecosystems.
<p>
In a few decades, much worse will be normal.


feed_id: 17c5c6d7f52cfaa902da43d9de4bf810
title: Martin Ennals award
uri: Martin-Ennals-award
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Martin_Ennals_award%29
content:
<p>
Ilham Tohti, Uighur imprisoned for life by China,
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/11/ilham-tohti-uighur-china-wins-nobel-martin-ennals-human-rights-award>
wins major human rights
prize.
</a>


feed_id: f1113a871086f4b096001320ea522cd6
title: Bipartisan warmongering
uri: Bipartisan-warmongering
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Bipartisan_warmongering%29
content:
<p>
On military issues,
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/10/syria-policy-critics-warn-both-trump-and-clinton-get-it-very-wrong>
both Clinton and Trump have bad policies.
</a>


feed_id: 1151e8b2760d5c3da8b11adfcfc645db
title: EU principles
uri: EU-principles
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28EU_principles%29
content:
<p>
The UK and European countries are
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/11/brexit-weekly-briefing-pushback-against-hard-exit-begins>
treating the question of splitting up
</a>
as a matter of conflicting economic interests.
<p>
The EU cites four basic principles, all a matter of mere trade: "free
movement" of goods, services, capital and labor.
<p>
I think any political entity should adopt, as its basic principles,
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, Health and Well-being.  The European
Union does not treat these as very important, so Europe must either
fix the EU or get rid of it.


feed_id: 493a2fb82e1f363a613bd86ee82ae13f
title: Genital mutilation
uri: 2016-10-16-Genital-mutilation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Genital_mutilation%29
content:
<p>
Nigeria has
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/11/fgm-nigeria-20-million-women-and-girls-undergone-female-genital-mutilation>
banned female genital mutilation,
</a>
but the law is not well
enforced and the practice is still common in some parts of the
country.


feed_id: cbccb5557f9cc08031b1e10c6202e9d8
title: Keynes
uri: Keynes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Keynes%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-10-30/why-john-maynard-keyness-theories-can-fix-the-world-economy>
The economic advisor that the world needs to follow is Keynes.
</a>
<p>
The criticisms of the 1970s were based on an evident mistake:
supposing that typical consumers are foresighted.  All those Americans
who foolishly got second mortgages would be proof of that, if there
were any doubt.  Anyway, most consumers don't know enough about
economics to suppose that a stimulus program will lead to a tax
increase later.  And those who have to choose between food and
medicine each week will spend all the additional money they get.


feed_id: 7619800ee08f832c43483c3c9616f9cd
title: Oil drilling plans
uri: Oil-drilling-plans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Oil_drilling_plans%29
content:
<p>
Plans for oil drilling on Australia's southern continental shelf
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/11/bp-ditches-plans-to-drill-for-oil-in-the-great-australian-bight>
have
been shelved.
</a>


feed_id: fd20f2ededc82b5b00e69c664b2ee23a
title: Campaign funding
uri: Campaign-funding
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Campaign_funding%29
content:
<p>
Most Democratic candidates have granted legitimacy to
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/10/democrats-embrace-corporate-cash-isnt-pragmatic-its-ideological>
funding of
campaigns by the rich,
</a>
and it shows in what they stand for.


feed_id: fd14fa2672f0b3cd18f2f119d0c3d07b
title: US torture
uri: 2016-10-16-US-torture
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28US_torture%29
content:
<p>
Physicians for Human Rights documents the mental damage left by US torture
and how
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/10/physicians-human-rights-statement-new-york-times-how-us-torture-left-legacy>
physicians violated their oaths
</a>
by participating.


feed_id: 834cc7bb669567a395271f48d61290cd
title: "Cyberbullying"
uri: Cyberbullying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Cyberbullying%29
content:
<p>
Indonesia has passed
<a href=https://globalvoices.org/2016/10/09/indonesia-drafts-new-ban-on-cyberbullying-but-activists-say-theyre-the-target/>
a law against "cyberbullying"
</a>
which turns out to be
used to stifle dissent.
<p>
Of course, criminalizing "blasphemy" is prima facie injustice.
Condemning or mocking religion is a part of human rights.
But even laws against insulting people are intolerable.


feed_id: eb32236a2bf35a527cbbcdf2ec02da81
title: Fire in the Amazon
uri: Fire-in-the-Amazon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Fire_in_the_Amazon%29
content:
<p>
The Amazon rainforest is getting
<a href=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/09/29/1576024/-Catastrophe-in-Siberia-as-wildfires-threaten-oil-pipes-Fire-in-the-Amazon-is-reaching-record-levels>
less rain, and more fire,
</a>
due to global heating.  This speeds the heating.


feed_id: ac29a35d00ce826e238f2ad616ac17dd
title: US frack pipeline
uri: US-frack-pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28US_frack_pipeline%29
content:
<p>
A Texas company is
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/09/proposed-pipeline-sparks-widespread-dissent>
forcing a fracked gas pipeline through the US northeast
</a>
despite objections of people who may be endangered.


feed_id: 1068bc9fa61ad8d0bb84c8b4d48c176e
title: Women's Boat to Gaza
uri: Women-s-Boat-to-Gaza
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Women%27s_Boat_to_Gaza%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/09/womens-boat-gaza-activists-are-free-and-undeterred>
A message from the crew
</a>
of the latest boat that tried to break the
siege of Gaza.


feed_id: ab8f7d7e7579f6b4580643490abf3a72
title: Journalist curbed
uri: Journalist-curbed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Journalist_curbed%29
content:
<p>
A noted Pakistani journalist has been
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/10/pakistani-journalist-banned-leaving-country-cyril-almeida>
banned from leaving the country
</a>
because of his reporting.


feed_id: dce7b72ce154e6fc09f3cd9eb2829157
title: Clinton spurs fracking
uri: Clinton-spurs-fracking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Clinton_spurs_fracking%29
content:
<p>
Clinton told Deutsche Bank that she had
<a href=https://theintercept.com/2016/10/10/clinton-fracking-theworld/>
promoted fracking world-wide.
</a>


feed_id: c15fcd79dc240ecb659e80cfbbd76b64
title: Violence on Manus
uri: Violence-on-Manus
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Violence_on_Manus%29
content:
<p>
The refugees Australia forced into Manus Island face
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/11/unhcr-to-urge-australia-to-end-offshore-detention-as-violence-dogs-island-camps>
violence from local
inhabitants.
</a>


feed_id: 1a3a80cb8409b6813702b237347c05e4
title: Profitable aid
uri: Profitable-aid
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Profitable_aid%29
content:
<p>
"Aid" from wealthy countries could be
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/10/aid-reforms-could-see-big-increase-in-private-sector-subsidies>
redirected into loans or investment
in companies
</a>
in those countries.
<p>
  That would be instead of building systems for health and education and vital
infrastructure.
<p>
It wouldn't do as much to help non-elites in those countries, but it
would be more profitable.


feed_id: 844a37b90ae3113c7d6d60884deb2d5c
title: US and UK war crimes
uri: US-and-UK-war-crimes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28US_and_UK_war_crimes%29
content:
<p>
The US and UK are closely involved in
<a href=https://theintercept.com/2016/10/10/u-s-and-u-k-continue-to-actively-participate-in-saudi-war-crimes-targeting-of-yemeni-civilians/>
Salafi Arabia's bombing of Yemen,
</a>
and US officials have warned that this involves the US in the war crimes
of the bombardment campaign.


feed_id: 296d56fc64b3215ddfa979d4a827eceb
title: Australian gas export
uri: Australian-gas-export
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Australian_gas_export%29
content:
<p>
Australia exports increasing amounts of natural gas, but
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/11/fears-australia-losing-billions-in-liquefied-natural-gas-tax-sparks-calls-for-inquiry>
collects
little tax from the exporters.
</a>
The tax system is designed so they can
fiddle their accounts to reduce the amount they pay.
<p>
This policy encourages increases in the amount of exports,
which encourages roasting our planet.


feed_id: 257d72cabed5cee761de45591c4baa08
title: Global heating denial
uri: 2016-10-16-Global-heating-denial
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Global_heating_denial%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/10/fracking-climate-change-denial-fight-fossil-fuel-madness>
Fracking
</a>
is a form of
<a href=2014-jul-oct.html#19_September_2014_(The_silence_on_global_heating)>
[global heating]
</a>
denial.


feed_id: 8fb8f52b808ef793743361133c28a5e2
title: Oil sponsored museums
uri: Oil-sponsored-museums
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Oil_sponsored_museums%29
content:
<p>
The UK's Science Museum has rejected further sponsorship from Shell but
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/10/science-museum-condemned-for-oil-company-sponsorship>
has accepted sponsorship from Statoil.
</a>
<p>
<a href=2015-jan-apr.html#2_April_2015_(Urgent:_get_Koch_bros._out_of_science_museums)>
Museums
</a>
        and
<a href=2015-nov-feb.html#5_February_2016_(David_Kochs_baneful_influence_on_NOVA)>
science programs
</a>
                                       must reject the corrupting influence
of fossil fuels.


feed_id: f512cf387d1df483770096a72304703c
title: Geneva conventions
uri: 2016-10-16-Geneva-conventions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Geneva_conventions%29
content:
<p>
The US and Russia have both helped to trash the Geneva conventions.
Repeated violations have endangered the agreement that
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/10/future-wars-horrific-aleppo-war-zones-medical-facilities-un>
hospitals,
medics and wounded people should not be targets in war.
</a>
We must reestablish this.


feed_id: 10d9ea1d52ade7bc6f1c567298d3039f
title: Escalation in Yemen
uri: Escalation-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#12_October_2016_%28Escalation_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
Surprise!  In Yemen, the Houthis and their allies are starting to
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/10/why-yemen-conflict-has-become-another-syria>
fire
missiles at Salafi Arabia and the US navy,
</a>
the countries that have
bombarded Yemen for no valid reason.
<p>
It was wrong from the outset for Salafi Arabia and the US to intervene
in Yemen.  The civil war in Yemen would have ended soon if not for
that external intervention.  The Houthis, who were winning, were no
enemy of the US at that time.
<p>
Geopolitical rivalry with Iran was not and is not a valid
justification for war.
<p>
As for human rights, Iran regularly violates them, but
<a href=2015-nov-feb.html#7_January_2016_(Salafi_Arabia)>
Salafi Arabia
</a>
is
<a href=2013-jan-apr.html#27_April_2013_(Saudi_Arabia_imprisons_founder_of_human_rights_defense_group)>
far worse.
</a>
<p>
The longer this intervention continues, the more suffering it will
cause in Yemen, and the more it will tend to spread.  The US should
end this intervention as soon as possible, to stop doing any more
harm.


feed_id: de47337ac04bfda68293bfd85229ff95
title: Urgent: Limit ISPs' use of internet contacts
uri: Urgent-Limit-ISPs-use-of-internet-contacts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Limit_ISPs%27_use_of_internet_contacts%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone FCC commissioners to
<a href=http://act.freepress.net/call/fcc_privacy_broadband/?t=1003&akid=5817.9489429.V8r41v>
adopt the proposal to limit
ISPs' use of a customer's network contacts.
</a>
<p>
If you agree with me that ISPs should not even be allowed to record a
subscriber's internet contacts without a specific court order, you can
say that too.


feed_id: 9f594123454861fea6760c726e293937
title: Deceptive Airbnb ads
uri: Deceptive-Airbnb-ads
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Deceptive_Airbnb_ads%29
content:
<p>
Airbnb contributes to
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/17/airbnb-rent-unaffordable-elizabeth-warren-neighborhoods>
making cities too expensive to live in.
</a>
<p>
  Many cities propose to use regulations to curb this.  In New Orleans,
Airbnb has broadcast deceptive ads against the regulations.


feed_id: 39138676d142f8592399b35a23efd1a2
title: Illegal UK snooping
uri: Illegal-UK-snooping
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Illegal_UK_snooping%29
content:
<p>
The UK government did
<a href=http://arstechnica.co.uk/tech-policy/2016/10/british-spies-bulk-personal-datasets-broke-echr-rules/>
massive illegal snooping
</a>
for a decade.
<p>
In 2015, the practices were revealed, and now a court has ruled that they
violate European human rights law.
<p>
I wonder, does Theresa May's new "snooper's charter" give permission
for these practices?


feed_id: 19aa1b4073221939c0d08148adee20af
title: Climate mayhem
uri: 2016-10-18-Climate-mayhem
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Climate_mayhem%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/17/climate-change-could-drive-122m-more-people-into-extreme-poverty-by-2030-un-united-nations-report>
Climate [mayhem]
</a>
could drive 122m more people into extreme poverty by 2030.
<p>
  This is because of forecast damage to agriculture in some parts of
the world.
<p>
If we are more lucky, this harm would happen to only 35 million people
by 2030.


feed_id: 44599b7f37da9fa5656368926a14c816
title: Homeless children
uri: Homeless-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Homeless_children%29
content:
<p>
Egypt has imprisoned Aya Hijazi for two years for
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/17/aya-hijazi-american-egypt-detention>
running a charity to help
homeless Egyptian children.
</a>
<p>
To Egypt's violent and tyrannical government, she is just a useful pawn.


feed_id: 9f92df48001da261cdaf92b0c2931db4
title: Abortion medicine
uri: Abortion-medicine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Abortion_medicine%29
content:
<p>
Women on Web
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/17/home-abortion-kits-women-ireland-study>
sends abortion medicine to women in Ireland
</a>
who then use
it illegally.  It did a survey of the women it had helped.  98% said
they would recommend that other women do the same.
<p>
This is to counter malicious rumors spread by antiabortionists.
<p>
Even with surgical abortions,
<a href=2016-jan-apr.html#17_April_2016_(Anti-abortionists_in_Northern_Ireland)>
the complications
</a>
are small compared
with those of having a baby.


feed_id: 89cb3d89675c1696a7a30ae9c87d81c5
title: Anti-nuclear governor
uri: Anti-nuclear-governor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Anti-nuclear_governor%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/17/japanese-anti-nuclear-candidate-wins-election-at-site-of-worlds-biggest-atomic-power-station>
An anti-nuclear candidate won election
</a>
as governor of Niigata
on the platform of blocking restart of the nuclear power station there.


feed_id: a3c735b0f92a391b8a2b9e20823454de
title: Antibiotics
uri: 2016-10-18-Antibiotics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Antibiotics%29
content:
<p>
European farms are making
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/17/use-of-strongest-antibiotics-rises-to-record-levels-on-european-farms>
record use of the most vital antibiotics,
</a>
  which will surely make them fail to work for us when we need them,
some years from now.


feed_id: 19135eb8ecabe1b3aaae93e025418243
title: Arson on party office
uri: Arson-on-party-office
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Arson_on_party_office%29
content:
<p>
Someone did an
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/16/north-carolina-republican-party-headquarters-attack>
arson attack against a Republican party office
</a>
in North
Carolina.
<p>
The Republican Party deserves condemnation for many reasons, but using
violence only aids its opposition to the democratic republic we hope to
maintain.


feed_id: dff272e544b010058b5718afc282527e
title: Exxon sued
uri: Exxon-sued
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Exxon_sued%29
content:
<p>
A lawsuit against Exxon charges
<a href=http://www.dw.com/en/exxon-mobil-sued-for-climate-deceit-in-us/a-35964796>
"climate deceit".
</a>


feed_id: c750f365ad7cc64b346e6f56dd252890
title: War over Syria
uri: War-over-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28War_over_Syria%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/16/us-and-uk-consider-tougher-sanctions-against-syria-and-allies>
The US will avoid war with Russia over Syria,
</a>
it seems.
<p>
  (A sigh of relief is heard.)
<p>
It can occasionally be correct to go to war to free people from a
tyranny and give them freedom and democracy, but first we must make
sure that (1) the people in question want to be helped in that way,
and (2) freedom and democracy are likely to actually result.  In
Syria, (1) may be true for some, but I don't see any way to achieve
(2) there.


feed_id: 84a5b03d07cf4772a630ac5181755f06
title: Flick off Netflix!
uri: Flick-off-Netflix
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Flick_off_Netflix%21%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/oct/16/is-golden-age-tv-over-netflix-shows-cable-television>
Netflix may have trouble
</a>
with its business model.
<p>
That business model is based on mistreating the public in three ways:
<a href=https://DefectiveByDesign.org>
DRM</a>,
<a href=https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html>
  tracking users</a>,
and
<a href=../internet-music.html>
imposing contracts that restrict the user (EULAs).
</a>
<p>
  Any one of them would make it totally unacceptable.
Flick off Netflix!
<p>
If we refuse to do business with Netflix, we might wipe it out!


feed_id: 0e95d02a3fbce5a96891f1162e8b9244
title: "Real ID" program
uri: Real-ID-program
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Real_ID_program%29
content:
<p>
Some states continue to
<a href= http://washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/13/real-id-law-facing-backlash-from-states-refusing-t/>
resist the "Real ID" program
</a>
which tries to make
US state driver's licenses act as national ID cards.
<p>
I am disappointed with those states that have gone along with this.


feed_id: 13e4cf3884b033ab27545f7caa4666b3
title: Cease-fire in Yemen
uri: Cease-fire-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Cease-fire_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
The US calls for an
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/16/britain-and-us-call-for-yemen-ceasefire-within-hours>
immediate cease fire in Yemen.
</a>
<p>
Better late than never.
<p>
It was the US that kept the conflict going.  When the US and Salafi
Arabia intervened, the Houthis were rapidly defeating the previous
government.  If they had not intervened, the war could have been over
more than a year ago.  Iran is no friend of al-Qa'ida; the Houthis
might have suppressed it there.  And no one would be blaming the US
for intervening.


feed_id: a61582de089b83beec806ffc2fdcdd46
title: Small nuclear reactors
uri: Small-nuclear-reactors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Small_nuclear_reactors%29
content:
<p>
Are
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/oct/16/safer-small-nuclear-reactors-power-plant-technology>
small nuclear reactors
</a>
a good idea?
<p>
Not needing pumps, they could be inherently safer than the traditional
designs.  But that doesn't mean they can't have spectacular failures.
It doesn't necessarily mean they can't melt down, for instance.  The
high-temperature liquid in a reactor tends to cause corrosion.
Structure which is quite safe can alter under the influence of
corrosion and become unsafe.  There is no way to see where things have
moved to.
<p>
In addition, making 10 little reactors instead of one big reactor
increases the opportunities to build one wrong.


feed_id: 1d4940c9f2b06b5ef64d49dd7fbd9287
title: Uranium shells
uri: Uranium-shells
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Uranium_shells%29
content:
<p>
The motive for Depleted (or Dirty) Uranium shells was to attack
armored vehicles.  Most of the time when A10 fighters fired them in
the conquest of Iraq,
<a href=https://www.irinnews.org/analysis/2016/10/06/exclusive-iraq-war-records-reignite-debate-over-us-use-depleted-uranium>
they were aimed at cars and trucks.
</a>
<p>
This meant a lot of the fallout pollution was not even military useful:
nonradioactive shells would have done just as well.
<p>
Posting this does not mean I think that Dirty Uranium are shells are
legitimate at all.  And would you want your army to pollute your country
for millions of years in defending against an invasion?


feed_id: 5b01cd7c9edc9d5bed641a98517d46ca
title: Anti-Muslim militias
uri: Anti-Muslim-militias
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Anti-Muslim_militias%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/15/islamophobia-rise-right-wing-militias-threaten-communities-kansas-georgia>
Anti-Muslim terror-militias
</a>
are rising in some US states.


feed_id: dcc91b7d48a1d74a16865cbe482a32d7
title: Tyranny of business
uri: Tyranny-of-business
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Tyranny_of_business%29
content:
<p>
People who
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/15/deadline-looms-wikileaks-reveals-corporate-demands-european-union-trade-services>
reject the business-supremacy treaties
</a>
are not against "trade",
they are against the tyranny of business.


feed_id: bc84fde89eaca6e0116ed4b20eb85c3b
title: Irrationality
uri: Irrationality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Irrationality%29
content:
<p>
Democracy works very badly in the US,
partly because most voters are
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/04/democracy-people-power-governments-policy>
very bad at thinking.
</a>
<p>
Look at the Trump supporters that have taken a stand that is almost opposed
to the idea of rational thought.


feed_id: 30c8daf638dc0c9938656303c6d77680
title: Wind farms
uri: Wind-farms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Wind_farms%29
content:
<p>
Germany has
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/11/germany-takes-steps-to-roll-back-renewable-energy-revolution>
extended its wind farms faster than its power grid;
</a>
it can't
transport all the power to people who need it.
<p>
There are ways to use the electricity, which while not optimally
efficient are better than shutting off the wind turbines.  Germany could
build cables to sell this electricity to other nearby countries
including the Netherlands and England, or use it to extract CO2 from
the air, or extract CO2 from the air to convert into chemical fuels.


feed_id: 999218a83e9f10116757d36570758391
title: Superintelligent AI
uri: Superintelligent-AI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Superintelligent_AI%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://motherboard.vice.com/read/superintelligence-and-fear-mongering-should-we-really-be-worried>
Superintelligent AI
</a>
is a potential danger.
<p>
<a href=../articles/made-for-you.html>
Here's my fictional idea
</a>
for one way it might be made safe.


feed_id: fa8b68bba4f7b0d8ad1766db92affb4a
title: Danger of thugs
uri: Danger-of-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Danger_of_thugs%29
content:
<p>
Any unarmed American is
<a href=http://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/all_the_ways_you_can_comply_and_still_die_during_an_encounter_with_police>
in danger of being shot dead by thugs
</a>
(though mostly they do this to blacks), and there is no reliable way
to avoid it.


feed_id: ec931f0bbfa9b78a8ec10cfddeba09a3
title: Everyone's movements
uri: Everyone-s-movements
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Everyone%27s_movements%29
content:
<p>
Billionaires have
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/15/baltimore-surveillance-john-laura-arnold-billionaires>
funded surveillance of everyone's movements
</a>
across a
large part of Baltimore.
<p>
The private funds enabled thugs to do this without even telling the
city government, let alone asking.
<p>
Cambridge, Massachusetts, adopted an ordinance so that city departments
must get coulcil permission for surveillance devices.


feed_id: 797296f6824f474fb7f1c9c196cafc7e
title: Gun trafficking
uri: Gun-trafficking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Gun_trafficking%29
content:
<p>
Amazingly, there is
<a href=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/10/gun-trafficking-law-maloney-kenneth-thompson>
no federal law against gun trafficking.
</a>


feed_id: 7ac77e95e7194ad7363fee6af760599f
title: Neoliberalism
uri: 2016-10-18-Neoliberalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Neoliberalism%29
content:
<p>
Neoliberalism's decades-long
<a href=http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/37988-neoliberalism-s-decades-long-attack-on-public-universities>
attack on public universities.
</a>


feed_id: 6e659edb1f64abe9c856f4bd91e5f1e4
title: Paying refugees
uri: Paying-refugees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Paying_refugees%29
content:
<p>
Australia is paying refugees to
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/15/three-nauru-refugees-volunteer-to-be-resettled-in-cambodia>
move from Nauru to Cambodia,
</a>
which
might perhaps compensate for how difficult it would be for them
to live there.


feed_id: 1e31c1275a9ecccbb1213b512644229b
title: Unjust domination
uri: Unjust-domination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Unjust_domination%29
content:
<p>
The big political argument being used against the UK's leaving the EU
seems to be that
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/14/us-banks-planning-exodus-from-brexit-britain-michel-sapin-french-minister>
multinational business will punish the UK for it.
</a>
<p>
What we see here is an example of the unjust domination of the world
by business.  Whatever issues ought to decide whether it is wise for
the UK to leave the EU, "business won't like it" is not one of them.
<p>
What this says to me is that we must urgently take these businesses'
power away from them.
<p>
One of the many ways they got this power is that the UK set out to
attract international businesses by bowing to them and giving them
extra power in the UK.  And the Tories will certainly try to discourage
them from leaving by bowing down to them even more.


feed_id: 3f904e8e6fdee4da86b00996128586a1
title: Russia bombing Aleppo
uri: Russia-bombing-Aleppo
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Russia_bombing_Aleppo%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/14/stop-the-war-syria-target-russia-aleppo>
Fighting with Russia in Syria
</a>
would be crazy, but protests would do some good.


feed_id: ac79b9389d555d40da2ff9a916eea414
title: Filmmaker charged
uri: Filmmaker-charged
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Filmmaker_charged%29
content:
<p>
Filmmaker Deia Schlosberg, who was involved in making Gasland,
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/15/filmmaker-faces-45-years-prison-reporting-dakota-access-protests>
faces
charges carrying 45 years in prison for filming a pipeline protest.
</a>
<p>
One hopes these charges will be dismissed because they are
unconstitutional, but just being charged with bogus charges does a lot
of harm to a person's life.  Thugs and prosecutors do this and think
it is fun.  When the victims sue, it is the city that pays, not the
people responsible.  To make them stop, we need a way to punish them
personally.


feed_id: 2363e609d1c5400ed50d98ca99a09504
title: Collapse of NHS
uri: Collapse-of-NHS
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Collapse_of_NHS%29
content:
<p>
Britain's National Health Service, the greatest achievement of
democratic socialism, is on the
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/15/bma-theresa-may-nhs-crisis-autumn-statement>
brink of collapse because
</a>
the Tories
keep cutting the funds.


feed_id: d8d70337e0275f118b1b4e46c75e44d9
title: Apple's tax avoidance
uri: Apple-s-tax-avoidance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Apple%27s_tax_avoidance%29
content:
<p>
Trump said that not paying tax made him "smart".  Tim Cook
says that
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/16/taxes-panama-papers-trump-tax-havens>
ordering Apple to pay tax is "political crap."
</a>
<p>
  It's basically the same idea: "You little guys pay the costs of
running our country.  We powerful people and companies are too important
to be bothered."
<p>
The Panama Papers show that UK lawyers are behind a large part of the
international tax evasion schemes, and the Tories protect them.
<p>
I wonder if part of the motive for their insistence on taking the UK
out of the European Union is so that the EU can't make the UK shut
this down.


feed_id: 4d02f9fc47359c51d79942625c6da701
title: Malthusian disaster
uri: Malthusian-disaster
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Malthusian_disaster%29
content:
<p>
Farmers in India want to
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/16/farmers-march-in-silence-india-maharashtra-maratha-dalit>
roast our planet
</a>
so that they can
put off their own Malthusian disaster for one more generation.
<p>
The problem is that they have been having too many children.
They must stop.
<p>
Wealthy countries should help them stop, with donations of birth
control products and sterilizations.  But we must also deny our
sympathy to those responsible for the overreproduction when they
complain about the consequences.


feed_id: ec5b645998f8178d09b7970eee556e9c
title: Urgent: Block Dakota Pipeline
uri: Urgent-Block-Dakota-Pipeline
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#17_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Block_Dakota_Pipeline%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: Call on the US army to
<a href=https://secure.earthjustice.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1861>
block the Dakota Access Pipeline.
</a>


feed_id: 8863bcdce901590fb6fe419cd95a042e
title: Urgent: Reject religious discrimination
uri: Urgent-Reject-religious-discrimination
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_religious_discrimination%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: Call on your senators to
<a href=http://actnow.prochoiceamerica.org/letter/161011_dodreauthorization/>
reject riders that authorize
employment discrimination for religious motivations.
</a>


feed_id: 4e8c1d559f5f83a1afb72534616e79d3
title: Urgent: Pull US out of Yemen
uri: Urgent-Pull-US-out-of-Yemen
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Pull_US_out_of_Yemen%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: Call on Congress to
<a href=http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-use-your-war>
pull the US out of the Salafi Arabian
intervention in Yemen.
</a>


feed_id: ecf26f30775ab93e4c9e9d4f3d84eff2
title: Campaign contributions
uri: 2016-10-18-Campaign-contributions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Campaign_contributions%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/14/1-billion-election-no-one-noticing>
A billion dollars in campaign contributions
</a>
are trying to influence
the US elections this November.
<p>
  In general, this influence favors the rich.
<p>
In states where judges are elected, those elections give wealthy
people and companies an opportunity to buy immunity from prosecution.


feed_id: ee914b43c279a4c7861e3bcc5498aeee
title: UK immigration law
uri: UK-immigration-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28UK_immigration_law%29
content:
<p>
May Brown, in the UK, may die from leukemia because the government
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/14/woman-distraught-sister-refused-uk-visa-donate-stem-cells>
will not allow her sister to visit and donate stem cells to cure her.
</a>
<p>
It seems that the government is searching desperately for
<a href=#10_August_2016_(UK_to_give_everyone_in_the_country_a_unique_number)>
any excuse,
</a>
no matter
<a href=2016-mar-jun.html#29_April_2016_(UK_immigration)>
how cruel,
</a>
by which it could
<a href=2015-nov-feb.html#12_January_2016_(UKs_immigration_law)>
reduce the number of
immigrants,
</a>
or even
hypothetical immigrants.
<p>


feed_id: 53d36981c19918e8dc6dee2e2feee031
title: Druge price hike
uri: Druge-price-hike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Druge_price_hike%29
content:
<p>
The company that makes a drug to treat lead poisoning
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/14/flint-suffers-big-pharma-slammed-lead-poison-drug-price-hike-2700>
multiplied the
price by almost 30
</a>
during 2014.


feed_id: adf481ffe4fc33ce7f456b5da1ef82f9
title: Pipeline protest
uri: Pipeline-protest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Pipeline_protest%29
content:
<p>
Thugs
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/14/law-enforcement-arrest-29-water-protectors-indigenous-peoples-day-continue>
took a journalist's drone
</a>
as he was making a video of the
pipeline protest on Oct 10.  They plan to prosecute him too.


feed_id: 0afb6254ed4e5fdd76947eb552a14970
title: Shot in the back
uri: Shot-in-the-back
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Shot_in_the_back%29
content:
<p>
Autopsy results show that
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/further/2016/10/13/black-not-weapon>
thugs shot Keith Scott in the back.
</a>


feed_id: 9903f241e4617cbcc1a8a55a36548aa4
title: Minimum wage
uri: 2016-10-18-Minimum-wage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Minimum_wage%29
content:
<p>
Governor LePage of Maine, a right-wing extremist, said dissidents
should be
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/14/gov-lepage-calls-jailing-maine-minimum-wage-leaders>
jailed for calling for a boost in the minimum wage.
</a>
<p>
It would be wrong to jail LePage for opposing this important measure,
or even for being un-American (which he clearly is), because he has a
right to freedom of speech.  But people who want to continue American
democracy should not vote for people like him.


feed_id: bb9f5e2f03925ddbcac0cf9960211e01
title: Coal export
uri: Coal-export
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Coal_export%29
content:
<p>
A planned coal export terminal in Oregon
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/14/lighthouse-resources-backs-coal-export-columbia-river-oregon>
has been blocked.
</a>
<p>
Bravo, because we need to
<a href=#3_August_2016_(Coal_leases)>
end the use of coal,
</a>
and soon.


feed_id: 34e03112b418e772d87e83f9eaafb8d5
title: Food crisis
uri: Food-crisis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Food_crisis%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/14/courage-embrace-radical-choices-face-climate-and-food-crisis>
Agriculture requires big changes
</a>
in order to avoid global heating disaster.


feed_id: 0ce9c8e01bdbf2d911b3e9e01e380120
title: Gun accidents
uri: Gun-accidents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Gun_accidents%29
content:
<p>
1000 minors in the US were
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/14/child-dies-accidental-gunshot-every-other-day-us-report>
shot dead in
gun accidents
</a>
in the 912 days
from 1 January 2014 to 30 June 2016.
<p>
In the US, the lack of effective regulation of guns poses a far bigger
danger than terrorists.


feed_id: 4a8bb680d2248939de44169608a76bd9
title: Business-supremacy
uri: 2016-10-18-Business-supremacy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Business-supremacy%29
content:
<p>
Wikileaks reveals additional unjust requirements proposed for the
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/14/posting-new-secret-trade-docs-wikileaks-further-exposes-corporate-plot>
TISA
business-supremacy treaty.
</a>


feed_id: b03d2ff8aa3921f82cea6f039d8e2a08
title: US Neo-Nazis
uri: US-Neo-Nazis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28US_Neo-Nazis%29
content:
<p>
Trump's support for a range of right-wing extremist causes has boosted
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/14/nazi-facebook-group-alt-right-execution-jews-black-people-colorado-students-expelled>
neo-Nazis in the US that want to kill blacks and Jews.
</a>


feed_id: 64318033578beeabb77e2cf70054b5d8
title: Right-wing terrorists
uri: Right-wing-terrorists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Right-wing_terrorists%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/14/bomb-plot-somali-immigrant-kansas-militia-charged>
The FBI infiltrated a right-wing terror group
</a>
that was planning to use
bombs to kill immigrants.
<p>
I am glad that the FBI is paying attention to right-wing terrorists as
well as to Islamist terrorists.  Reports say
<a href=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/10/14/three-kansas-men-calling-themselves-crusaders-charged-in-terror-plot-targeting-muslim-immigants/>
these people really had
arms,
</a>
not just pretend bombs supplied by their FBI operative, so they
could really have carried out their plans.


feed_id: 4f270d5baf31b495a70e0fdee38d1608
title: Cease-fire in Yemen
uri: 2016-10-18-Cease-fire-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Cease-fire_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
The US has called for a
<a href=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-support-to-saudi-arabia-to-hinge-on-yemen-cease-fire/2016/10/13/2082ac40-916a-11e6-9c85-ac42097b8cc0_story.html>
cease-fire in Yemen
</a>
and publicly ordered
Salafi Arabia to support it.
<p>
It would have been better for the US not to help Salafi Arabia start
the bombardment campaign, but this is at least an attempt to go
in the right direction.


feed_id: 0f13bb30723fb442fe022d6a03dfcf23
title: KKK membership list
uri: KKK-membership-list
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28KKK_membership_list%29
content:
<p>
Anti-racist infiltrators reveal
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/15/ku-klux-klan-hope-not-hate-infiltrate-loyal-white-knights-police-members>
what KKK members say to each other.
</a>


feed_id: fa2cab04de8c3b3b3b9136cc9821840d
title: "Wet kiss for tax dodgers"
uri: Wet-kiss-for-tax-dodgers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Wet_kiss_for_tax_dodgers%29
content:
<p>
A former Obama official that became a bankster is now offering
Clinton advice on
<a href=https://theintercept.com/2016/10/15/d-c-hivemind-mulls-how-clinton-can-pass-huge-corporate-tax-cut/>
how to defeat progressive Democrats and
impose a big tax cut for businesss.
</a>


feed_id: 8627abce240a5ed159845965a20923ae
title: Bombing a funeral
uri: Bombing-a-funeral
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Bombing_a_funeral%29
content:
<p>
The US and Salafi Arabia have acknowledged
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/15/saudi-led-coalition-admits-to-bombing-yemen-funeral>
bombing a funeral in Yemen.
</a>
<p>
It is impossible to entirely avoid such accidents, though it appears
that a lack of discipline enabled this one to occur, so this one might
have been prevented through better control.  However, there is no
excuse for denying them when they happen.
<p>
Meanwhile, the whole US-Salafi bombing campaign has been an injustice since
it first started.


feed_id: 0e1ecb50f527bd101b51504abf3897a1
title: "Rape culture"
uri: Rape-culture
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Rape_culture%29
content:
<p>
Using Trump to explain
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/15/donald-trump-words-what-rape-culture-looks-like>
"rape culture".
</a>


feed_id: 41e53b85a19209d1a173802c7a15f185
title: Mosul
uri: 2016-10-18-Mosul
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Mosul%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/15/mosul-civilians-brace-assault-iraq-retake-isis-stronghold>
Interviews with people from Mosul:
</a>
some still there, some who have fled.


feed_id: 239668a47b91b7d6fbc5d5a44f7f9b60
title: Facebook blocked
uri: Facebook-blocked
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Facebook_blocked%29
content:
<p>
A Brazilian court ordered
<a href=https://www.accessnow.org/judge-orders-block-facebook-throughout-brazil-parody-account/>
blocking of access to Facebook from all of
Brazil
</a>
because Facebook refused to censor an account that published a parody
of a politician.
<p>
On this one occasion, Facebook is doing the right thing.  That's not enough
to compensate for
<a href=https://stallman.org/facebook.html>
all that is bad about Facebook, however.
</a>
<p>
The judge, by trying to censor legitimate free speech, opposes
human rights.


feed_id: fc65ea8c9e67c85fdf67e4fcd2058741
title: Travel ban cancelled
uri: Travel-ban-cancelled
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Travel_ban_cancelled%29
content:
<p>
Pakistan has
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/14/pakistan-journalist-cyril-almeida-travel-ban-lifted>
cancelled the travel ban
</a>
on reporter Cyril Almeida.


feed_id: 2ebb9c1ab0331b201268cb8d363fee17
title: Delusions of danger
uri: Delusions-of-danger
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Delusions_of_danger%29
content:
<p>
The stronger Israel's strategic situation becomes, the more its
leaders say it is in
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/12/was-womens-boat-gaza-existential-threat>
danger of being destroyed at any moment.
</a>
They
equate
solidarity boats carrying peace activists to missiles.
<p>
They also equate
<a href=#15_July_2016_(Israel_killed_Palestinian_Awad_Alareer)>Gazans
that need treatment for cancer with terrorists</a>.


feed_id: f3440c92a630e3946f4073d6b88d1b4a
title: Activists arrested
uri: Activists-arrested
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Activists_arrested%29
content:
<p>
Five activists
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/12/ten-activists-arrested-helping-shut-down-us-canada-tar-sands-pipelines>
were arrested for shutting off tar sands pipelines.
</a>
People who came to make videos were arrested too.
<p>
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/11/my-act-love-climate-activists-shut-down-all-us-canada-tar-sands-pipelines>
Here are their statements.
</a>
<p>
It is true that the proposals of the politicians are all inadequate to
prevent global disaster that is
<a href=2012-jul-oct.html#04_October_2012_(Effect_of_global_heating_on_people)>
likely to kill hundreds of millions of people,
if not billions.
</a>


feed_id: 6efd9653cd45c263f27743a748f35374
title: Thawing permafrost
uri: Thawing-permafrost
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Thawing_permafrost%29
content:
<p>
Global heating is
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/oct/14/thawing-permafrost-destroying-arctic-cities-norilsk-russia>
causing permafrost to thaw.
</a>
This wrecks buildings in
cities in northern Russia.
<p>
But that's a secondary problem.  The big problem is that this melting
<a href=archives/2007-jul-oct.html#25%20September%202007%20(Melting%20permafrost%20in%20the%20Arctic)>
releases methane,
</a>
which exacerbates the global heating.


feed_id: 1ddb1e6203e49197e1ecdf8769845d6c
title: Global heating denial
uri: 2016-10-18-Global-heating-denial
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Global_heating_denial%29
content:
<p>
Clinton campaigned in Florida
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/11/hillary-clinton-al-gore-climate-change-florida-trump>
attacking Trump's global heating denial.
</a>
<p>
It is good that she focuses on the issue, but so far she has not
shown a willingness to fight the fossil fuel interests and take the
<a href=#4_October_2016_(Global_heating)>
radical measures
</a>
needed to avoid disaster after so much delay.


feed_id: fb66c92f60aa6d09c264111f97f099b2
title: Quantitative easing
uri: Quantitative-easing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Quantitative_easing%29
content:
<p>
Quantitative easing has ceased even to work, as people and businesses
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/business/economics-blog/2016/oct/12/monetary-policy-has-an-enormous-impact-on-politics-its-time-for-a-radical-rethink>
don't want to borrow more money
</a>
even at low interest rates.
<p>
In addition,
<a href=#4_October_2016_(Quantitative_easing)>
it increases inequality.
</a>
<p>
"People's QE" appears to be a
<a href=#12_October_2016_(Keynes)>
Keynesian version of QE:
</a>
using it to
boost government spending.


feed_id: c472412d41ccd10edacf23765f3034eb
title: US attacking Yemen
uri: US-attacking-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28US_attacking_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
The US has started
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/13/us-enters-yemen-war-bombing-houthis-who-launched-missiles-at-navy-ship>
directly attacking Yemen.
</a>
<p>
  This was a response to Houthi retaliation against US and Salafi targets
for the 18-month long
<a href=#12_October_2016_(Urgent:_End_bombardment_of_Yemen)>
US-supported bombardment by Salafi Arabia.
</a>


feed_id: 4cace46f59411c606210be1484011450
title: Clean Power Plan
uri: 2016-10-18-Clean-Power-Plan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Clean_Power_Plan%29
content:
<p>

Plutocratist state governments <a href="https://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/10/11/20303/state-cutbacks-recalcitrance-hinder-clean-air-act-enforcement">are undermining</a> the Clean Power Plan.


feed_id: 784e1a6e99cd83e0dc6813ff6fdf073b
title: Collecting data
uri: 2016-10-18-Collecting-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Collecting_data%29
content:
<p>

<a href="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/10/yahoo-wants-to-patent-billboards-that-spy-on-the-public-for-targeted-ads/">Yahoo has presented</a>, through a patent application, the idea of
collecting data about people and cars passing by a location
to choose what ads to display on a billboard.
<p>
The patent application itself is not particularly an issue (other than
as an example of a practice, computational idea patents, that is bad
in general).  Collecting data as envisioned in the application is the
issue.
<p>
The most important issue is not the <em>use</em> of these data for
choosing ads, but <a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">collecting the data at all</a>.  We need laws to prevent that.


feed_id: bbbf35d3b849e0f284bc697cdeaf277f
title: Japan is retaliating against UNESCO
uri: Japan-is-retaliating-against-UNESCO
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Japan_is_retaliating_against_UNESCO%29

content:
<p>

Japan is retaliating against UNESCO <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/14/japan-halts-unesco-funding-nanjing-massacre-row">for recognizing documents</a> about
the massacre in Nanjing in World War II.


feed_id: 8b51f02faddb41cda3ed03176f50f040
title: Use of hydrofluorocarbons
uri: Use-of-hydrofluorocarbons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Use_of_hydrofluorocarbons%29
content:
<p>
The world has agreed to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (powerful
greenhouse gases) <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/15/climate-change-environmentalists-hail-deal-to-limit-use-of-hydrofluorocarbons">starting in 2024</a>.
<p>
Short-sighted politicians wanted to start many years later, and India
will not start until 2028.  What idiocy!


feed_id: e507caf28208cd6751b77357197f3876
title: Tax on sugar drinks
uri: 2016-10-18-Tax-on-sugar-drinks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Tax_on_sugar_drinks%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/15/portugal-to-levy-sugar-tax-on-soft-drinks-in-2017">Portugal plans a tax on sugary drinks</a>. However, the tax rules might encourage companies to game the system
by putting 79 grams of sugar in each liter.  Why not tax per weight of
sugar?
<p>
And why leave out dairy drinks and fruit juices?  There is a lot of
added sugar in many fruit juices.


feed_id: c47462c3b03e70ab7abb20eecfbbb97e
title: El Salvador
uri: 2016-10-18-El-Salvador
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28El_Salvador%29
content:
<p>
A mining company <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/14/el-salvador-world-bank-tribunal-dismisses-oceanagold-mining-firm-250m-claim">lost its attempt</a> to use a business-supremacy to sue
El Salvador for banning a gold mine in the name of environmental
standards.


feed_id: a6e1055533d9e9be430c0427a7d8c8a9
title: Possession of drugs
uri: 2016-10-18-Possession-of-drugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Possession_of_drugs%29
content:
<p>

More Americans <a href="http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/10/police_arrest_more_people_for.html">are arrested for simple possession of drugs</a>
than for all kinds of violent crimes combined.


feed_id: 01f582716a309b3f53700c30b95f2cea
title: Anti-abortion bill in Poland
uri: 2016-10-18-Anti-abortion-bill-in-Poland
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Anti-abortion_bill_in_Poland%29
content:
<p>

Poland's government dropped one anti-abortion bill, <a href="https://globalvoices.org/2016/10/13/new-abortion-ban-proposals-in-poland-mean-the-black-protest-movement-isnt-over-yet/">but is now
developing another</a>, which is likely to ban emergency contraception also.


feed_id: 0c5b3b96a5f3ad075d0da8ad1c1a7fe0
title: Trump
uri: 2016-10-18-Trump
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Trump%29
content:
<p>

Trump <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2016/10/12/trumps-brilliant-manipulation-of-the-science-of-group-conflict/">has used the psychology of group conflict</a> to convince tens of millions
of Americans to support him no matter what, even if he does things
they would previously have condemned with outrage.


feed_id: 6c4acaa4bb4d01eba3bda552b02c5d59
title: Ami Goodman
uri: 2016-10-18-Ami-Goodman
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Ami_Goodman%29
content:
<p>

In the prosecution of Amy Goodman, the prosecutor <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/taibbi-on-amy-goodman-arrest-for-covering-dakota-pipeline-story-w444754">argued</a> that covering
the attacks on pipeline protesters meant she was a protester rather
than a journalist.
<p>
Not only is this false, but even if it were true, it would not justify
criminal charges for making a video of a protest.


feed_id: 6348203154846364fbd4be86cbcc50e5
title: Chicago thugs
uri: 2016-10-18-Chicago-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Chicago_thugs%29
content:
<p>

In the Chicago thug department, <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/ct-chicago-police-complaints-met-20161013-story.html">69 thugs have received</a> over 70
complaints each. The average thug gets 5 complaints in an entire career.
<p>
Even if some fraction of complaints are erroneous, it is clear that those
thugs have a systematic pattern of wrongdoing.
<p>
Most thugs are not likely to beat people up or kill them.  However,
nearly all of them support the false accusations that other thugs make
after beating up or killing someone,


feed_id: fd65f4b193715cbd454ad2fb258fd910
title: Republicans
uri: 2016-10-18-Republicans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Republicans%29
content:
<p>

<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/13/republicans-civil-war-and-everyone-elses">Trump is the natural culmination</a> of increasingly harsh Republican
policies of the past few decades.  Republicans who have participated
in the development of this harshness cannot evade responsibility
by criticizing Trump now.


feed_id: 73d7b8a45289c1c5e1544e7f7acd4330
title: Senator has shafted miners
uri: 2016-10-18-Senator-has-shafted-miners
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Senator_has_shafted_miners%29
content:
<p>

Republican Senator McConnell, of West Virginia, <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/13/were-dying-flies-sick-retired-coal-miners-betrayed-gop-senators">has shafted the miners</a>
whose pensions were eliminated by coal companies that brought about
bankruptcies.


feed_id: 3a0a72fe8b7d47f786fa27db88394e8a
title: Leaks problems
uri: 2016-10-18-Leaks-problems
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Leaks_problems%29
content:
<p>

<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/13/if-trump-leaks-are-ok-and-clinton-leaks-arent-theres-problem">If Trump Leaks Are OK and Clinton Leaks Aren't, There's a Problem</a>.


feed_id: 7a3a9d95154922c3de7b68ee8b11d2c1
title: Anas Abdalla
uri: 2016-10-18-Anas-Abdalla
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Anas_Abdalla%29
content:
<p>

Anas Abdalla was convicted in the UK of trying to go to Syria and
fight for PISSI.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/13/anas-abdalla-man-who-rejected-mi5-offer-partially-secret-trial">It seems</a> that UK agents put him under tremendous
pressure to be an informer and harassed him when he didn't.
<p>
That doesn't excuse trying to fight for PISSI, but that harassment
may have driven him to do it.


feed_id: 921882390ef497454d252eda0ae5111b
title: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
uri: 2016-10-18-Consumer-Financial-Protection-Bureau
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Consumer_Financial_Protection_Bureau%29

content:
<p>

A US appeals court <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/11/ruling-against-wall-street-watchdog-decried-reckless-and-partisan">ruled that the president must be allowed to fire</a>
the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
<p>
This is victory for the banksters, who have too much influence on
President Obama and would have too much influence on President
Clinton.
<p>
Perhaps this 3-judge decision will be appealed to the whole appeals court.


feed_id: 0e912b2cb24baed52ec52a275da55826
title: Trump sexual assault
uri: 2016-10-18-Trump-sexual-assault
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Trump_sexual_assault%29
content:
<p>

A contestant on The Apprentice <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/14/donald-trump-summer-zervos-apprentice-sexual-assault">describes</a> how she resisted Trump when
he grabbed her.
<p>
Trump did not say that he could "grope and kiss women without their
consent".  What he said was that, due to his fame, all women would
"let him do it".  If that were really true, it would not be "sexual
assault".  It would be consensual sex.
<p>
However, his claim is apparently false.  Lots of women are saying that
they did not consent at all, and that they fought him off.


feed_id: e839ca31a31334751c121c5ca1b5f047
title: Criticizing the banks
uri: 2016-10-18-Criticizing-the-banks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Criticizing_the_banks%29
content:
<p>

A Clinton speechwriter <a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/14/aide-planted-anti-bank-comments-in-one-paid-clinton-speech-to-throw-reporters-off-the-scent/">put a line criticizing the banks</a> into a speech
for Deutsche Bank, in case it ever got leaked.
<p>
I wouldn't call this dishonest -- provided she really said that line
in her private speech.  However, it doesn't mean that she really will
do anything against the will of the banksters.


feed_id: 6ef7ddb86c540446b54b0df36ee983df
title: Nation Health Service
uri: 2016-10-18-Nation-Health-Service
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Nation_Health_Service%29
content:
<p>

The Tories <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/14/no-extra-money-for-nhs-theresa-may-tells-health-chief">are going to make the National Health Service collapse</a>
under the pressures they have imposed for 6 years.


feed_id: d175257058e20306333b9139b26ceee3
title: Sexism
uri: 2016-10-18-Sexism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Sexism%29
content:
<p>

In one scientific field, women PhDs <a href="http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/10/female-geoscientists-get-worse-recommendation-letters-than-men-do/">get (in general) less enthusiastic
recommendations</a> for jobs than men PhDs get.
<p>
This doesn't prove that sexism is responsible, but one has to suspect that,
given that sexism has been proved on so many other questions.


feed_id: fdf83e110e9704b4bc483e994cf14fcf
title: CETA
uri: 2016-10-18-CETA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28CETA%29
content:
<p>

Two regions of Belgium <a href="http://arstechnica.co.uk/tech-policy/2016/10/ceta-signing-scuppered-belgium-regional-governments/">have declared</a> that they veto CETA.
<p>
Europeans must mobilize to support them against dishonest pressure
from banksters.


feed_id: 543580b00d6c8ced9878948e1345b710
title: Elizabeth Warren
uri: 2016-10-18-Elizabeth-Warren
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Elizabeth_Warren%29
content:
<p>

Elizabeth Warren <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/10/elizabeth-warren-mary-jo-white-sec-barack-obama">accused the head of the Security and Exchange Commission</a>
of being a sell-out to the businesses the SEC regulates, and said that
she needs to be replaced.


feed_id: 2d0b509ea5e9b8082b01eb698d62a941
title: Civil partnership
uri: 2016-10-18-Civil-partnership
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Civil_partnership%29
content:
<p>

Heterosexuals in the UK <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/14/heterosexual-couple-are-first-in-britain-to-become-civil-partners">can now go to the Isle of Man to form a civil
partnership</a> instead of a marriage.


feed_id: 31cd775f3ba75005a07bb93cd14fa1f4
title: Rising sea levels
uri: 2016-10-18-Rising-sea-levels
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Rising_sea_levels%29
content:
<p>

Coastal cities around the world <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/oct/14/global-sea-levels-rising-fast-cities-most-at-risk-flooding-un-habitat">are trying to figure out</a> what to do
about rising sea levels.
<p>
The real solution is what will solve lots of other problems at the
same time: curb greenhouse gas emissions with dispatch.
Trying to cope is not only harder, it is futile beyond this century.


feed_id: 1a2ff7941e7e623816398dc60cced053
title: Medical system
uri: 2016-10-18-Medical-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Medical_system%29
content:
<p>

"Before providing [DNA] specimens, <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3064518/the-rise-of-biorights-patients-demand-cash-control-for-donating-dna">patients are increasingly</a> looking
for compensation, commitments that useful medical information will be
returned to them, or control over how their biological samples will be
studied."
<p>
They are concerned about real problems, but proposing ineffective or
useless solutions.
<p>
Under a well-run medical system, where advances in treatment and
diagnosis are put to the service of everyone, and you don't risk
commercial disadvantage or punishment due to whatever is in your
sample, the chance that people will be cured because of one's
contribution would be all the reason anyone needs to contribute.  But
instead we have a system with real problems.
<p>
One real problem is that under the US medical system, new treatments
are in many cases too expensive for them.  Another real problem is that
insurance companies may use their DNA samples against them, and the state
could accuse them of crimes based on those samples.
<p>
The "solutions" people ask for do very little to fix these problems,
because they are individual "solutions" for a systemic problem.  Any
reasonable "compensation" for a DNA sample won't be enough to pay for
an expensive treatment.  Researchers could agree to provide whatever
useful medical information they discover, but can't promise to
discover anything useful for that particular patient.  As for "how"
the samples will be studied, it is hard to relate that to one's own
interest.


feed_id: 136cec4d76431bca20a71778d316bbfa
title: War on Pain Sufferers
uri: 2016-10-18-War-on-Pain-Sufferers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28War_on_Pain_Sufferers%29
content:
<p>

<a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/sad-news-about-the-disabled-mom-whose-school-made-her-get-out-of-the-car-to-pick-up-her-daughter/">The War on Pain Sufferers can kill</a>.


feed_id: 0bb36fc2eeca8d62ee4aafe9f1c27246
title: "Sex offender"
uri: 2016-10-18-Sex-offender
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Sex_offender%29
content:
<p>

A father was concerned that his daughter was sexting, so he asked
thugs to convince her to stop.  (The last thing your child needs is to
have thugs involved in per life!)  He copied the photos as evidence,
so <a href="http://reason.com/blog/2016/10/11/dad-asks-cops-to-intervene-in-daughters">he was charged with possession of "child pornography" and labeled
as a sex offender</a>.
<p>
The "sex offender" list does little to protect anyone and a lot to
ruin people's lives.  But fundamentally it is unjust to prosecute
people for having a copy of anything whatsoever.


feed_id: 25912746ab4eece07656f2da009edcd1
title: EU pays dictator of Sudan
uri: 2016-10-18-EU-pays-dictator-of-Sudan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28EU_pays_dictator_of_Sudan%29
content:
<p>

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2016/oct/13/immigration-fears-make-the-eu-prepared-to-do-business-with-murderers">The EU is paying</a> the dictator of Sudan to keep immigration down.


feed_id: 161a4774854a7920e017a78b1545ea62
title: The Houthis
uri: 2016-10-18-The-Houthis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28The_Houthis%29
content:
<p>

The Houthis <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/13/houthi-deny-missiles-us-yemen-war-iran-rebels-pentagon-saudi-arabia">say they were not</a> the ones that fired a missile at a US
destroyer.
<p>
I have no basis for judging whether to credit this.


feed_id: e7bbf94f27d120c9f08c42551f8f83f2
title: José Bové
uri: 2016-10-18-José-Bové
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Jos%C3%A9_Bov%C3%A9%29
content:
<p>

Facing public criticism, Canada decided that José Bové <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/12/following-public-pressure-jose-bove-noted-anti-globalization-activist-allowed-stay">can stay</a> and speak
against CETA.
<p>
This demonstrates there was never any valid reason to keep him out.


feed_id: 549f4bb757a38e792874a467ce0e0fa7
title: Trump
uri: 2016-10-18-Trump
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Trump%29
content:
<p>

How many attacks on various groups <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/10/12/1581298/-First-he-said-a-Republican-reflects">does it take</a> to convince a
Republican not to support Trump?


feed_id: b5ad59c9a8f0e297c5d915685c500e96
title: Syria
uri: 2016-10-18-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Syria%29
content:
<p>

Russia <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/11/ignoring-russia-warnings-us-walking-towards-new-abyss-syria">is signaling that it would fight back</a> against an attack in
Syria by the US.


feed_id: 075a3a80b4f4e62b31750fe0a7692610
title: Russian government cracking accounts
uri: 2016-10-18-Russian-government-cracking-accounts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Russian_government_cracking_accounts%29

content:
<p>

Google <a href="https://globalvoices.org/2016/10/11/google-warns-more-than-a-dozen-russian-journalists-and-activists-about-government-backed-attackers/">has warned</a> some Russians that the Russian government is trying to
crack their accounts.


feed_id: 998c0a5f4a9d8ee4cc9ec8e3ac28d361
title: Disinformation against Wikileaks
uri: 2016-10-18-Disinformation-against-Wikileaks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Disinformation_against_Wikileaks%29

content:
<p>

Democrats <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/12/democratic-echo-chamber-inconvenient-truths-are-recast-putin-plots">are using</a> disinformation against the documents that Wikileaks
honestly releases.
<p>
Glenn Greenwald <a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/13/on-wikileaks-journalism-and-privacy-reporting-on-the-podesta-archive-is-an-easy-call/">punctures</a> the Democrats' invalid criticisms of the
publication of the leaks.
<p>
I agree with Greenwald that Wikileaks should have omitted personal
information that could hurt people and is politically irrelevant.
However, the Democratic Party should focus on correcting its wrongs
rather than on criticizing those that expose them.  And it must stop
arguing that people should help cover up those wrongs, because Trump.


feed_id: 1a67298781acc9432df0cd3324a928f2
title: Prohibition on kratom
uri: 2016-10-18-Prohibition-on-kratom
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Prohibition_on_kratom%29
content:
<p>

The DEA <a href="http://reason.com/blog/2016/10/12/dea-withdrawing-awful-attempt-to-complet">is starting to reconsider</a> its plan to prohibit kratom.


feed_id: ef6766464d808adac59c6a0c39b0d2db
title: Paul LePage
uri: 2016-10-18-Paul-LePage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Paul_LePage%29
content:
<p>

Maine Governor LePage <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/11/politics/paul-lepage-authoritarian-power/index.html">said</a> he supports Trump to provide
"authoritarian power" because Obama is an "autocrat" (?!).


feed_id: bf599866dc17fa93ccfbd9e3518f3fdf
title: Australia's coal mine
uri: 2016-10-18-Australia-s-coal-mine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Australia%27s_coal_mine%29
content:
<p>

Australia is using the Paris climate agreement <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2016/oct/14/we-should-be-putting-the-brake-on-the-carmichael-coalmine-not-hitting-the-accelerator">as an excuse</a>
to justify a new coal mine.
<p>
"Surely the government will make other cuts to cancel out the enormous
emissions from this coal" is an absurd argument, given that in fact
the Australian government is doing everything possible to keep
emissions high.
<p>
The officials' strings are surely being pulled by the coal company's
money, as part of a global plan to reject necessary cuts even though
that is likely to kill billions.  That the killing is not their goal,
merely a byproduct, is no excuse for it.
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/12/financial-powers-behind-dakota-access-pipeline-must-be-confronted">The Financial Powers Behind the Dakota Access Pipeline Must Be Confronted</a>.


feed_id: 9b0424feb4deb480ce7a41d3407bc80e
title: Philippine thugs' murder spree
uri: 2016-10-18-Philippine-thugs-murder-spree
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Philippine_thugs%27_murder_spree%29

content:
<p>

The Philippine thugs' murder spree is aimed at more than drug dealers.
Two disguised thugs were caught after murdering a woman described
as an "anti-crime campaigner".  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/14/philippine-killers-unmasked-as-policemen-according-to-authorities">They now face charges</a>.
<p>
The system of trials is not entirely reliable for determining who is a
criminal, but it is a lot more reliable than skipping directly to
punishment.


feed_id: edb75c0c6d54700eddc592859616dcbf
title: Dakota Access Pipeline
uri: 2016-10-18-Dakota-Access-Pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Dakota_Access_Pipeline%29
content:
<p>

<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/10/presidential-candidates-remain-silent-dakota-access-pipeline-controversy">Clinton (like Trump) refuses to take a stand</a> regarding the Dakota
Access Pipeline.
<p>
I think this means she supports it and she would rather not be
criticized for that.


feed_id: 2c23671aea9b95509b2344289858d25d
title: Boko Haram
uri: 2016-10-18-Boko-Haram
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Boko_Haram%29
content:
<p>

The fanaticism of Boko Haram <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/13/nigera-polio-vaccine-drive-targets-41m-children-outbreak-africa">has blocked polio vaccination</a> campaigns
for years in its region, so a new vaccination drive will try to vaccinate
41 million children there.


feed_id: 70b9eee4a93eb72927190ae240fabd0e
title: Financing harmful projects
uri: 2016-10-18-Financing-harmful-projects
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Financing_harmful_projects%29
content:
<p>

The UK's Tory government <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/13/hinkley-hs2-heathrow-theresa-may-team-out-of-depth">intends to put</a> a hundred billion dollars
on infrastructure projects that are pointless or harmful.


feed_id: 1fe351e62e608aec3df089fa5ad14ac6
title: Facebook and Black Lives Matter
uri: 2016-10-18-Facebook-and-Black-Lives-Matter
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Facebook_and_Black_Lives_Matter%29

content:
<p>

Facebook, its subsidiary Instagram, and Twitter, all gave special access
to a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/11/aclu-geofeedia-facebook-twitter-instagram-black-lives-matter">company monitoring Black Lives Matter protesters</a>.


feed_id: 3930b17575c92d363103671e8e3eb36a
title: Misrepresenting the situation in Syria
uri: 2016-10-18-Misrepresenting-the-situation-in-Syria
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Misrepresenting_the_situation_in_Syria%29

content:
<p>

<a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2016/02/18/the-media-are-misleading-public-syria/8YB75otYirPzUCnlwaVtcK/story.html">"Official" US news misrepresents the situation in Syria</a>.


feed_id: 5511e316ebf201835a3a185a8562a820
title: Nice-style attack in Reno
uri: 2016-10-18-Nice-style-attack-in-Reno
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Nice-style_attack_in_Reno%29
content:
<p>

A Nice-style truck attack in Reno <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/11/native-american-rights-protesters-hit-by-truck-nevada">was apparently an act of terrorism</a>.  Fortunately, this time, no one was killed.
<p>
Strange that the word "terrorism" is not being used.
In the US, right-wing terrorists are as big a danger as Islamist
terrorists, though neither one is large as dangers go.


feed_id: 671e2d30ea18db9338fdba0cb2da3213
title: Extremism reasons
uri: 2016-10-18-Extremism-reasons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Extremism_reasons%29
content:
<p>

18% of Muslim "violent extremists" in the US cited <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/11/homegrown-terrorists-are-mostly-motivated-us-atrocities-abroad-fbi">anger at US
military interventions in Muslim countries as a reason</a>.  It was the
most common single reason cited.
<p>
I expect the number of jihadis motivated by this in other countries is
in the thousands or tens of thousands.
<p>
Some of these interventions initially had a justification, but it has
evaporated.  Some of them never had any justification.  Either way, we
need to stop these wars, for our self interest as well as in the name
of justice.


feed_id: 815439a310b9b9db77e88b3ffcfac6c2
title: Neoliberalism makes people suffer
uri: 2016-10-18-Neoliberalism-makes-people-suffer
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Neoliberalism_makes_people_suffer%29

content:
<p>

Neoliberalism, putting everyone into harsh competition, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/12/neoliberalism-creating-loneliness-wrenching-society-apart">is also making
people suffer</a> from loneliness that can kill.  Meanwhile, replacing direct
communication with digital communication adds to the problem.


feed_id: 095b2caac1f9b5987cb2e931f36fa825
title: Sumatran rhinos
uri: 2016-10-18-Sumatran-rhinos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Sumatran_rhinos%29
content:
<p>

Sumatran rhinos <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/22/sumatran-rhinos-likely-to-become-extinct-warn-environment-experts">are likely to become extinct</a> unless urgent action is
taken.


feed_id: 16641dab382a70a9fbca364200c7b5ea
title: "Do Not Resist"
uri: 2016-10-18-Do-Not-Resist
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Do_Not_Resist%29
content:
<p>

A documentary, "Do Not Resist", <a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/12/do-not-resist-the-police-militarization-documentary-everyone-should-see/">shows how much US thugs have been militarized</a>
and how that spreads suffering.


feed_id: c3210441b9c5c372fc912af01cf51bb3
title: Just Give Me Some Privacy
uri: 2016-10-18-Just-Give-Me-Some-Privacy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Just_Give_Me_Some_Privacy%29
content:
<p>

Just Give Me Some Privacy -- <a href="http://drexel.edu/now/archive/2016/October/Tor-Wikipedia-privacy/">Anonymous Wikipedia Editors and Tor Users
Explain</a> Why They Don't Want You to Know Who They Are.


feed_id: 49ab84f142e668cb8fe0adf501ab3612
title: Syria
uri: 2016-10-18-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Syria%29
content:
<p>

<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/11/american-military-intervention-cant-save-syria">American Military Intervention Can?t Save Syria</a>.


feed_id: cefebb7d2da6af29b7134944601a8dee
title: Face recognition cameras in NY
uri: 2016-10-18-Face-recognition-cameras-in-NY
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Face_recognition_cameras_in_NY%29

content:
<p>

The <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/12/when-minority-report-becomes-new-yorkers-reality">ACLU condemns New York Governor Cuomo's plans</a> to fill the streets
with face recognition cameras.
<p>
I am very glad to see the ACLU go beyond proposals to limit access to
data already collected.  <a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">Limiting the collection</a> is what we need.


feed_id: 3e2d68883ea68f4f0289d1dcc9e3159f
title: Clinton and Walmart
uri: 2016-10-18-Clinton-and-Walmart
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Clinton_and_Walmart%29
content:
<p>

Clinton was on Walmart's board of directors, and when organizers asked her
to try to get a raise for workers, <a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/12/hacked-emails-show-hillary-clinton-repeatedly-praised-wal-mart-in-paid-speeches/">her team consulted with Walmart</a> about
how to respond.
<p>
That shows whose side she's on.


feed_id: e64b6f9c6237e8cf251d6f31bce03724
title: Hungary's censorship
uri: 2016-10-18-Hungary-s-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_October_2016_%28Hungary%27s_censorship%29
content:
<p>

Hungary's main opposition newspaper has abruptly closed and removed
its archives from the internet.  People <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/13/hungary-future-europe-far-right-viktor-orban">suspect</a> that Orban forced
it to close.


feed_id: 7fd0dd793fc3dd167c290255f298ae42
title: Urgent: Let José Álverez rejoin family
uri: 2016-10-18-Urgent-Let-José-Álverez-rejoin-family
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Let_Jose_Alverez_rejoin_family%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://act.presente.org/sign/billclintonjose">call on Bill
Clinton</a> to push to let José Álvarez rejoin his
family in the US.
<p>
Álvarez lived in the US since age 12, without permission.  He
committed a
<a href="http://www.presstelegram.com/government-and-politics/20160505/deportation-over-21-year-old-charge-strands-long-beach-immigrant-in-mexico">nonviolent
drug crime</a> in 1995, served time in prison, and was released.  Then
he spent two decades in the US, gainfully employed.
<p>
When people who have been in the US just a few years commit serious
crimes, I am favor of deporting them, provided it is done reasonably
soon after the crime.
<p>
But it is an injustice to deport someone with decades of family ties
in the US because of a crime decades in the past.  It is an injustice
to deport any adult who has lived in the US since childhood.
<p>
And most of these nonviolent drug crimes should not be crimes anyway.
<p>
Nobody should have six children, but that is a different issue
and doesn't affect the conclusions on this one.


feed_id: 956229aa046e704567b5d47406873c85
title: Democratic Party's meager progressiveness
uri: 2016-10-18-Democratic-Party-s-meager-progressiveness
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Democratic_Partys_meager_progressiveness%29

content:
<p>
Big companies (and one union!)
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/11/warren-goldman-dccc/">told
the Democratic Party to cut down its (rather meager)
progressiveness</a> to get donations.


feed_id: 3ca703bc43ee7472ab68baaded10e3e0
title: South Africa killing invasive trees
uri: 2016-10-18-South-Africa-killing-invasive-trees
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28South_Africa_killing_invasive_trees%29

content:
<p>
South Africa is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/oct/12/south-africa-drought-unemployment-jobs-water-alien-invasive-species-entrepreneurs-private-sector">trying
to cure its long-term drought</a> by killing invasive trees that use
lots of water.


feed_id: 556165b06c2e9ddaf2fc0042d75ba050
title: FBI surveillance orders outsourced
uri: 2016-10-18-FBI-surveillance-orders-outsourced
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28FBI_surveillance_orders_outsourced%29

content:
<p>
The FBI has
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/12/security-fears-fbi-contracting-out-sensitive-surveillance-documents">outsourced
handling of evidence for surveillance orders</a> to a company.
<p>
Maybe this will lead to more whistleblowers.


feed_id: 667fd22ee5ee1c5ccef7265979e3156a
title: Making the UK "work for everyone"
uri: 2016-10-18-Making-the-UK-work-for-everyone
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Making_the_UK_work_for_everyone%29

content:
<p>
If May wants to make the UK "work for everyone", she had better change
the policies that are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/12/child-poverty-rise-50-percent-theresa-may">on
the way to increase child poverty</a>.
<p>
Some disabled people escape from
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/12/online-benefits-appeals-tribunals-disabled">denial
of disability support</a> by appealing against the denial.  The UK now
plans to limit appeals to sending paper documentation only, so that
some obvious and absurd errors will not be corrected.


feed_id: 7bec2b4667965c2c375d434fb551eeb8
title: Cuban medical doctors
uri: 2016-10-18-Cuban-medical-doctors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Cuban_medical_doctors%29
content:
<p>
Cuban medical doctors are
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/cuban-medics-in-haiti-put-the-world-to-shame-2169415.html">working
in 1/3 of the world's countries</a>, including Haiti.


feed_id: 3ecdf5de1814a6fede4bbd41763d95d5
title: Tax evasion by Australian mining company
uri: 2016-10-18-Tax-evasion-by-Australian-mining-company
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Tax_evasion_by_Australian_mining_company%29

content:
<p>
A giant Australian mining company has paid
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/12/bhp-billiton-has-evaded-taxes-for-more-than-a-decade-says-wayne-swan">no
tax for a decade</a>.


feed_id: 3c39995e938b1435d99aa90bfbe2ce01
title: Campaign to kick homeless people out of SF
uri: 2016-10-18-Campaign-to-kick-homeless-people-out-of-SF
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Campaign_to_kick_homeless_people_out_of_SF%29

content:
<p>
Rich bastards in San Francisco are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/12/san-francisco-homeless-proposition-q-tech-investors">funding
a campaign</a> to kick out homeless people.
<p>
They would be given a bus ticket to some place they probably can't
remain.


feed_id: 59ea93643e81b5c4f9fc804d7967c495
title: Pressure to reduce car CO2 emissions
uri: 2016-10-18-Pressure-to-reduce-car-CO2-emissions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Pressure_to_reduce_car_CO2_emissions%29

content:
<p>
Investors have
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/12/investors-warn-car-industry-over-climate-change">told
car manufacturers to reduce CO<sub>2</sub> emissions</a>.


feed_id: f6e3ccb736e02e46240559c457f839e6
title: Privatization of state services
uri: 2016-10-18-Privatization-of-state-services
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Privatization_of_state_services%29

content:
<p>
Privatizing a part of the UK's NHS has already led to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/12/virgin-care-patients-being-forced-to-make-appointments-to-boost-profits-says-labour-mp-paula-sherriff">corrupt
practices at the expense of the treasury</a>.  That's what privatizing
state services tends to do.


feed_id: 7ddfd6c6ccaa6ac8208419a464409860
title: System of arbitrary punishment
uri: 2016-10-18-System-of-arbitrary-punishment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28System_of_arbitrary_punishment%29

content:
<p>
The ACLU and Human Rights Watch call for decriminalizing
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/12/aclu-human-rights-watch-personal-drug-decriminilization-report">possession
of forbidden drugs</a>.
<p>
The pressure to take a plea bargain even if you're innocent is so
strong that only 2 accused in a thousand actually have a trial.  It is
impossible that so few of the accused are innocent.  This is not a
system of justice, it is a system of arbitrary punishment.


feed_id: bd7bce802766069186d40906ef2924fe
title: Republican mega-donors
uri: 2016-10-18-Republican-mega-donors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Republican_mega-donors%29
content:
<p>
Republican Mega-Donors
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/12/republican-party-congress-races-donors-donald-trump">Ramp
Up Efforts to Hold Congress after Trump Tape</a>.


feed_id: 64cf6aebfaae52c1ffbb3ec92ff2d664
title: Campaign finance restrictions
uri: 2016-10-18-Campaign-finance-restrictions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Campaign_finance_restrictions%29
content:
<p>
We need to be careful to
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2016/10/10/does-the-first-amendment-cover-books-mov">prevent
campaign finance restrictions from stopping people from publishing
works through the usual publication outlets</a>.
<p>
These outlets should not be held responsible for the content of the
works they are used to distribute in the usual ways.
<p>
However, we can distinguish that from the case where a corporation
pays for election publicity.  If a company rents theaters to show a
movie that is for or against a certain candidate, that is clearly a
campaign expenditure by the company (but not by the theaters).


feed_id: 1f67893e725710d9e6a76105dec4997b
title: Thugs harassing pipeline protesters
uri: 2016-10-18-Thugs-harassing-pipeline-protesters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Thugs_harassing_pipeline_protesters%29

content:
<p>
Thugs are harassing pipeline protesters (and the general public in the
vicinity of protesters) constantly, with
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/10/surveillance-state-descends-dakota-access-pipeline-spirit-camp">cars,
armored vehicles, and helicopters</a>.


feed_id: ecbf63433aff2f03096b2c9b7cb16674
title: Women's accusations against Trump
uri: 2016-10-18-Women-s-accusations-against-Trump
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Womens_accusations_against_Trump%29

content:
<p>
Women who have accused Trump of
<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-words-echo-womans-allegations-507763">forcing
himself on them</a>.


feed_id: d8cbb296a178d69345a9223ef1e4fe72
title: Thug departments switching to encrypted radio
uri: 2016-10-18-Thug-departments-switching-to-encrypted-radio
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Thug_departments_switching_to_encrypted_radio%29

content:
<p>
Thug departments are switching to encrypted radio, but some have
turned off the encryption, finding that
<a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/now-hear-this-emergency-agencies-turn-off-radio-encryption/">concealing
the information about their operations causes problems</a>.


feed_id: 52ba7974a0fc193384cb4f3743876eef
title: Rebels not welcome in Eastern Aleppo
uri: 2016-10-18-Rebels-not-welcome-in-Eastern-Aleppo
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Rebels_not_welcome_in_Eastern_Aleppo%29

content:
<p>
When the rebels took Eastern Aleppo, the inhabitants
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/aug/21/syrian-rebels-aleppo-local-hostility">did
not welcome them</a>.


feed_id: dde4c27178ae1eebb053465468283907
title: US prisoners strike
uri: 2016-10-18-US-prisoners-strike
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28US_prisoners_strike%29
content:
<p>
Striking US prisoners understand that the only effective action they
can take is to
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/11/new-slave-revolt">refuse
to be used as slaves</a>.


feed_id: 3c20cc2c1050350434ca1b3992d4af33
title: Ethiopia kidnaps dissident expat
uri: 2016-10-18-Ethiopia-kidnaps-dissident-expat
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#14_October_2016_%28Ethiopia_kidnaps_dissident_expat%29

content:
<p>
Ethiopia is systematically crushing dissent, and
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/11/un-condemns-ethiopia-crackdown-amid-fears-death-row-brit">kidnaped
a dissident expat from another country</a> who now faces execution in
Ethiopia.


feed_id: a4dad83b8dbec9c014f944fdb74409c5
title: Drug policy issues
uri: Drug-policy-issues
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Drug_policy_issues%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://links.drugpolicy.mkt7185.com/ctt?kn=3&ms=MjY4ODQwODUS1&r=MTMzNzQ0Nzg2MjMyS0&b=2&j=OTA0NDg0OTA3S0&mt=1&rt=0>
The Drug Policy Foundation
</a>
rates US congresscritter on drug policy issues.


feed_id: 550366e9894bb7f87ba5d6607220d553
title: Global heating action
uri: Global-heating-action
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Global_heating_action%29
content:
<p>
Leaked emails showed something admirable:
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/25/hacked-emails-reveal-plan-to-counter-rupert-murdochs-climate-denial>
a plan to raise a lot of
money to advertise against climate denialism.
</a>
<p>
However, a whole year has gone by since it was discussed.  It appears
that the plan failed to materialize.


feed_id: fbbfc810fb24efefd9986596f4e7e07e
title: Detecting thugs' lies
uri: Detecting-thugs-lies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Detecting_thugs%27_lies%29
content:
<p>
Publication of
<a href=https://theintercept.com/2016/10/25/open-data-projects-are-fueling-the-fight-against-police-misconduct/>
data about complaints against thugs
</a>
makes it easier to
detect lies.


feed_id: 1a07545750fa5cff87847c5520f7e76b
title: Xenophobia or austerity
uri: Xenophobia-or-austerity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Xenophobia_or_austerity%29
content:
<p>
The ruling party in Poland is not a simple right-wing party.
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/25/poland-right-law-justice-party-europe>
It is right-wing in regard to human rights, but socialist in
regard to helping the poor.
</a>
  Its main opponents are austerity parties.
<p>
There should be room for a party that supports the same socialism
but with human rights and strengthening democracy.


feed_id: 3733e388e6491e6f00f5d3184c17df18
title: Art therapy for child soldiers
uri: Art-therapy-for-child-soldiers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Art_therapy_for_child_soldiers%29

content:
<p>
Helping former conscripted child soldiers
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/careers/2016/oct/25/hearing-these-stories-changes-you-it-makes-you-more-human>
recover from the horrible crimes
they were forced to commit.
</a>


feed_id: 71fd4168d593189f60cf234f3ada4468
title: Renewables
uri: Renewables
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Renewables%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/25/renewables-made-up-half-of-net-electricity-capacity-added-last-year>
Half the 2015 increase in electric generating capacity was renewables.
</a>
  The other half was additional fossil fuel capacity, pushing the
world along the path towards global disaster.  Overall, we're doing
worse than at the start of 2015.
<p>
When we see a rapid <em>decrease</em> in fossil fuel generating
capacity, and other industries that emit greenhouse gases, then we
will be able to conclude that we're on the right track.


feed_id: 6d95ed727e03ff30574cdac4a5d85748
title: No Right to Escape
uri: No-Right-to-Escape
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28No_Right_to_Escape%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/25/new-zealand-police-set-up-roadblocks-to-question-euthanasia-group-members-say>
New Zealand thugs set up a phony drunk test roadblock to identify people
who attended a meeting of Exit International, a suicide advice organization.
</a>
  Thugs are also harassing members at home.
<p>
This seems to be political manipulation against a proposed law to legalize
assisting suicide.
<p>
This shows the dishonesty of the organization's name, "Right to Life".
An honest name would be, "No Right to Escape".


feed_id: 863c8856cf6d8d0004b900809c8f7938
title: "Libertarians"
uri: Libertarians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Libertarianism%29
content:
<p>
If you are a progressive,
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/24/free-plunder-case-against-gary-johnson-and-libertarianism>
Gary Johnson is not a good choice for your vote.
</a>
  His party wants to eliminate Social Security, eliminate the minimum
wage, eliminate bank regulations, eliminate public education,
and eliminate environmental protection.
<p>
The purpose of democracy is to enable the many non-rich to be
collectively more powerful than the rich.  It is our most powerful
defense against all the abuses that the rich get up to.
"Libertarians" (a name we should take back from them!) basically say,
that it's wrong to use this defense, that each of us should stand
alone against the most powerful.  We see already what happens that
way, because a large part of it is happening due to plutocratic
control over our elections and our government.  However, as the list
above shows, if we just throw up our hands and elect Libertarians,
things could get a lot worse.


feed_id: 09e8b3a8b58934a82dfa3b01ca6d796b
title: Pipeline protests
uri: Pipeline-protests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Pipeline_protests%29
content:
<p>
140 students were arrested in Ottawa for a
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/24/dozens-students-arrested-ottawa-protesting-kinder-morgan-pipeline>
peaceful protest against
pipeline construction,
</a>
in which they dragged a large blackboard with
information about climate science.


feed_id: 58e00543df3372da44c10562dc4a0630
title: Tax dodgers
uri: Tax-dodgers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Tax_dodgers%29
content:
<p>
Multinationals based in the US are
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/24/watch-out-coming-corporate-tax-break-trickery>
pushing for a big tax cut
</a>
which they are presenting as "reform".


feed_id: 640d0e88dcc93550e5d2ee6b2ebd39e2
title: Syrian jihadists
uri: Syrian-jihadists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Syrian_jihadists%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://consortiumnews.com/2016/09/29/how-the-us-armed-up-syrian-jihadists>
How the US Armed-up Syrian Jihadists.
</a>


feed_id: f7b1112b0df5bd1a540c2c8c7429eeaa
title: Restrictions on abortion
uri: Restrictions-on-abortion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Restrictions_on_abortion%29
content:
<p>
Massive protests in Poland respond to the
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/24/polish-abortion-law-protesters-march-against-proposed-restrictions>
new proposal
for adding restrictions on abortion.
</a>


feed_id: 7f813c6c7957057955c68d1c597eaaef
title: Chomsky on education
uri: Chomsky-on-education
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Chomsky_on_education%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/38066-noam-chomsky-on-the-perils-of-market-driven-education>
Noam Chomsky on the Perils of Market-Driven Education:
</a>
it undermines the goal of an educated populace.


feed_id: d580cbe5e9a167093657011b4aaf470c
title: Surveillance state
uri: 2016-10-27-Surveillance-state
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Surveillance_state%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://offnow.org/proposed-miami-beach-ordinance-would-take-first-step-toward-limiting-surveillance-state/>
Proposed Miami Beach Ordinance Would Take First Step Toward Limiting
Surveillance State.
</a>


feed_id: eee73fa3f6f25370ff18109c6f1f82c3
title: Duterte's murder campaign
uri: Duterte-s-murder-campaign
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Duterte%27s_murder_campaign%29
content:
<p>
Philippine Senator de Lima calls on the
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/24/philippines-senator-calls-for-duterte-to-face-crimes-against-humanity-inquiry>
International Criminal Court to
investigate President Duterte's murder campaign.
</a>
  She says that she receives death threats and is afraid she will be
murdered.
<p>
Duterte said his murder campaign is aimed at drug dealers.  You might
think that the rights of drug dealers are unimportant; but even if you
think they deserve to be prosecuted and convicted, that doesn't mean
they have no rights at all.
<p>
Once a state decides that certain people have no rights at all,
it isn't a big step to take the same stance obout other people.
If it was drug dealers last month, it can be senators this month,
dissidents next month, and anyone that gets in the president's way
a month after that.


feed_id: 7800fb76964018be5e80b28e06c3ac40
title: Car companies kill
uri: Car-companies-kill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Car_companies_kill%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/24/petrol-cars-allowed-to-exceed-pollution-limits-by-50-under-draft-eu-laws>
Car companies convinced the European Commission to increase pollution limits.
</a>
  This pollution kills hundreds of thousands of people in Europe each year.
<p>
The European Commission constantly tells people to surrender freedom
to reduce the very small danger of terrorism; but when it comes to the
big danger of air pollution, it doesn't dare tell car companies to
give up anything.  That's because it respects the car companies more
than it does human beings.


feed_id: 6fb15622c533a2e90bc48e875dab003f
title: Lying
uri: Lying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Lying%29
content:
<p>
A study suggests that telling a lie tends to
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/oct/24/from-porkies-to-whoppers-over-time-lies-may-desensitise-brain-to-dishonesty>
desensitize the brain
</a>
so that it feels less guilty about further lies.
<p>
Imagine what repeated "testilying" does to thugs.


feed_id: 4f77d4e9469b9d110d6440ae64ba91f8
title: Charter Schools
uri: Charter-Schools
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Charter_Schools%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/24/new-layers-dirt-charter-schools>
New Layers of Dirt on Charter Schools.
</a>


feed_id: 771cf71a02fedd6186ba14d95bdc69ff
title: The Pope's concern
uri: The-Pope-s-concern
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28The_Pope%27s_concern%29
content:
<p>
Right-wing US Catholics are so committed to their politics of global
heating denial that their response to the Pope's concern about the issue
is to
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/24/pope-franciss-edict-on-climate-change-has-fallen-on-deaf-ears-study-finds>
distrust the Pope.
</a>


feed_id: c31af66c2e88832e0417fdd136d847a2
title: Refugees to and from Hungary
uri: Refugees-to-and-from-Hungary
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Refugees_to_and_from_Hungary%29
content:
<p>
Now that refugees want to go to Hungary,
Hungary should remember when
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/24/hungary-anti-refugee-viktor-orban>
Hungarians were fleeing as refugees.
</a>


feed_id: b10bbf1ac9675d772a6c53ef6a152db9
title: Turks and Kurds in Iraq
uri: Turks-and-Kurds-in-Iraq
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Turks_and_Kurds_in_Iraq%29
content:
<p>
Turkish soldiers are
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/24/fears-battle-for-mosul-open-new-front-wider-sunni-shia-conflict-iraq-turkey>
cooperating with, and fighting alongside, the
Kurds
</a>
in Northern Iraq.
<p>
I don't see anything bad about that, but it puzzles me
since Turkey considers the Kurds in Syria as its enemies
as it represses the Kurds in Turkey.


feed_id: 4c6659aa1bc69422ccdf42a67af8e278
title: Challenging misogyny
uri: Challenging-misogyny
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Challenging_misogyny%29
content:
<p>
A school in rural Paraguay aims to
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/oct/24/new-generation-girls-rights-education-abortion-paraguay>
help girls escape from patriarchal
domination.
</a>


feed_id: 14927c7c1eedeb7806235b9e7f1e71a6
title: War on environmentalists
uri: War-on-environmentalists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28War_on_environmentalists%29
content:
<p>
A municipal environmental official in Brazil
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/24/brazil-amazon-environmentalist-murder-luiz-alberto-araujo>
was killed by gangsters,
</a>
apparently for enforcing laws against deforestation.


feed_id: bb6792b6b39fb8b457da31ae7e5ec593
title: "Radicalized" by CO2
uri: Radicalized-by-CO2
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Radicalized_by_CO2%29
content:
<p>
If we said
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2016/oct/24/the-atmosphere-is-being-radicalized-by-climate-change>
CO2 is "radicalizing" the atmosphere,
</a>
would politicians
take the danger seriously?
<p>
I don't think so.  The planet-roaster politicians are not ignoring
this because of a mental quirk.  It's fossil-fuel money at work.


feed_id: d9822a66b02c055bf04193e8d831e91e
title: Gender violence bill
uri: Gender-violence-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Gender_violence_bill%29
content:
<p>
Tunisia is considering a
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/24/tunisia-gender-violence-bill-substance-progressive-image>
law to curb violence against women.
</a>
  It seems to be even more frequent there than in the US.


feed_id: c98c429c04521a72adcc8e17fff70781
title: Bloodthirsty Indian TV
uri: Bloodthirsty-Indian-TV
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Bloodthirsty_Indian_TV%29
content:
<p>
In India today, as several times recently in the US,
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/24/hype-india-march-to-war-media-24-hour-news-culture-coverage-pakistan>
the mass media
are pushing for war.
</a>


feed_id: 9ea5851368ee31e04bddc9af545454e1
title: Dumping of refugees
uri: Dumping-of-refugees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Dumping_of_refugees%29
content:
<p>
Australia's dumping of refugees on Nauru and Manus
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/24/nauru-detention-the-abc-and-us-putting-misconceptions-about-australia-and-refugees-to-rest>
violates humanitarian
treaties and human decency
</a>
in several ways.


feed_id: 031a4fbeca06abc05c1a2250b57d1030
title: Leaking responsibly
uri: Leaking-responsibly
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Leaking_responsibly%29
content:
<p>
How Prof. Lessig responded when
<a href=http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/10/23/1585925/--If-You-re-Ever-Dissed-in-a-Hacked-Email-Try-to-Respond-Like-Larry-Lessig-By-Eric-Levitz>
someone else's private message that
insulted him was
leaked by a cracker.
</a>
<p>
I agree with Lessig that there was nothing in those insults that made
its publication important for the public.  I don't know what else was
in that message, or whether it contained something else significant
that was important to leak.  But I do call for responsible publication
of leaks.
<p>
That said, the leaks have
<a href=#21_October_2016_(Bankruptcy_bill)>
exposed
big scandals
</a>
                                               and their publication
was
<a href=#18_October_2016_(Clintons_support_for_Salafi_Arabia)>
very important.
</a>


feed_id: df2d3e7da4db47bec0b0b107b63a729a
title: Broken election system
uri: Broken-election-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Broken_election_system%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/23/why-overturning-citizens-united-isnt-enough>
Reversing the Corporations United decision is not enough:
</a>
the US
election system is broken in many ways.  We need public campaign
financing to override the power of business to fund campaigns.


feed_id: 3b1016993166390ca9226b73af478209
title: Dakota pipeline attacks
uri: Dakota-pipeline-attacks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Dakota_pipeline_attacks%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/23/stakes-are-getting-higher-83-people-arrested-maced-north-dakota>
Thugs attacked protesters in North Dakota
</a>
both physically and chemically,
then arrested them and placed heavy charges against them.


feed_id: 56271b55b6a99ed5d73ddd85f2bf94cf
title: Designers of torture
uri: Designers-of-torture
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Designers_of_torture%29
content:
<p>
Torture creates permanent mental scars.  Two of the victims of CIA torture,
unable to get any accountability from the US government, are now
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/23/darkness-comes-cia-torture-victims-describe-how-mental-scars-never-go-away>
suing
the psychologists who helped design the torture system.
</a>
<p>
America has brought guilt on itself through torturing people.  As a
patriotic American I feel the weight of this.  For the US to recover
its honor it must fully confess, and accept the appropriate
punishment.


feed_id: 23870da4af97cd1b209f584dd13aca54
title: Indigenous lives matter
uri: Indigenous-lives-matter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Indigenous_lives_matter%29
content:
<p>
Along with the Black Lives Matter campaign, a campaign that
<a href=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/10/21/1585414/-American-Indians-killed-by-cops-at-highest-rate-in-the-nation-but-they-re-invisible-in-the-media>
indigenous
lives matter
</a>
is also needed.


feed_id: cb9ebc735e261f9fd99e49fa83ce2a66
title: Wallonia steadfast
uri: Wallonia-steadfast
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Wallonia_steadfast%29
content:
<p>
Wallonia is standing firm against CETA, while European and Canadian
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/21/eu-canada-ceta-trade-deal-meltdown-canadian-minister-walks-out>
plutocratist politicians use absurd emotional arguments
</a>
to present
this as a great tragedy.
<p>
The article does not even entertain the awareness of CETA's harmfulness.
It is a typical example of elite-dominated journalism.
<p>
Officials of Wallonia, you're saving Europe and Canada from a disaster.
<a href=#23_October_2016_(Urgent:_Thank_Wallonia)>
Please say so!
</a>


feed_id: c25103e5ac9c9f76dd6a7a0c305601ee
title: Repression in Ethiopia
uri: Repression-in-Ethiopia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Repression_in_Ethiopia%29
content:
<p>
Ethiopia has
<a href="https://www.accessnow.org/whats-happening-ethiopia-can-protect-human-rights"/>shut
down internet access</a> as part of a general offense against human
rights.


feed_id: 1244d83d174ba30b620850238d6131c8
title: Urgent: Oppose bill HR 5732
uri: Urgent-Oppose-bill-HR-5732
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_bill_HR_5732%29
content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/house-oppose-engel-bill">oppose
bill HR 5732</a>, which would push the US into war in Syria.


feed_id: 71594ae2c9e88b4b526dbe31af23aac7
title: Urgent: Block pipeline company merger
uri: Urgent-Block-pipeline-company-merger
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Block_pipeline_company_merger%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://secure.foodandwaterwatch.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=2771">call
on the Department of Justice</a> to block the Enbridge-Spectra
pipeline company merger.


feed_id: d7451e6b24b17ef1596e438dd468c5f6
title: Urgent: Oppose fossil fuel export
uri: Urgent-Oppose-fossil-fuel-export
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_fossil_fuel_export%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://secure.foodandwaterwatch.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=2779">tell
Congress</a>, don't "modernize" policy to facilitate fossil fuel
export.


feed_id: aa5b9910b2f5f55fba87e456f05d0875
title: New gas pipeline near nuclear plant
uri: New-gas-pipeline-near-nuclear-plant
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28New_gas_pipeline_near_nuclear_plant%29

content:
<p>
A gas pipeline is being built close to Indian Point nuclear power
plant.  If the pipeline leaks, it
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/04/spectra-gas-pipeline-nuclear-plant-meltdown-new-york">could
cause havoc at the nuclear plant</a>.


feed_id: 67cac470a2ee26aab77ac4f9daa4da6e
title: Witnesses of abuse in Nauru and Manus
uri: Witnesses-of-abuse-in-Nauru-and-Manus
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Witnesses_of_abuse_in_Nauru_and_Manus%29

content:
<p>
Teachers and social workers in Nauru and Manus
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/21/teachers-social-workers-demand-right-to-talk-about-offshore-detention-centres">demand
to be allowed to talk</a> about the abuse that they witness.
<p>
For Australia to gag them, or anyone, from showing public the results
of its treatment of refugees is an blatant act of tyranny.


feed_id: ff8e5f8d141b89ef26fa79d4d5b06def
title: Criminal charges for paying a prostitute
uri: Criminal-charges-for-paying-a-prostitute
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Criminal_charges_for_paying_a_prostitute%29

content:
<p>
An Oakland thug faces charges of
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/20/oakland-police-officer-arrested-prostitution-obstruction-justice">being
a customer of a prostitute, and warning her about which thugs might
try to arrest her</a>.
<p>
While in general I am glad to see thugs face criminal charges, that is
a bad thing when that occurs under laws that are totally unjust, as
these are.  It should not be a crime to pay a prostitute, or to be a
prostitute.


feed_id: ec2801294e16d207f42a6383e8d44fd7
title: Proposals to fine homeless people
uri: Proposals-to-fine-homeless-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Proposals_to_fine_homeless_people%29

content:
<p>
Some UK cities have proposed to fine homeless people a
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/oct/21/council-fining-homeless-people-for-being-homeless-cruel-unworkable">hundred
dollars for sleeping in public</a>.  But the public reacted with
outrage each time.


feed_id: 91ecb405859f25741185305e0f9668ec
title: Civil partnership in Britain
uri: Civil-partnership-in-Britain
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Civil_partnership_in_Britain%29
content:
<p>
A British man and woman have
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/21/isle-of-man-heterosexual-civil-partnership">obtained
a civil partnership</a> (instead of a marriage) by going to the Isle
of Man, the one place in Britain where that is allowed.
<p>
The UK should allow it too.


feed_id: bebc3e5ddb872373b05ebb32ae517a6e
title: Sugar-sweetened drinks and diabetes
uri: Sugar-sweetened-drinks-and-diabetes
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Sugar-sweetened_drinks_and_diabetes%29

content:
<p>
Two sugar-sweetened drinks per day
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/21/sugary-soft-drinks-increases-diabetes-risk-study-autoimmune">greatly
increases diabetes risk</a>.


feed_id: 3395d11651d48f7fd460717ae6411011
title: The million who might flee from Mosul
uri: The-million-who-might-flee-from-Mosul
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28The_million_who_might_flee_from_Mosul%29

content:
<p>
Iraq and the US
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/21/boris-johnson-britain-soft-power-mosul-islamic-state-civilians">have
not come near providing enough supplies</a> to house and feed the
million people that might flee from Mosul.


feed_id: 89c1dafddc5e35e0cbc766ec1c4c4e3f
title: Location tracking by social media
uri: Location-tracking-by-social-media
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Location_tracking_by_social_media%29

content:
<p>
Geofeedia looks at several social networks, including Twitter, and
<a href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/19/13317890/facebook-geofeedia-social-media-tracking-tool-mark-zuckerberg-office-intruder">combines
the location tracking data</a>.  This makes it even more imperative
not to let Twitter get your location.
<p>
(As for Facebook and Instagram,
<a href="https://stallman.org/facebook.html">don't let them use you at
all</a>.)


feed_id: b6dc10d9bdb71744be76752e5132c07a
title: Renewable electricity in the US
uri: Renewable-electricity-in-the-US
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Renewable_electricity_in_the_US%29

content:
<p>
Renewable electricity in the US is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/21/us-energy-shakeup-continues-as-solar-capacity-set-to-triple">expected
to grow from 8% to 9% by next year</a>.
<p>
At this rate, it will take 91 more years to reach 100%.  Earth's
ecosystems can't wait that long!


feed_id: ff9df71c34a3e38301f69c9ae638fdcb
title: Letting children play in the front yard
uri: Letting-children-play-in-the-front-yard
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Letting_children_play_in_the_front_yard%29

content:
<p>
One father made his front yard a place where children from the
neighborhood are
<a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/that-gigantic-new-york-times-piece-about-free-play/">welcome
to come and play</a>.


feed_id: 2634614f38e97c8f07e0f1956162b9d0
title: Stressful jobs that give little control
uri: Stressful-jobs-that-give-little-control
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Stressful_jobs_that_give_little_control%29

content:
<p>
A job which is stressful and gives you little control
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/21/stressful-jobs-can-kill-study">tends
to kill the worker</a>.


feed_id: 7539fcd6a2be4b4ba3ef4be528df3e74
title: Teaching business not to cheat its workers
uri: Teaching-business-not-to-cheat-its-workers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Teaching_business_not_to_cheat_its_workers%29

content:
<p>
It
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/21/philip-green-honours-humiliation-business-culture-bhs">takes
more than public humiliation of one still-rich profiteer</a> to teach
business to stop cheating workers.


feed_id: 65703c820c1299fcb6f6eb296292b402
title: US immigration asks for social media accounts
uri: US-immigration-asks-for-social-media-accounts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28US_immigration_asks_for_social_media_accounts%29

content:
<p>
Activists are still trying to convince US immigration
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/21/the-u-s-government-wants-to-read-travelers-tweets-before-letting-them-in/">not
to ask visitors for their social media accounts</a>.


feed_id: 992fc16486e06738d4e997cff62dfe57
title: Authoritarians
uri: Authoritarians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Authoritarians%29
content:
<p>
Ivan the Terrible is being rehabilitated in Russia because it is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/21/ivan-the-terrible-cult-strongman-leader-tsars-popularity-rise-russia">fashionable
to want a strong (authoritarian) leader</a>.
<p>
It is no accident that Trump admires Putin, since they follow the same
approach: authoritarian personality seeks
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jan-apr.html#8_March_2016_(Authoritarian_followers)">authoritarian
follower personalities</a>.


feed_id: e584f6e2ba3d3e39854d96ef2a4ffb4d
title: Arrest of Oromo protesters in Ethiopia
uri: Arrest-of-Oromo-protesters-in-Ethiopia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Arrest_of_Oromo_protesters_in_Ethiopia%29

content:
<p>
Ethiopia has
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/21/1500-people-arrested-in-ethiopia-in-two-week-state-of-emergency">arrested
more than a thousand</a> Oromo protesters.
<p>
Some of them were arrested for closing their stores or proposing
strikes.


feed_id: 2637d11d67c3d16147323920d6e235fe
title: Drought and food shortage in Madagascar
uri: Drought-and-food-shortage-in-Madagascar
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Drought_and_food_shortage_in_Madagascar%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/21/madagascar-drought-catastrophe-looms-as-850000-go-hungry-says-un">Almost
a million people are short of food</a> due to drought in Madagascar.


feed_id: 1e672d6908e52dcf6e9af403ac41a310
title: Subsidized toxicity
uri: Subsidized-toxicity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Subsidized_toxicity%29
content:
<p>
Activists in Detroit are trying to
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/23/detroit-garbage-incinerator-pollution-health-problems-environmentalists>
shut down an incinerator
</a>
that produces
toxic pollution as well as stink.


feed_id: 26f26ba8db82fd7e6434a879fce36539
title: Polling in police stations
uri: Polling-in-police-stations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Polling_in_police_stations%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/38065-polling-places-in-police-stations-why-civil-rights-groups-are-still-fighting-voting-rights>
Polling Places in Police Stations? Why Civil Rights Groups Are Still
Fighting for Voting Rights.
</a>


feed_id: c528538fd3e83efba453a05164be7137
title: Words as weapons
uri: Words-as-weapons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Words_as_weapons%29
content:
<p>
A UN special rapporteur warns that governments word-wide are "treating
words as weapons", repressing journalism and dissent
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/21/un-expert-decries-global-assault-freedom-expression>
through laws that
pretend to be aimed at "terrorism".
</a>


feed_id: 7e4d403627b7af5e095a0a117cf65b39
title: Deforestation in Haiti
uri: Deforestation-in-Haiti
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Deforestation_in_Haiti%29
content:
<p>
An
<a href=http://www.ezilidanto.com/2016/10/12045-haiti-deforestation-is-a-lie/>
exaggerated figure for deforestation in Haiti
</a>
is often repeated.

(The article uses the term "lie", but the argument is that it
is erroneous, not that someone is intentionally lying about this.)


feed_id: 4e3699bd1b785a4959207acec6e67e16
title: Flint water crisis
uri: Flint-water-crisis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Flint_water_crisis%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/flint-water-crisis-fades-headlines-state-michigan-has-enduring-responsibility>
As the Flint Water Crisis Fades From the Headlines, the State of
Michigan Has an Enduring Responsibility to the City's School Children.
</a>


feed_id: 4711732227ceeb40f2e5353634c3d0ec
title: Covert war
uri: Covert-war
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Covert_war%29
content:
<p>
A study finds that the US carries out overt war against nondemocratic states
but uses
<a href=http://news.ku.edu/2016/10/14/research-shows-us-tendency-hide-war-against-democracies-and-detain-their-citizens>
covert war against democratic ones.
</a>


feed_id: fcbbb6135a31d85bcddc647a0062c596
title: Facial recognition
uri: 2016-10-27-Facial-recognition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Facial_recognition%29
content:
<p>
Memo to the DOJ:
<a href=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/10/memo-doj-facial-recognitions-threat-privacy-worse-anyone-thought>
Facial Recognition's Threat to Privacy is Worse Than
Anyone Thought.
</a>
<p>
The EFF's proposed measures are only a good start.  We need laws to prohibit
systematic collection or recognition of people's faces, except in places
where there is specific authorization such as a court order.
<p>
Other organizations
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/18/50-groups-urge-investigation-wild-west-facial-recognition-policing>
call for an investigation
</a>
too.


feed_id: 52758b97776374cf1bde7a582c2e14fd
title: Clinton-Trump debates
uri: Clinton-Trump-debates
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Clinton-Trump_debates%29
content:
<p>
Iran's President Rouhani points to the Clinton-Trump debates as showing
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/23/trump-clinton-iran-us-presidential-election-hassan-rouhani>
a kind of democracy no one should want in their countries.
</a>


feed_id: 559308a1b0cecaa202e77191c65d7e0f
title: Corrupt coalition
uri: Corrupt-coalition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Corrupt_coalition%29
content:
<p>
Spain's "Socialist" party has
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/23/spains-socialists-lift-veto-to-allow-conservatives-to-rule-as-minority>
agreed to a coalition with the corrupt
right-wing "Popular Party",
</a>
assuring several years of right-wing rule.


feed_id: 8bc7086a126a473b6a9f2b59da359b76
title: Urgent: Remove obsolete dams
uri: Urgent-Remove-obsolete-dams
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Remove_obsolete_dams%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call for
<a href=https://secure.earthjustice.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app350b?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1902&utm_source=crm&utm_content=PlainPSLink>
removing obsolete dams on the lower Snake river
</a>
to help wild salmon survive there.


feed_id: 3722004b0cc4ac94019f66ccc6d90fd4
title: Wealthy lack empathy
uri: Wealthy-lack-empathy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Wealthy_lack_empathy%29
content:
<p>
Many kinds of tests show that
<a href=https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/10/21/how-can-you-tell-if-someone-is-kind-ask-how-rich-they-are/>
wealthy Americans tend to have less
empathy
</a>
than the rest, for people that are having difficulties of any
kind.
<p>
I wonder whether people who lack of empathy get richer, or wealth
tends to induce less empathy, or both.


feed_id: 682d2bb444311b62b67a806a7b5ea0f5
title: Evacuating Aleppo
uri: Evacuating-Aleppo
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Evacuating_Aleppo%29
content:
<p>
Why didn't civilians
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/23/syria-heavy-clashesmark-end-to-aleppo-ceasefire>
leave eastern Aleppo
</a>
when Russia opened corridors?
<p>
The article presents proposed reasons, but what do the civilians there
say?


feed_id: 265c630667f212a2205740a0fb963815
title: US racism
uri: 2016-10-27-US-racism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28US_racism%29
content:
<p>
An interview with Albert Woodfox, who says that
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/oct/23/albert-woodfox-interview-released-angola-three-louisiana-state-penitentiary>
US racism has changed
little
</a>
since he was imprisoned.


feed_id: 5d8fe37c6f7576eb9e7e66821de0afb6
title: Heathrow expansion
uri: Heathrow-expansion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Heathrow_expansion%29
content:
<p>
"It may be too late. In which case, hey, build the [Heathrow]
runway.
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/23/cant-we-agree-to-just-not-have-heathrow-at-all-third-runway-expansion>
We might as well die prosperous."
</a>


feed_id: d1235ce5c4506471dbd5ef29c59a2033
title: Hawkish Hillary
uri: Hawkish-Hillary
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Hawkish_Hillary%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/23/hillary-clinton-record-secretary-of-state-foreign-policy>
Hawkish Hillary
</a>
 -- the danger we will face if we don't elect Jill Stein.


feed_id: a8188116af51fb75bee93546647768da
title: Fishing nets
uri: Fishing-nets
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Fishing_nets%29
content:
<p>
10% of plastic debris in the sea comes from
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2016/oct/23/recycle-ghost-fishing-nets-fashion>
abandoned fishing nets.
</a>
A company is now recycling discarded nets to reduce this.
<p>
This is a good way to call attention to the problem, but cannot
directly fix more than a tiny part of it.  Perhaps there should be a
refundable deposit on plastic fishing nets, just as on plastic drink
bottles.


feed_id: 88f6c6779cf693014993fb180e19e45b
title: "Cashless society"
uri: Cashless-society
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Cashless_society%29
content:
<p>
Cash means freedom --
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/21/cashless-future-apple-tim-cook-smartphone-apps>
beware the "cashless society".
</a>
  It's bad for you
for the same reasons it is good for Apple.


feed_id: a04b904f468d5de7ce5578f25d49883c
title: Californian loan
uri: Californian-loan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Californian_loan%29
content:
<p>
Californians are voting on a big and expensive loan from a commercial bank.
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/20/prop-51-versus-state-owned-bank-how-california-can-save-10-billion-9-billion-loan>
Using a public bank could save billions, over time.
</a>


feed_id: 979f4c31067c5c36da1498f8f4fb2110
title: Autonomous cars
uri: Autonomous-cars
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Autonomous_cars%29
content:
<p>
Tesla has made it clear that "purchasers" of autonomous cars won't
own them, by
<a href=http://arstechnica.com/cars/2016/10/dont-plan-on-using-an-autonomous-tesla-to-earn-money-with-uber-or-lyft/>
restricting them to Tesla's own competitor to Guber
</a>
  rather than Guber (or Lyft).
<p>
I expect that these systems will all require passengers to identify
themselves and to run nonfree software.


feed_id: 229bf19ee40ac10cd45633342dba1ee7
title: Time-travelling pardon
uri: Time-travelling-pardon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Time-travelling_pardon%29
content:
<p>
The UK should
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/23/alan-turing-posthumous-pardons-gay-lgbt-rights>
go beyond pardoning those convicted in the past of
homosexuality;
</a>
it should apologize to those still living.


feed_id: 72bc67c8ec98fe08f9d34d6fc1d62026
title: Strip searches
uri: Strip-searches
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Strip_searches%29
content:
<p>
Amy Goodman: North Dakota thugs have
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/22/strip-searches-and-press-freedom-north-dakota>
given 140 arrested protesters a
strip search,
</a>
apparently for no valid justification, just as a form of
bullying and harassment.

Thugs have repeatedly
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/22/crackdown-dakota-access-pipeline-reporters-shows-vital-role-independent-media>
arrested journalists covering the protests.
</a>


feed_id: 7a8995373df38dd4a5631c8ab6542795
title: Urgent: Stop the Native American land grab
uri: Urgent-Stop-the-Native-American-land-grab
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_the_Native_American_land_grab%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on Congress to
<a href=http://act.credoaction.com/sign/land_grab_pda/>
defeat the Utah Public Lands
Initiative,
</a>
which would take land away from Indian tribes and give it
to mining companies.


feed_id: 4cf267f8809eb994c5c147a02a81a6eb
title: AT&T buying Time Warner
uri: AT-T-buying-Time-Warner
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28AT%26T_buying_Time_Warner%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/oct/22/att-buy-time-warner-donald-trump>
AT&T wants to buy Time Warner
</a>
(the media company, not the cable company).
<p>
This is one of the rare points where I agree with Trump (at least what
he <em>says</em>; you can't expect him to mean what he says).  I wish I could
expect Clinton to oppose mergers.


feed_id: 692941580cccad27ce014f8ed4e89348
title: PISSI in Mosul
uri: PISSI-in-Mosul
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#24_October_2016_%28PISSI_in_Mosul%29
content:
<p>
PISSI in Mosul
is proving to be a wily opponent, using
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/22/attack-on-kirkuk-toxic-chemical-sulphur-fire-isis-pushes-troops-from-mosul-frontline>
tactics that
opposing forces were not ready for.
</a>


feed_id: 2c84686abd15fabc29a8e3b7ec52a495
title: Patent trolls
uri: 2016-10-27-Patent-trolls
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Patent_trolls%29
content:
<p>
Some US universities are
<a href=https://medium.com/@yardenkatz/universities-have-turned-over-hundreds-of-patents-to-patent-trolls-99d5cdec1d8a>
feeding patent trolls regularly.
</a>


feed_id: 9cdb5ca615064ca73891bfb5558e4782
title: Egyptian thugs
uri: 2016-10-27-Egyptian-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Egyptian_thugs%29
content:
<p>
Egyptian thugs
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/20/egyptian-rights-group-linked-to-regeni-case-raid-on-offices-giulio-ecrf>
raided the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms,
</a>
which takes cases about people killed and disappeared by
Egyptian thugs.


feed_id: ad4d31ae5a7c8aedcbb7f7355552c7fc
title: Canadian surveillance
uri: Canadian-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Canadian_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau,
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/19/edward-snowden-canada-anti-terror-law-justin-trudeau>
promised to repeal the
surveillance law,
</a>
but seems to have chickened out.


feed_id: c5197f6ce34a2a0ee9cd6d0e62735ac6
title: Buy now
uri: Buy-now
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Buy_now%29
content:
<p>
Companies that offer limited licenses for digital copies and invite
people to "buy" or "own" those copies are
<a href=http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2016/10/how_consumers_misunderstand_buy_now_buttons.html>
misleading consumers.
</a>
  In
the US, that is illegal.
<p>
I think we should go further and legislate that such licenses are
legally void.  Also, technical measures to restrict use of copies of
published works -- DRM, in other words -- should be a felony.


feed_id: 971ad8a32087de7a9fba528a55b5bf14
title: UK "Prevent" program
uri: UK-Prevent-program
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28UK_Prevent_program%29
content:
<p>
The UK "Prevent" program
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/19/uks-prevent-counter-radicalisation-policy-badly-flawed>
assumes certain Islamist political views
are a precursor for terrorism.
</a>
So it makes Muslims who are not
inclined to violence feel persecuted.
<p>
To advocate Islamist government constitutes opposition to basic
human rights, because an Islamist state systematically tramples
those rights.  But people have a right to <em>advocate</em>
that kind of government, just as they have a right to advocate
Republican policies.


feed_id: 18a11d874f2ff506b866deabb65c4a80
title: Urgent: Thank Wallonia
uri: Urgent-Thank-Wallonia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Thank_Wallonia%29
content:
<p>
Everyone, especially Canadian and EU citizens:
thank Wallonia for blocking the unjust treaty CETA.
<p>
Leave a message at
<a href=http://magnette.wallonie.be/contact>
http://magnette.wallonie.be/contact
</a>
<br>
<em>and</em> send an email to
<a href=mailto:courriel@parlement-wallonie.be>
courriel@parlement-wallonie.be</a>.
<p>
Also post publicly about your support and appreciation for
blocking CETA.


feed_id: 90ebbf3284d641f4046f961e210dabbb
title: Venezuelan authoritarianism
uri: Venezuelan-authoritarianism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Venezuelan_authoritarianism%29
content:
<p>
The government of Venezuela has
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/21/venezuela-president-maduro-recall-referendum>
cancelled a petition drive for a recall
election,
</a>
and postponed elections for state governors.


feed_id: 068383c4141bde7be838130f633bc265
title: Abstinence-only sex ed
uri: Abstinence-only-sex-ed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Abstinence-only_sex_ed%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/21/highlighting-damage-lack-clinic-funding-cdc-says-stds-all-time-high>
Syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea are increasing in the US,
</a>
and theocratic Christians are partly to blame.  They have cut funding
for the organizations that help people avoid STDs and promote
unrealistic and ineffective abstinence-only sex "education".


feed_id: f119ec30c6273ac970813623664edb90
title: Phony al-Qa'ida videos
uri: Phony-al-Qa-ida-videos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Phony_al-Qa%27ida_videos%29
content:
<p>
The Pentagon made
<a href=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/us-government-pentagon-fake-al-qaeda-propganda-videos-a7348371.html>
phony al-Qa'ida videos that subtly made al-Qa'ida
look bad, and that reported who looked at them.
</a>
  Copies were left on CDs
in houses in Iraq.
<p>
The US did very bad things in Iraq, such as invading it and strewing
radioactive fallout everywhere, but just because this was done by the
US doesn't make it wrong.  It seems legitimate to me.


feed_id: 4af31eb127ac716b00946d2e7451f124
title: Facebook's power
uri: Facebook-s-power
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Facebook%27s_power%29
content:
<p>
Since
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/21/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-trump-hate-speech-censorship>
Zuckerberg personally decides when to make exceptions
</a>
to Facebook censorship rules,
he is functioning as the editor
of the site.
<p>
Is it fair to condemn Facebook for being inflexible about its rules,
then condemn it for being flexible?  That would appear inconsistent,
but both criticisms are valid.  How can that be?  Because the real
wrong is the underlying wrong: Facebook has gained for itself too much
power over world-wide publishing.  There is no way to wield that power
without doing harm.  It is the size and power of Facebook that convert
its general policies, and its specific decisions, to become in
effect censorship.
<p>
We must take away Facebook's power.


feed_id: 603e01384eb9ba6815e230d06271fec4
title: Lane closure
uri: Lane-closure
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Lane_closure%29
content:
<p>
A defendant testified that Chris Christie
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/21/chris-christie-former-aide-testifies-traffic-study-bridge>
personally approved the
"traffic study"
</a>
that was apparently designed to cause traffic jams for
Fort Lee.


feed_id: ad0f084f88fda62cb50063b4d1e0a387
title: Google policy change
uri: Google-policy-change
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Google_policy_change%29
content:
<p>
Google quietly
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/21/how-to-disable-google-ad-tracking-gmail-youtube-browser-history>
combined its ad-tracking profiles with its browsing profiles.
</a>


feed_id: 3809f5a1e6ff3aa67a0077929dd17d68
title: A woman for president
uri: A-woman-for-president
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28A_woman_for_president%29
content:
<p>
Trump has led a large fraction of Americans to dare to
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/21/donald-trump-rolled-back-gains-american-women-torrent-misogyny>
show their
misogyny and sexism.
</a>
  It will be hard work to defeat that.
<p>
Like most pro-Clinton articles, this article presumes implicitly that
the only possible cause of disapproval for her is a prejudice such as
misogyny.
<p>
Not in my case.  I am happy to vote for a woman for president.  In
fact, I voted for Jill Stein this week -- for the second time.
<p>
I don't vote for Hillary Clinton, for the same reasons I didn't vote
for Bill Clinton in 1996: they are not progressive.  They support
<a href=../business-supremacy-treaties.html>
business-supremacy treaties.
</a>
  Ms Clinton doesn't intend to try very hard to
<a href=#20_October_2016_(Climate_activists_ridiculed_by_Clinton)>
avoid global heating
disaster,
</a>
          and she
<a href=#21_October_2016_(Bankruptcy_bill)>
kowtows to the banksters
</a>
just as Obama does.
  Basically, she would give us four more years of
Obama,
<a href=#11_July_2016_(War_hawk_party)>
only more warlike.
</a>


feed_id: 2fd0340487710d3e4cdcb8ec5b9e0d0e
title: Urgent: Oppose US war in Syria
uri: Urgent-Oppose-US-war-in-Syria
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_US_war_in_Syria%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone your congresscritter to oppose HR 5732, which would
push the US into war in Syria and undermine the Iran nuclear deal.
<p>
The Capitol Switchboard
numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641 and 888-355-3588.


feed_id: da708beebf170fbf8c8427601c2df222
title: Thugs in schools
uri: 2016-10-27-Thugs-in-schools
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Thugs_in_schools%29
content:
<p>
The ACLU talks about the danger
<a href=https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/when-did-police-officers-replace-principals-office>
thugs in schools
</a>
pose for students.
<p>
The first step in solving this problem is to stop having thugs
assigned to schools.  However, the report shows that there is a
secondary issue: when teachers should call for a thug, whether
from inside or outside the school.


feed_id: fa647252af3b60b5acca436aa81c804e
title: UK manufacturing recovery
uri: UK-manufacturing-recovery
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28UK_manufacturing_recovery%29
content:
<p>
The UK has added some manufacturing jobs in the past few years,
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/oct/21/uk-manufacturing-recovery-based-on-increase-in-low-skilled-jobs-finds-report>
but they are low-pay, low-skill jobs.
</a>


feed_id: 701bde76bfbe40988204088518d1173c
title: Unlawful torture
uri: Unlawful-torture
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Unlawful_torture%29
content:
<p>
A US appeals court ruled that torture is so clearly illegal that it is
<a href=https://theintercept.com/2016/10/21/major-new-court-ruling-says-even-the-president-cant-declare-torture-lawful/>
"beyond the power of even the president to declare such conduct
lawful."
</a>
<p>
The US must prosecute all those that carried out or approved torture,
especially Dubya and Cheney.


feed_id: 0b51ba0005ab7d45aa208925c67fdecd
title: Trumpery
uri: Trumpery
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Trumpery%29
content:
<p>
Trump supporters are using lies and trumpery to
<a href=https://theintercept.com/2016/10/21/the-smearing-of-donald-trumps-accusers/>
attack the women that
accused him of raping or groping them.
</a>
  Their intention, apparently, is to scare off his other victims.
No lie is too vile for them to tell.


feed_id: c1273dcafdfd505f38e9ec6ed87ef322
title: Corporate rule
uri: Corporate-rule
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Corporate_rule%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/21/we-never-voted-corporate-rule>
We Never Voted for Corporate Rule.
</a>
  In no sense are companies entitled to the power, influence or profits
that they currently get.  So there is no reason we should not change laws
so that they have to
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/21/three-massive-mergers-millions-one-bank-and-disaster-food-water-and-climate>
break up, make less money, and have less power.
</a>


feed_id: 812669ff607f31461a8941407a1c0d9a
title: Rigged US elections
uri: Rigged-US-elections
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Rigged_US_elections%29
content:
<p>
How US elections really do get
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/21/stealing-us-elections>
rigged or stolen.
</a>


feed_id: ebd6ee51af542bba0211b73d5eaba024
title: Rivalry in Syria
uri: Rivalry-in-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Rivalry_in_Syria%29
content:
<p>
The partisans of Russia and the partisans of the US present
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/21/many-truths-syria-how-our-rivalry-has-destroyed-country>
competing half-truths.
</a>
Neither side deserves support.


feed_id: def3cf66818e5f643591c816970dfa33
title: Opioid addiction
uri: Opioid-addiction
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Opioid_addiction%29
content:
<p>
35 US states have
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/oct/21/reckitt-benckiser-drug-company-sued-suboxone-profiteering-opiod-addiction>
sued the manufacturer of suboxone,
</a>
used to treat
opioid addiction.


feed_id: 67977aac7fc6536d018f72639bafd938
title: Umbrella companies
uri: Umbrella-companies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Umbrella_companies%29
content:
<p>
In the UK, many temporary employees are being forced to work
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/oct/21/temporary-workers-umbrella-companies-extra-costs-dodging-ni-cutting-rights-supply-teachers>
through
"umbrella companies" that take a cut of their pay.
</a>
And they are forced
to pay the employer's share of social security.
<p>
These "umbrella companies" are bad for workers.  They serve only the
ultimate employers, that can pay less for work, and the owners of the
umbrella companies themselves.  Therefore, they should be abolished
entirely.
<p>
It is a fundamental mistake to charge any welfare benefits as a tax on
employment.  That creates an incentive for companies to employ fewer
people.  Businesses should pay for these programs through a tax that
is not based on number of employees.


feed_id: 0b56f5f69abe70e9b8b1f8f6fbc8224e
title: Urgent: Reject CETA
uri: Urgent-Reject-CETA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_CETA%29
content:
<p>
Everyone (but especially people in the European Union and Canada):
<a href=http://www.foeeurope.org/solidarity-with-wallonia-to-stop-ceta>
show your solidarity with Wallonia in rejecting CETA.
</a>
<p>
Here are other ways to
<a href=http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/stop-ceta>
take action to stop CETA.
</a>


feed_id: ef7e220e69224ba1e91adb57000a7a23
title: Urgent: Rescind police endorsement of Trump
uri: Urgent-Rescind-police-endorsement-of-Trump
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Rescind_police_endorsement_of_Trump%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the Fraternal Order of Police to
<a href=https://act.credoaction.com/sign/FOP_Trump?t=1002&akid=20196.1183552.q2cfbL>
rescind its
endorsement of Trump.
</a>


feed_id: fd9e36c0a9dcddd1ba4d05c31710d2fd
title: Corporate totalitarianism
uri: Corporate-totalitarianism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Corporate_totalitarianism%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/sheldon_wolin_and_inverted_totalitarianism_20151101>
"Inverted totalitarianism":
</a>
a political analysis of modern plutocratic
corporate rule.


feed_id: 923650f89f4439e05e727ad1f28b41d9
title: Activists murdered
uri: Activists-murdered
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Activists_murdered%29
content:
<p>
Despite the
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/19/assassination-repression-impunity-continue-honduras-us-satisfied-and-certifies>
murder of several many activists, and continued
repression of protesters,
</a>
the US State Department is satisfied that
Honduras is improving its respect for human rights.
<p>
Well, it's not as bad as Egypt or Bahrain or Salafi Arabia.  The US is
"satisfied" with them, too, isn't it?


feed_id: 60416852c21a02cdef3a13d695207534
title: Wall of taco
uri: Wall-of-taco
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Wall_of_taco%29
content:
<p>
Mexicans in the US built a
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/further/2016/10/18/trolling-trump-taco-trucks>
"wall" of taco trucks around Trump's hotel in
Las Vegas,
</a>
where he is trying to crush a union.


feed_id: 6d6fcad9a296c10254fd92e50b2b3c23
title: Deaths in custody
uri: Deaths-in-custody
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Deaths_in_custody%29
content:
<p>
<a href=http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/20/uk-taught-bahrain-police-how-whitewash-custody-deaths>
The UK gave advice to Bahraini thugs from the Special Investigations
Unit
</a>
about how to tell relatives of prisoners that were killed that
the killers will not be prosecuted.
<p>
The Special Investigations Unit should perhaps be called the Phony
Investigations Unit, since in practice its job is <em>not</em> to
prosecute torturers.


feed_id: f65a8df5f21ddaf199dbb22b0b47dd70
title: Square breasts
uri: Square-breasts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Square_breasts%29
content:
<p>
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/20/facebook-bans-breast-cancer-video-square-breasts>
Facebook banned a video made by the Swedish Cancer Society
</a>
about
breast cancer because it showed cartoon figures with circles as
breasts.
<p>
It got Facebook to accept the video by putting in squares for the breasts.
<p>
The real problem here is not that Facebook draws the line at the wrong
place (though it does).  It is that Facebook has so much influence
that organizations such cancer charities feel obliged to publish
through Facebook.


feed_id: 084f39c3a2e8fa4520d1620280a0d2a9
title: Commander in Chief
uri: Commander-in-Chief
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Commander_in_Chief%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/20/if-only-we-could-vote-peace-instead-commander-chief">If
Only We Could Vote for Peace</a> Instead of a 'Commander-in-Chief'.
<p>
Note: the president of the United States is, ex officio, the Commander
in Chief of the US armed forces — not of the United States
itself, or of US citizens or inhabitants in general.  The point of a
free country is that no one can command you.


feed_id: 43067c5da598b782cf6335d241230a50
title: Fossil fuel leases
uri: Fossil-fuel-leases
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Fossil_fuel_leases%29
content:
<p>
Feds: Only Those
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/20/feds-only-those-committed-destroying-planet-can-bid-fossil-fuel-leases">Committed
to Destroying Planet</a> Can Bid on Fossil Fuel Leases.


feed_id: fdce1bbdef46d371b5b03e41ad7edf9c
title: Threat of censorship in California
uri: Threat-of-censorship-in-California
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Threat_of_censorship_in_California%29

content:
<p>
Several executives of Backpage face
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2016/10/20/backpage-wont">unconstitutional
prosecution</a> in California because some of the adult ads that
company publishes are, unknown to the company, for teenage
prostitutes.
<p>
This case, if not dismissed, threatens our rights because it could
force many platforms into intrusive censorship.
<p>
It also shows the danger of legal assumptions that twist the truth,
such as "sex with someone under 18 is rape", "sex with a prostitute
under 18 is enslavement", and "making a nude photo of someone under 18
is a sexual assault."  In some cases, it is — but not always.


feed_id: e2731399b127e2f82635eee88ed926c0
title: Abortion
uri: 2016-10-27-Abortion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Abortion%29
content:
<p>
A woman who had a very late abortion, for vital medical reasons, urges
people
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/10/20/1584899/-After-the-debate-a-Utah-woman-stepped-up-to-share-her-late-term-abortion-story-and-it-s-going-viral">not
to get the state involved in deciding for women</a>.
<p>
Bravo!  However, in having six previous children, she did something
that was
<a href="https://stallman.org/articles/children.html">harmful for
humanity and the natural world</a>.


feed_id: fb94fa3325754e1dc806b30a18c4d679
title: Brutal violence of the British Empire
uri: Brutal-violence-of-the-British-Empire
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Brutal_violence_of_the_British_Empire%29

content:
<p>
The British Empire was maintained, as late as the 1950s, through
force.  In Kenya, the empire crushed the brutal and violent Mau Mau
movement with
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/aug/18/uncovering-truth-british-empire-caroline-elkins-mau-mau">its
own brutal violence</a>.
<p>
What's amazing is that it was able to erase historical memory of this,
even in Kenya.


feed_id: 26d8b1b24d510103a76676b0f8d952c6
title: Campaign for non-violence within Muslim community
uri: Campaign-for-non-violence-within-Muslim-community
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#23_October_2016_%28Campaign_for_non-violence_within_Muslim_community%29

content:
<p>
500 British Muslim organizations are going to set up a program to
avert terrorism by
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/19/muslim-council-britain-set-up-alternative-counter-terror-scheme">spreading
the idea among Muslims that violence is the wrong way</a>.  The new
program will not try to influence people on other questions or
pressure them to become informers.
<p>
I am not an expert, but I think that a campaign coming from within
that community and reflecting the views of most British Muslims (and
most Muslims elsewhere too) will be less easily dismissed than one
coming from the state.
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/17/playing-into-hands-of-anjem-choudary-counter-terror-strategy-extremism">
Meanwhile</a>, mainstream media give violent Islamists exactly the
publicity
they seek.


feed_id: 1f218c732cacc0bb89b495cee4eac468
title: Interview with Bernie Sanders
uri: Interview-with-Bernie-Sanders
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#22_October_2016_%28Interview_with_Bernie_Sanders%29
content:
<p>
An
<a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/137103/bernie-looks-ahead">interview</a>
with Bernie Sanders.
<p>
I never agreed 100% with Sanders, but 100% agreement with a candidate
is too much to ask for.  I agreed with him on the most important
issues, and I saw his integrity and deep thinking; that was reason
enough to support his campaign.  I hope to have another chance to do
so in 2020.
<p>
However, I am unpersuaded by his arguments to support Clinton now.  I
don't believe that Clinton will do the good things that he thinks she
will do.  More deeply, I reject the idea of voting for bad candidates
because their principal opponent is worse.  I decided in 2007 that
Clinton was no progressive, not someone I could vote for.  That her
opponent this time is even worse does not make her acceptable.
<p>
I voted this week for Jill Stein for president.


feed_id: 2d7825998a24a6967623d36dd612933a
title: Civil war in South Sudan
uri: Civil-war-in-South-Sudan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#22_October_2016_%28Civil_war_in_South_Sudan%29
content:
<p>
A
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/20/perpetual-killing-field-worst-place-earth">Perpetual
Killing Field</a>: South Sudan, where civil war never ends.
<p>
The western powers pressured Sudan's Islamist dictatorship to let the
south have independence.  But I have never seen an accusation that
they exploited or oppressed people in South Sudan.  The disaster does
not seem to be caused by any western crime.  However, I suspect that
the civil war is fueled by oil exports.
<p>
Groups of Nuer and Dinka were perpetually raiding each other in the
1930s when Evans-Pritchard studied them.  They stole cattle, and they
took prisoners and sometimes killed them but not always.  They used
traditional weapons, not submachine guns, and neither group was united
under overall leaders.  It seems that things are much worse now.


feed_id: 41a77dcf659e0e29ed3060db288f5035
title: dooH niboR using US debt as excuse
uri: dooH-niboR-using-US-debt-as-excuse
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#22_October_2016_%28dooH_niboR_using_US_debt_as_excuse%29

content:
<p>
Establishment politicians continue to
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/20/debate-moderators-under-the-spell-of-deficit-obsessed-billionaire-pete-peterson/">pretend
that the US debt is a serious problem</a>.  It's a great excuse for
dooH niboR policies, such as cutting Social Security and Medicare.


feed_id: ef3c1249147c787a96b65e7184d358fd
title: Trump resembles Il Ducino
uri: Trump-resembles-Il-Ducino
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#22_October_2016_%28Trump_resembles_Il_Ducino%29
content:
<p>
Trump
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/20/donald-trump-silvio-berlusconi-italy-prime-minister">resembles
his Italian precursor Berlusconi</a> (il ducino).


feed_id: fb2cdad3f5394e2c06a2222f1d464a8d
title: Corbyn must reject racist "allies"
uri: Corbyn-must-reject-racist-allies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#22_October_2016_%28Corbyn_must_reject_racist_allies%29

content:
<p>
Corbyn
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/20/the-guardian-view-on-fighting-prejudice-a-call-to-action-for-jeremy-corbyn">must
reject</a> the "allies" that go beyond criticism of Israeli policies
to spout racism against Jews.


feed_id: 5e3216a58b7821ff9f4174931185695c
title: Trump is no outsider
uri: Trump-is-no-outsider
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#27_October_2016_%28Trump_is_no_outsider%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/26/donald-trump-outsider-system-elections">
Donald Trump Is No Outsider: He Mirrors Our Political Culture.
</a>


feed_id: 81976fb2da094c6709648f0b5e563510
title: Land-grab in Ethiopia
uri: Land-grab-in-Ethiopia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#27_October_2016_%28Land-grab_in_Ethiopia%29
content:
<p>
The Ethiopian government has been stealing Oromo people's land to sell
it to foreign companies.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/oct/26/ethiopia-vows-to-protect-european-companies-after-farms-attacked">
The Oromo have now sensibly started
attacking the facilities of those companies.
</a>
<p>
The business owners would like to say, "Don't blame us.  It was the
Ethiopian government that took their land, not us."  But it is just
as valid to say that the companies paid the Ethiopian government
to do it.
<p>
The business owners are quoted as saying, "We can't change the world."
Not true: they have already changed it, for the worse, by
participating in the land-grab.  The argument that "If we hadn't done
this, someone else would have" does not excuse the ones who actually
did it; rather it suggests that the system needs to be changed.


feed_id: 7e2099568074bfcfddb0f446b5365c65
title: Urgent: Block ATT-Time Warner merger
uri: Urgent-Block-ATT-Time-Warner-merger
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#27_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Block_ATT-Time_Warner_merger%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the US to
<a href="http://act.freepress.net/sign/consol_att_tw_merger/?t=1003&akid=5835.9489429.3tednM">
block the proposed ATT-Time Warner merger.
</a>


feed_id: 3b2ea0ebcb81c2fbe34827d208770320
title: Dakota pipeline attacks
uri: 2016-10-28-Dakota-pipeline-attacks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#27_October_2016_%28Dakota_pipeline_attacks%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/25/video-police-viciously-attacked-peaceful-protestors-at-the-dakota-access-pipeline/">
Police Viciously Attacked Peaceful Protestors at the Dakota Access
Pipeline.
</a>


feed_id: f340e66e3fa8b6884fc705e6a15aaf9e
title: Face recognition search
uri: Face-recognition-search
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#27_October_2016_%28Face_recognition_search%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/lawmakers-need-curb-face-recognition-searches-police">
Lawmakers Need to Curb Face Recognition Searches by Police.
</a>
<p>
The only way these laws can achieve their purpose is if they
limit the installation of cameras that allow remote viewing.


feed_id: a4c9fa049b8b5c96888da21155914026
title: Threatened species
uri: Threatened-species
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#27_October_2016_%28Threatened_species%29
content:
<p>
Species can now be protected in the US because they are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/25/alaska-seals-climate-change-threatened-court-ruling">
expected to be
threatened by global heating.
</a>


feed_id: f15e1d976736b212bcb207aec17838e0
title: Spying for profit
uri: Spying-for-profit
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Spying_for_profit%29
content:
<p>
AT&T keeps records of all phone calls since 2008, and
<a href=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/10/25/at-t-is-spying-on-americans-for-profit.html>
sells search
results to various thug departments,
</a>
which then fabricate phony
stories for prosecution so as to cover up what they are doing.


feed_id: a926d00f61c6b72c2a0d6904d2cde957
title: Olive pickers assaulted
uri: Olive-pickers-assaulted
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Olive_pickers_assaulted%29
content:
<p>
Israeli soldiers
<a href="http://imemc.org/article/israeli-soldiers-attack-villagers-force-them-out-of-their-olive-orchards-near-nablus/">
attacked Palestinians
</a>
who were harvesting their olive trees.


feed_id: 07f490598ffbf5a0148ae2cd5e45e1ae
title: Imprisoned for a poem
uri: Imprisoned-for-a-poem
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Imprisoned_for_a_poem%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://972mag.com/200-israeli-cultural-icons-call-to-release-palestinian-poet-under-house-arrest/122753/">
Israelis demand release of Palestinian poet Dareen Tatour,
</a>
imprisoned
for a poem.


feed_id: fd4209e631d21713425d94265ad083db
title: Israel's occupation policy
uri: Israel-s-occupation-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Israel%27s_occupation_policy%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://972mag.com/opposing-the-occupation-now-means-being-anti-israel-to-netanyahu/122776/">
Natanyahu equates criticism of Israel's occupation policy with
opposing Israel.
</a>
<p>
The Israeli human rights organization B'tselem is facing repression
for criticizing the occupation policy;
<a href="http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/while-bibi-was-busy-slamming-me-on-facebook/">
its director has been
threatened with cancellation of his Israeli citizenship.
</a>


feed_id: be3f5ec0bb39247273477dd0300fdf14
title: Pipeline leak
uri: Pipeline-leak
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Pipeline_leak%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/25/they-always-break-latest-pipeline-leak-underscores-dangers-dapl">
Another US oil pipeline has leaked,
</a>
demonstrating the principle
that we must expect them all to leak.


feed_id: 22b8501957e5f3b7c87af6f4e0b650bf
title: Student debt
uri: 2016-10-28-Student-debt
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Student_debt%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/25/low-wages-and-student-debt-break-promise-prosperity">
Even $15 an hour isn't enough to live on
</a>
in the US if you have to repay
student loans.


feed_id: 594b0b956db566e34111f5438c770a67
title: Seafood safety
uri: Seafood-safety
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Seafood_safety%29
content:
<p>
Among many other things, the
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/25/new-study-highlights-hazards-imported-seafood-demonstrates-risks-tpp">
TPP would undermine safety of important
seafood.
</a>


feed_id: 0d5339258c8ac492e9143515d51696b2
title: Methane emissions
uri: 2016-10-28-Methane-emissions
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Methane_emissions%29
content:
<p>
Global heating is behind the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/26/what-is-causing-the-rapid-rise-in-methane-emissions">
increased emission of methane,
</a>
which in turn
increases global heating.


feed_id: 7ee392a7b032c00648affeee4ab40439
title: Sodas cause diabetes
uri: Sodas-cause-diabetes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Sodas_cause_diabetes%29
content:
<p>
A large medical study found more evidence that
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/10/one-135-oz-serving-soda-doubles-your-risk-diabetes">
sodas lead to diabetes.
</a>


feed_id: d99fc8371440732abcda5d0b1eb3bb22
title: Trump investing in pipeline
uri: Trump-investing-in-pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Trump_investing_in_pipeline%29
content:
<p>
Trump has a
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/26/donald-trump-dakota-access-pipeline-investment-energy-transfer-partners>
big financial interest in the Dakota Access Pipeline.
</a>


feed_id: c8d81bf576253db7e12880f3e0f99771
title: Criminals under 25
uri: Criminals-under-25
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Criminals_under_25%29
content:
<p>
Proposing that
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/26/keep-young-offenders-out-of-adult-prisons-mps-urge">
criminals up to age 25 should be treated as juveniles.
</a>
<p>
It is clear that people socially mature at an older age nowadays than
100 years ago, but I'm amazed by the idea that this is a physiological
change.


feed_id: 808c0f2942fa386706a0bf2ca8339f79
title: Industries in cities with reduced pollution
uri: Industries-in-cities-with-reduced-pollution
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#27_October_2016_%28Industries_in_cities_with_reduced_pollution%29

content:
<p>
Industries
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/oct/26/incinerator-copenhagen-waste-plant-bjarke-ingels-ski-slope">can
be returned to cities</a> with reductions in pollution.


feed_id: 04b27f0e6b38c05cb4f7be6d12a65d97
title: Logged forests
uri: Logged-forests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Logged_forests%29
content:
<p>
Logging in certain kinds of forests
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/26/study-protected-forests-public-land-burn-less-severely-logged-areas">
makes fires burn hotter.
</a>


feed_id: 2548549a1d67f78bfd573844a8dd7075
title: Surveillance of journalists
uri: Surveillance-of-journalists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Surveillance_of_journalists%29
content:
<p>
Snowden:
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/26/snowden-journalists-are-threatened-class-era-mass-surveillance">
self-protection is not enough to make journalists safe.
</a>
They need to campaign against surveillance.


feed_id: a13622b137931638fd82fe8946ec8423
title: Divestment from fossil fuels
uri: 2016-10-29-Divestment-from-fossil-fuels
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Divestment_from_fossil_fuels%29
content:
<p>
The World Medical Association calls for
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/26/world-medical-association-we-know-health-risks-fossil-fuels-divest">
divestment from fossil fuels.
</a>


feed_id: f997a882ea50974ce716584703d08291
title: Urgent: Support anthem protesters
uri: Urgent-Support-anthem-protesters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Support_anthem_protesters%29

content:
<p>
Everyone:
<a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/black-children-punished-anthem-protests/?t=1004&akid=6495.1242918.DWDPmu">
state your support for the protests of the students in the
Beaumont Bulls football team.
</a>


feed_id: edb9fe232f5bad02c618ec37892497fa
title: Taskrabbit
uri: Taskrabbit
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Taskrabbit%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://indypendent.org/2016/10/22/impossible-life-taskrabbit">
Taskrabbit should be called Taskhamster,
</a>
for the way it makes
people run on a wheel.


feed_id: 36a5424bc9e78f966099bace3db44068
title: Jill Stein for president
uri: Jill-Stein-for-president
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Jill_Stein_for_president%29
content:
<p>
Why it is very important to
<a href="https://indypendent.org/2016/10/22/election-views-vote-jill-stein-president">
vote for Jill Stein for president.
</a>
<p>
One additional point that this article could have made is that Dubya
wouldn't have even come near winning Florida in 2000 if not for
<a href="archive-2001.html#Florida_voter_disenfranchisement">
disenfranchizing around 50,000 blacks,
</a>
as revealed by Greg Palast.


feed_id: 76f8cdcbd5a27dac89a55182be40e2af
title: "Safe Space" segregation
uri: Safe-Space-segregation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Safe_Space_segregation%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.spiked-online.com/newsite/article/the-rise-of-safe-space-segregation/18905">
In the name of "safe space", racial segregation is spreading in US
universities.
</a>
<p>
If a certain group of students want to eat together, for whatever
reason, they should have the right to do so.  If a certain group of
students want adjoining rooms in the dorm, that too seems within their
rights.  However, the school should not actively promote segregation,
because that interferes with the goal that students learn tolerance
for other groups.


feed_id: bd58108459c985c3f008db33126d77b9
title: Gas pipe near nuclear plant
uri: Gas-pipe-near-nuclear-plant
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Gas_pipe_near_nuclear_plant%29
content:
<p>
Activists locked themselves to a pipeline under construction to
<a href="https://indypendent.org/2016/10/22/pipeline-cometh">
prevent the danger of an oil leak into Indian Point nuclear power
plant.
</a>


feed_id: c784466daa1728c9da4ace8822b4bad9
title: Sea level rise
uri: 2016-10-29-Sea-level-rise
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Sea_level_rise%29
content:
<p>
When the West Antarctic ice sheet slides into the sea,
<a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/scientists-warn-the-collapse-of-this-glacier-could-be-globally-catastrophic-thwaites">
it will raise
sea level by 12 feet.
</a>


feed_id: 4d7062e63c47d1ff81651b7d990a7cd8
title: Welfare system
uri: Welfare-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Welfare_system%29
content:
<p>
The Tories have set up a system that provides
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/26/welfare-sanctions-ken-loach-uk-benefit-system">
countless oppornutities
for mistakes, or shoddy work, to cancel people's welfare benefits.
</a>
It
takes months to win them back.  It seems sadistic.
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/26/fit-for-work-disability-cuts-bureaucracy-daniel-blake">
It systematically labels disabled people as "fit for work".
</a>
  This can
even push people to commit suicide so their spouses can afford to
live.
<p>
If your oppressors have pushed you to the point where you are ready to
give up and die, don't die quietly.  Use your death to strike a blow
against your oppressors.


feed_id: fa6bfffee1e989fa6bd5e53199e45948
title: Yahoo's email scanning
uri: Yahoo-s-email-scanning
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Yahoo%27s_email_scanning%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/26/its-time-answers-yahoos-email-scanning">
It's Time for Answers on Yahoo's Email Scanning.
</a>


feed_id: fff59a1bee01c16ca9c119a4a723bf56
title: US troops in Philippines
uri: US-troops-in-Philippines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28US_troops_in_Philippines%29
content:
<p>
President Duterte says he wants
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/26/philippine-president-calls-for-removal-of-all-us-troops">
US troops removed from the
Philippines.
</a>
<p>
This is surprising, given the dispute with China about control of the
sea in between.  The Philippines has historic reasons to distrust US
influence, but it also has future reasons to distrust Chinese influence.


feed_id: e4a9aed017e5e74ce08db60fa2a29a2d
title: Center for American Progress
uri: Center-for-American-Progress
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Center_for_American_Progress%29
content:
<p>
Clinton's favorite think tank calls for giving
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/26/at-hillary-clintons-favorite-think-tank-a-doubling-down-on-anti-iran-pro-saudi-policy/">
more support to Salafi
Arabia and more hostility to Iran.
</a>
<p>
This is stupid (supports our worst enemies) as well as wrong.


feed_id: b9ecd350e748df2154170c527bd583e1
title: Samsung parody takedown
uri: Samsung-parody-takedown
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Samsung_parody_takedown%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37713939">
Samsung has used DMCA takedown notices to delete mocking videos.
</a>
<p>
Those videos are clearly fair use -- if indeed they copy anything at all.
Samsung is demonstrating the injustice of the DMCA takedown system.


feed_id: c55147f2c4589ba2b0b34e63e8919455
title: The "Trump" brand
uri: The-Trump-brand
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28The_Trump_brand%29
content:
<p>
Trump is
<a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/hotels-resorts/trump-scion-hotels">
moving away from the "Trump" brand
</a>
because it now arouses so
much hostility.


feed_id: d63c4119f5c7e4a4acac884a99b0d9b4
title: Trump is a libel bully
uri: Trump-is-a-libel-bully
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Trump_is_a_libel_bully%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.medialaw.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=3470">
Donald J. Trump Is a Libel Bully But Also a Libel Loser.
</a>
<p>
Lawyers wrote that article for the American Bar Association to
publish.
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/25/us/politics/donald-trump-lawsuits-american-bar-association.html">
The ABA removed everything even slightly critical of Trump,
including the title.
</a>
<p>
<a href="https://thinkprogress.org/trump-first-amendment-too-much-protection-37e72ee16ea2">
Trump wants libel law changed
</a>
so he could win those cases, which would
undermine freedom of the press.


feed_id: 7ea996d5ba9ad31ed0259ee7d418d499
title: Urgent: Allow authorized voters to vote
uri: Urgent-Allow-authorized-voters-to-vote
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Allow_authorized_voters_to_vote%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: Call on Republican officials to
<a href="https://action.aclu.org/secure/follow-court-orders?emissue=votingrights&emtype=petition&ms=eml_161025_votingrights_multistate">
obey court orders and
allow authorized voters to vote.
</a>


feed_id: f73f40f4a76bc6d2c290c7db40b8e879
title: Urgent: End cholera ind Haiti
uri: Urgent-End-cholera-ind-Haiti
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_End_cholera_ind_Haiti%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the US to
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-eliminate-cholera?r_by=1135580">
end cholera & aid elections in Haiti;
protect Haitians in the US.
</a>


feed_id: 4a0f9c2e0a71b6a8db8abc2089bccdb8
title: Urgent: Stop strip searches of protesters
uri: Urgent-Stop-strip-searches-of-protesters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#28_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_strip_searches_of_protesters%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: Tell the Department of Justice to
<a href="http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/dapl_women/?t=1001&akid=3686.1105163.21-ZUK">
put a stop to
strip searches of pipeline protesters.
</a>


feed_id: 490cb04a31066865b1f92b43c84b2bf6
title: koko the clown
uri: koko-the-clown
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28koko_the_clown%29
content:
<p>
What happened to Koko the clown demonstrates why it is very
<a href="http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/4253256/identity-crisis-for-koko-the-clown/">
foolish
to talk with your clients through Facebook</a> or to keep any important
information in a Facebook account.


feed_id: 1f387ab90e1c821e2bdb04d240178094
title: Syrians under siege
uri: Syrians-under-siege
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Syrians_under_siege%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/28/syria-aid-relief-effort-key-questions-guardian-briefing">
Hundreds of thousands of people in Syria live in areas under siege.
</a>
Providing aid to them faces many obstacles.


feed_id: d7efed76ab4690fa9da6bc63170cd07f
title: Pokémon in church
uri: Pokémon-in-church
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Pok%C3%A9mon_in_church%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/28/russian-blogger-jailed-for-receiving-birthday-visit-from-girlfriend-pokemon-go">
A Russian who played Pokémon Go in a church as a protest could be
imprisoned for years.
</a>
<p>
Laws against "insulting religion" are blatant injustice.  Freedom of speech
includes the right to insult anyone or anything.


feed_id: 80f7ac98cb74216f7bd953da7a5c0351
title: Taking of Venezuela
uri: Taking-of-Venezuela
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Taking_of_Venezuela%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://knightcenter.utexas.edu/blog/00-17612-journalists-targeted-venezuelans-take-streets-once-again-protest-government-nicolas-ma">
Journalists in Venezuela now face violence and arrest
</a>
when covering
the large protests.


feed_id: 4fc698bc46f8597f4f2415e329069440
title: Siege of Gaza
uri: Siege-of-Gaza
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Siege_of_Gaza%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/27/israels-blockade-gaza-inherently-violent">
Israel's siege of Gaza involves frequent violence, occasionally fatal.
</a>
  By comparison, the rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza are rare,
since Hamas is very effective at preventing them.


feed_id: 23280d4be21930bfd58068b786a22dc6
title: Urgent: Stop fracked gas investment
uri: Urgent-Stop-fracked-gas-investment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_fracked_gas_investment%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: Tell some large banks
<a href="http://www.ran.org/frackedgas">
not to invest in fracked gas export
terminals in Rio Grande valley.
</a>


feed_id: a78dee826cbd39880fa725df68549d30
title: Exxon declining
uri: Exxon-declining
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Exxon_declining%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/27/bad-week-exxon-outlook-plunges-ny-court-says-climate-criminal-must-comply">
Exxon's revenue is declining fast
</a>
 -- even callous, selfish investors
should get out.


feed_id: b7697b983436cd1b9b008e6926165653
title: Brazilian pro-coal law
uri: Brazilian-pro-coal-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Brazilian_pro-coal_law%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/27/going-against-brazils-international-commitments-federal-senate-creates-program">
Brazil's Congress has passed a law to promote coal.
</a>


feed_id: cffa5c012ff0faff161f7498a812f236
title: Urgent: Reject war with Iran
uri: Urgent-Reject-war-with-Iran
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_war_with_Iran%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on Congress to
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-rebuke-mike?r_by=1135580">
reject Clinton advisor Mike Morelli,
and his advice that the US should start a war with Iran.
</a>


feed_id: a38755e57c36d6e27b2000b647007e19
title: Clinton silent on pipeline
uri: Clinton-silent-on-pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Clinton_silent_on_pipeline%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/27/silence-not-acceptable-indigenous-youth-demand-clinton-take-stand-dapl">
Pipeline opponents protested outside Clinton headquarters,
</a>
which refused
to accept a letter from them.
<p>
Her silence on the issue most likely indicates support for the pipeline
and for fossil fuels in general.
<p>
If you want real action to curb global heating, vote for Jill Stein.
If you want real action to curb the plutocracy, vote for Jill Stein.
If you don't want the US to attack Iran, vote for Jill Stein.
<p>
The bigger the vote for Jill Stein, the louder will be our message
that Clinton will pay a price in the future for disregarding our
survival and our freedom.


feed_id: 747e565944ec47d05872a101a16b0298
title: Nuclear weapons ban?
uri: Nuclear-weapons-ban
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Nuclear_weapons_ban%3F%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/28/un-votes-to-start-negotiating-treaty-to-ban-nuclear-weapons">
UN Votes to Start Negotiating Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons.
</a>
<p>
The US and Russia, as well as some other nuclear powers, voted
against.


feed_id: 4dc460e4724c4ada8932a5b23bcdd0db
title: CIA whistleblowers
uri: CIA-whistleblowers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28CIA_whistleblowers%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/27/when-cia-and-nsa-workers-blow-the-whistle-congress-plays-deaf/">
CIA whistleblowers who try to report lies and corruption through official
channels
</a>
face repression, and that practice has continued for a long time.


feed_id: a121a0a97d9451983d9c71c8aaa67f62
title: Dakota pipeline protests
uri: Dakota-pipeline-protests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Dakota_pipeline_protests%29
content:
<p>
Hundreds of thugs with armored vehicles
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/27/north-dakota-access-pipeline-protest-arrests-pepper-spray">
arrested pipeline protesters.
</a>


feed_id: 11cb8fa7815231762edf392d7d30f7c3
title: Work fetish
uri: Work-fetish
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Work_fetish%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/26/fetishisation-work-miserable-long-hours-poor-pay">
The Fetishisation of Work Is Making Us Miserable.
</a>
Let's Learn to Live Again.


feed_id: eaed64104050d875f646c0de7f3b257f
title: "Scientific" whaling
uri: Scientific-whaling
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Scientific_whaling%29
content:
<p>
International Whaling Commission has narrowed the loophole that
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/27/whaling-watchdog-shrinks-loophole-allowing-japans-scientific-hunts">
Japan
uses to
label whale hunting as "scientific".
</a>


feed_id: 2137076a0665e4e560d1dbdc3bea3965
title: Fishing ban
uri: Fishing-ban
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Fishing_ban%29
content:
<p>
The EU is considering
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/27/eu-proposes-total-commercial-fishing-ban-on-atlantic-sea-bass">
big reductions in certain fishing quotas
</a>
as populations are collapsing.


feed_id: 4ffa67d7d576c77bfa568a5ff57b87f5
title: Military build-up
uri: Military-build-up
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Military_build-up%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/27/military-build-up-along-russias-border-no-cause-for-alarm">
Nato and Russia Playing Dangerous Game with Military Build-Up.
</a>
<p>
These reciprocal gestures are probably good for politicians on both sides.


feed_id: d4c3627f25087b31a660ea6219b60bac
title: Debt crisis
uri: Debt-crisis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Debt_crisis%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/27/mozambique-debt-crisis-first-sign-global-financial-shockwave">
Africa is threatened by vulture capitalists,
</a>
and the UK could be their tool.


feed_id: 40d9eec71f72fbc528d76b6e10a02d3a
title: Fair trial
uri: Fair-trial
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Fair_trial%29
content:
<p>
Cage Prisoners defends the principle that
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2016/oct/27/the-rule-of-law-must-apply-equally-even-to-terrorists">
everyone accused deserves a
fair trial
</a>
and the other rights of the accused -- even those accused
of being terrorists.  For this it faces constant state harassment and
is labeled by mainstream politicians as a "terrorist sympathizer".
<p>
Meanwhile, in the US,
<a href="2009-nov-feb.html#14 November 2009 (US government moves to sieze $500M from Muslim charity)">
charities to provide humanitarian aid for Muslims
are shut down
</a>
by a state that claims, on far-fetched grounds, that they
are "supporting terrorism".


feed_id: 225d36534dbc0028fb6ba85bca55ce09
title: Spain is desert by 2100
uri: Spain-is-desert-by-2100
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Spain_is_desert_by_2100%29
content:
<p>
Global heating will
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/27/climate-change-rate-to-turn-southern-spain-to-desert-by-2100-report-warns">
turn southern Spain into desert by 2100,
</a>
except for the cities that will be inundated.


feed_id: b93b72b7b1b69f0b9ff7267332132483
title: Voter suppression
uri: 2016-10-31-Voter-suppression
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Voter_suppression%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/27/modern-history-rigged-us-elections">
Republicans have a history of stealing elections.
</a>
Dubya stole the
election of 2000 through several forms of cheating in Florida.
However, Nixon and Reagan tricked voters through treacherous sabotage
of US foreign policy.
<p>
This year, Republicans are
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/27/voter-suppression-is-the-real-election-scandal/">
trying a broad range of different methods
to stop Democrats from voting,
</a>
from terrifying them at the polls to
denying them the right to vote.


feed_id: 4e4f929818dbbeeb0a418e5075485a35
title: ISP privacy policies
uri: ISP-privacy-policies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28ISP_privacy_policies%29
content:
<p>
The FCC has tightened privacy policies for ISPs,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/27/phone-data-internet-fcc-att-verizon">
but only as regards
advertisers.
</a>
  While that will limit profiling somewhat, it changes nothing about
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">
the more important privacy issues.
</a>
<p>
It is still wise to browse through Tor or use a popular VPN
hosted in a country that wouldn't cooperate with the US government
on snooping.


feed_id: 22014c5de8710ff5a373f42276fed0ab
title: Urgent: Disclose deaths in Syria
uri: Urgent-Disclose-deaths-in-Syria
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Disclose_deaths_in_Syria%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the Pentagon to
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/pentagon-come-clean-about?r_by=1135580">
investigate and disclose civilian
deaths in Syria.
</a>
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/26/us-must-come-clean-about-civilian-carnage-syria-amnesty-international">
More information.
</a>


feed_id: aeafc94d95bf0d7bb855dfdd9fe32cba
title: Urgent: Stop data deals
uri: Urgent-Stop-data-deals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_data_deals%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: call on major social networks to
<a href="https://action.aclu.org/secure/social-media-spying?emsrc=Nat_Appeal_AutologinEnabled&emissue=privacyandtechnology_&emtype=petition&ms=eml_161026_privacyandtechnology_socialspying&__af=query_string_encrypted">
stop helping monitoring companies.
</a>


feed_id: b6930ed98d423190c57480e9fbb54a33
title: Changes to CETA
uri: Changes-to-CETA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Changes_to_CETA%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/27/ceta-rises-ashes-campaigners-vow-more-you-insist-more-we-resist">
Wallonia gained some changes that weaken CETA,
</a>
perhaps making it less
damaging, and providing more opportunities to kill it later.


feed_id: 686dc96f17f54f672310257d8b5bb350
title: Urgent: Oppose coal export terminal
uri: 2016-10-31-Urgent-Oppose-coal-export-terminal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_coal_export_terminal%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/coal_export_comments?t=1003&akid=20273.1183552.h46qN5">
oppose the Millennium Bulk Terminal for coal export.
</a>


feed_id: 4259aee04b2538882b7b75d5e210345d
title: Urgent: Carbon tax initiative I-732
uri: Urgent-Carbon-tax-initiative-I-732
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Carbon_tax_initiative_I-732%29

content:
<p>
Washington State voters: support the carbon tax initiative, I-732.
<p>
There is an unfortunate dispute in Washington about
<a href="http://www.vox.com/2016/10/18/13012394/i-732-carbon-tax-washington">what
to do with the revenue from a carbon tax</a>.  I think it would be
best to give part of the money to the poor and spend part of the money
on green projects.  But this detail is secondary: having a carbon tax
is really important.


feed_id: 074578dd5ce81d5a17f2a18c5f1694fc
title: Urgent: Oppose the TPP
uri: 2016-10-31-Urgent-Oppose-the-TPP
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_the_TPP%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: phone your congresscritter
<em><a href="http://act.democracyforamerica.com/call/stop_tpp_october/">again</a></em>
to oppose the TPP.


feed_id: 61557ba6f127827677c2b167e66c8ee0
title: Urgent: Explain US depleted uranium weapons use
uri: Urgent-Explain-US-depleted-uranium-weapons-use
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Explain_US_depleted_uranium_weapons_use%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/pentagon-come-clean-on">call
on the US</a> to explain its policy and history regarding using
depleted uranium weapons in Syria.


feed_id: b407e3f99edc74839f08ff1354214f89
title: Urgent: Stop military assistance to Salafi Arabia
uri: Urgent-Stop-military-assistance-to-Salafi-Arabia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_military_assistance_to_Salafi_Arabia%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/president-obama-stop-65">call
on Obama</a> to stop military assistance to Salafi Arabia until there
is a peace agreement in Yemen.


feed_id: 9c49a40c76b6acb6e6792ae50c2773f2
title: US Copyright Office
uri: US-Copyright-Office
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28US_Copyright_Office%29
content:
<p>
Internal documents obtained from the US Copyright Office show that its
"neutral" advice about set-top boxes
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/10/newly-released-documents-show-hollywood-influenced-copyright-offices-comments-set">slavishly
supported the copyright industry</a>.


feed_id: 05bce3c87416b88a5a4979eb78662895
title: Battle for Mosul
uri: Battle-for-Mosul
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Battle_for_Mosul%29
content:
<p>
US And Allies Prepare to Take Raqqa from [PISSI] as
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/26/isis-islamic-state-us-raqqa-mosul-syria">Battle
for Mosul Continues</a>.
<p>
I wonder where they will find significant
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-sep-dec.html#24_September_2015_(Training_moderate_Syrian_rebels)">Syrian
Arab forces that are opposed to PISSI</a>.  From Assad's forces?  From
other jihadis such as formerly-al-Qa'ida?


feed_id: b99de0c5c47fc23202ccbd0184aeb641
title: Pipeline security guards may face charges
uri: Pipeline-security-guards-may-face-charges
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Pipeline_security_guards_may_face_charges%29

content:
<p>
The pipeline security guards that
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/26/north-dakota-pipeline-protest-guard-dogs-charges">set
dogs on protesters</a> may face charges because they didn't have
proper licenses.
<p>
Anyone that sets dogs on people who are not presenting a violent
threat ought to face charges, but it is absurd that this depends on
the lack of some sort of a license.


feed_id: 52ffde0882ef697f848a4cfda74eae27
title: Keeping housing affordable
uri: Keeping-housing-affordable
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Keeping_housing_affordable%29
content:
<p>
In the long run, the only way to keep housing affordable is to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/27/economics-101-house-prices-are-surging-because-of-low-supply">make
more housing in places where people need or want to live</a>.
<p>
However, where many units are taken out of the housing supply as
investments, a way to increase the supply of units available for
living in is to heavily tax those that are not used for residence.


feed_id: 9b30448145f96f9dda7be064347194b6
title: Don't stigmatize disabled people
uri: Don-t-stigmatize-disabled-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Dont_stigmatize_disabled_people%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/27/dont-stigmatise-disabled-people-workshy">Don't
Stigmatise Disabled People as Workshy</a>.


feed_id: 9071d18f19e69a8d07ab41ddf9aa2d38
title: Yemen's future
uri: Yemen-s-future
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Yemens_future%29
content:
<p>
Yemen's future is
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/10/three-unfortunate-facts-yemen">bleak</a>,
no matter what the outcome of the current war.
<p>
Only birth control can save Yemen.  Lots of birth control.


feed_id: 29d5e94509a4b1c996d4e351d11081b2
title: Wearing company logos
uri: Wearing-company-logos
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Wearing_company_logos%29
content:
<p>
More people are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2016/oct/27/im-not-with-the-brand-why-bag-designers-are-losing-the-logo">rejecting
the idea of showing off company logos</a> on their bodies.
<p>
(How foolish it is to identify your pride with something you bought.)


feed_id: c1350b4b3403efd5d184d5d92eacf965
title: Failure to reconnect Iran to global banks
uri: Failure-to-reconnect-Iran-to-global-banks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Failure_to_reconnect_Iran_to_global_banks%29

content:
<p>
West's Failure to Reconnect Iran to Global Banks
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/iran-blog/2016/oct/27/wests-failure-to-reconnect-iran-to-global-banks-risks-breaching-nuclear-deal">"Risks
Breaching Nuclear Deal"</a>.
<p>
Clinton's leaning towards Salafi Arabia could lead her to make things
worse.


feed_id: c59b2bb48d12f3c4bf234679d2f5a3cd
title: CETA
uri: 2016-10-31-CETA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28CETA%29
content:
<p>
Wallonia has
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/27/belgium-reaches-deal-with-wallonia-over-eu-canada-trade-agreement">surrendered
to plutocratist pressure</a> and dropped its veto of CETA.


feed_id: e5017feef61af864006b5b32472ff20a
title: A second chance while not white and wealthy
uri: A-second-chance-while-not-white-and-wealthy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28A_second_chance_while_not_white_and_wealthy%29

content:
<p>
Shouldn't young adults get the same second chance
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/27/white-youngsters-make-mistakes-police-justice-committee">even
if they're not white and wealthy</a>?


feed_id: badd3c325ffbcbc3fec8a2d997ac05b1
title: Denying care to the sick
uri: Denying-care-to-the-sick
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Denying_care_to_the_sick%29
content:
<p>
Obamacare Made It Illegal to Deny Care to the Sick.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/27/obamacare-preexisting-condition-health-insurance-discrimination">Insurance
Companies Still Do It</a>.


feed_id: e01395c1174c6a0ef85c3ba0947efd99
title: Thermocene
uri: Thermocene
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Thermocene%29
content:
<p>
By 2020, wild populations of vertebrates are expected to be only
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/27/world-on-track-to-lose-two-thirds-of-wild-animals-by-2020-major-report-warns">1/3
of what they were in 1970</a>.
<p>
Even worse than global heating, so far, is that humans are straining the
Earth's carrying capacity.  We need more people to
<a href="https://stallman.org/articles/children.html">avoid having
children</a>.
<p>
If we declare a new geological epoch, we
<a href="https://stallman.org/articles/thermocene.html">should not
call it "anthropocene"</a>.


feed_id: 53bd29c814ccde385648ba71f3df81b1
title: Cutting off welfare benefits
uri: Cutting-off-welfare-benefits
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Cutting_off_welfare_benefits%29
content:
<p>
The Tories have invented myriad excuses to cut off welfare benefits.
A study of records demonstrates that this
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/27/benefit-sanctions-food-banks-oxford-university-study">pushes
people to go to charities for food</a>.


feed_id: 103997a7f1480a900a9455160af64671
title: Insurance companies in health care system
uri: Insurance-companies-in-health-care-system
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Insurance_companies_in_health_care_system%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/25/get-insurance-companies-hell-out-healthcare-system">Get
the insurance companies out</a> of the US health care system.


feed_id: bdab55670d19a019ba2db4a8b4555347
title: Coal causes poverty
uri: Coal-causes-poverty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Coal_causes_poverty%29
content:
<p>
Coal is not a cheap way to reduce poverty — it
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/25/burning-coal-drives-global-poverty-well-climate-disaster-new-paper-argues">causes
poverty</a>.


feed_id: 3fbaafefffd8315dca5ee93cb870f075
title: Opposition to marijuana legalization
uri: 2016-10-31-Opposition-to-marijuana-legalization
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#29_October_2016_%28Opposition_to_marijuana_legalization%29

content:
<p>
The latest bullshit for opposing legalization of marijuana is the
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2016/10/26/florida-prohibitionists-fight-medical-ma">mythical
idea that children will be given marijuana cookies on Halloween</a>.
The article explains that no one has seen this happen, and for good
reasons.


feed_id: 7a3fe211e0ea193fa2b62ffc137ee897
title: Duterte's murder campaign
uri: 2016-10-31-Duterte-s-murder-campaign
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#26_October_2016_%28Duterte%27s_murder_campaign%29
content:
<p>
Philippine Senator de Lima calls on the
<a href=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/24/philippines-senator-calls-for-duterte-to-face-crimes-against-humanity-inquiry>
International Criminal Court to
investigate President Duterte's murder campaign.
</a>
  She says that she receives death threats and is afraid she will be
murdered.
<p>
Duterte said his murder campaign is aimed at drug dealers.  You might
think that the rights of drug dealers are unimportant; but even if you
think they deserve to be prosecuted and convicted, that doesn't mean
they have no rights at all.
<p>
Once a state decides that certain people have no rights at all,
it isn't a big step to take the same stance about other people.
If it was drug dealers last month, it can be senators this month,
dissidents next month, and anyone that gets in the president's way
a month after that.


feed_id: 11868c93d102339992e3f6983bad9c11
title: War on Sharing
uri: 2016-11-03-War-on-Sharing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28War_on_Sharing%29
content:
<p>
The US government wants to label all sorts of services that don't
join in the War on Sharing as 
<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/mpaa-and-riaas-anti-piracy-plans-harm-the-internet-161027/">"piracy
facilitators"</a>, using its 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Piracy">typical
propaganda</a> for the enemy.
<p>
The article quotes a statement that uses the confused term
"intellectual property" when it clearly refers to copyright and only
copyright.  That's like saying "New England law" in an article about a
law adopted only in New Hampshire or only in Vermont — a bogus
and misleading generalization from one state to several that are quite
different from each other.  "Intellectual property" is a bogus and
misleading generalization from one law to several dissimilar laws.
<p>
That term 
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">spreads confusion
every time it is used</a>, so no one should ever use it.  Even when it
is mentioned in a quotation or a name, we should warn people that it
misrepresents reality.


feed_id: f88f3b97a9e90879e98021b7cf0327b1
title: EU's proposed "link tax"
uri: EU-s-proposed-link-tax
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28EUs_proposed_link_tax%29
content:
<p>
The EU's absurd proposed "link tax" — actually a 
<a href="http://www.politico.eu/article/copyright-conundrum-tweeting-this-may-cost-you/">fee
for copying small snippets from articles</a> — would apply to
anyone who posts a small quotation, even individuals.
<p>
The whole idea is foolish, because Facebook is the big threat to
publishing, not aggregators such as Google and Reddit.
<p>
The article unfortunately uses propaganda terms of the copyright
industry such as "protection" and "intellectual creation".  See
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html</a>,
and please don't fall into their trap.


feed_id: ad58756b0c42ecb57aae6c97c998d93c
title: Keeping the deficit down
uri: Keeping-the-deficit-down
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28Keeping_the_deficit_down%29
content:
<p>
We're 
<a href="http://fair.org/home/were-not-helping-our-kids-by-keeping-the-deficit-down/">Not
Helping Our Kids</a> by Keeping the Deficit Down.


feed_id: 941cf5f99083611485fa5572ba9a2c35
title: Wife and child of dissident held hostage
uri: Wife-and-child-of-dissident-held-hostage
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28Wife_and_child_of_dissident_held_hostage%29

content:
<p>
Bahrain is holding as hostages the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/29/bahrain-london-duaa-sayed-alwadaei">wife
and child of an exiled dissident</a> to punish him for criticizing the
cruel and violent regime.


feed_id: 54bcd927dbf7124f1669bf7c423453e7
title: CETA
uri: 2016-11-03-CETA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28CETA%29
content:
<p>
CETA faces 
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20161027/09490835898/eu-canada-trade-deal-dodges-belgian-veto-now-faces-multiple-legal-challenges.shtml">legal
challenges in Europe and in Canada</a>.


feed_id: df42010386b22197d11c9039238a8422
title: "Right To Be Forgotten" delistings
uri: Right-To-Be-Forgotten-delistings
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28Right_To_Be_Forgotten_delistings%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20161023/03472935862/why-wikipedia-is-worried-about-global-right-to-be-forgotten-delistings.shtml">Why
Wikipedia Is Worried</a> About Global 'Right To Be Forgotten'
Delistings.


feed_id: 76db65d7031a0457971380927ac1c1fa
title: Kuwait drops mandatory DNA database
uri: Kuwait-drops-mandatory-DNA-database
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28Kuwait_drops_mandatory_DNA_database%29

content:
<p>
Public opposition convinced Kuwait to 
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20161023/03322035861/kuwait-backtracks-mandatory-dna-database-all-citizens-visitors.shtml">drop
its plan to take DNA from all residents and visitors</a>.


feed_id: dfe72df5c575c143d403cc135552ac6f
title: Protonmail disappears from Google search results
uri: Protonmail-disappears-from-Google-search-results
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28Protonmail_disappears_from_Google_search_results%29

content:
<p>
Protonmail 
<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/27/why-did-protonmail-vanish-from-google-search-results-for-months/">mysteriously
disappeared</a> from Google search results.


feed_id: b2ecef8706233e91f26ed2be16f448a8
title: Competition for jobs
uri: Competition-for-jobs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#1_November_2016_%28Competition_for_jobs%29
content:
<p>
One economic reason why it is 
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/10/28/why-it-really-is-harder-to-get-a-job-than-it-used-to-be/">harder
to get a job now than 10 years ago</a> is that the recession pushed
businesses to compete to become more selective about who they hire.
<p>
The result is to increase inequality.
<p>
The article, naturally, suggests that the remedy is to compete harder
with other jobseekers.  That is an effective one way to benefit
yourself, but if everyone does that, it won't do much for working
people.
<p>
What we need is a collective way to reverse the increase in
inequality.  The obvious way is through taxes.  But another way might
be to reduce the effectiveness pressure of competition.


feed_id: 73696c9014be097d08252dae326f219a
title: Israel calls UNESCO's reporting "anti-Israel"
uri: Israel-calls-UNESCO-s-reporting-anti-Israel
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#1_November_2016_%28Israel_calls_UNESCOs_reporting_anti-Israel%29

content:
<p>
UNESCO reported on Israel's 
<a href="http://www.richardsilverstein.com/2016/10/14/israel-media-enablers-deliberately-lie-unesco-resolution-haram-al-sharif/">interference
with Muslim use of the temple mount in Jerusalem</a>.  Israel tried to
distort this by calling it "anti-Israel".


feed_id: 53f0ac3037b304d2489fb7efdeac5200
title: Cost-cutting by water privatizer
uri: Cost-cutting-by-water-privatizer
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#1_November_2016_%28Cost-cutting_by_water_privatizer%29

content:
<p>
Pittsburgh let the water privatizer Veolia decide how to run its water
supply.  Veolia's cost-cutting measure resulted in 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/10/private-water-pittsburgh-veolia">lead
in the water</a>.  And other problems, too.


feed_id: 9457a497c19d12eceff0602916a842f8
title: Rentier middlemen
uri: Rentier-middlemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#1_November_2016_%28Rentier_middlemen%29
content:
<p>
Today's capitalism is designed in hundreds of ways to let rentier
middlemen 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/oct/26/the-corruption-of-capitalism-guy-standing-review-why-rentiers-thrive-and-work-does-not-pay">extract
money from others' economic activity</a>.  When we do work, they are
the ones that profit.
<p>
We need to make them pay a lot more in taxes.


feed_id: b05f20a20a4f355712bbf3fd2e04631a
title: CO2 emissions from shipping
uri: CO2-emissions-from-shipping
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#1_November_2016_%28CO2_emissions_from_shipping%29
content:
<p>
The International Maritime Organization is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/28/shipping-industry-fails-agreement-cap-carbon-emissions">stalling
on taking action to reduce CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from shipping</a>.


feed_id: 446f4f3cf6b5c9932f0285bd18e51683
title: UK may impose massive censorship system
uri: UK-may-impose-massive-censorship-system
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#1_November_2016_%28UK_may_impose_massive_censorship_system%29

content:
<p>
The UK may impose a massive censorship system requiring people to
identify themselves personally to view any website that is supposedly
"not for children".  This would imply 
<a href="https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/2016/now-we-want-censorship-the-digital-economy-bill-is-running-out-of-control">blocking
thousands of foreign web sites</a>.
<p>
The UK's 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-jul-oct.html#09_September_2015_(Possession_of_extreme_pornography)">laws
about sexual images</a> are twisted and sick.


feed_id: c368956eea2d88cd9c283142baa72c28
title: Foreign contributions to political campaigns
uri: Foreign-contributions-to-political-campaigns
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#1_November_2016_%28Foreign_contributions_to_political_campaigns%29

content:
<p>
A Trump PAC operative offered supposed Chinese donors a 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/28/trump-super-pac-sting-shows-how-citizens-united-opened-door-to-foreign-money/">scheme
for contributing millions to the campaign</a>.
<p>
The operative said it is lawful to do this, and sad to say, he may be
right.


feed_id: b0f624d34797323ef6266339de10c9f9
title: Urgent: Prioritize human rights
uri: Urgent-Prioritize-human-rights
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Prioritize_human_rights%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.amnestyusa.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1839&ea.campaign.id=57384">call
on Obama</a> to prioritize human rights for the rest of his term.


feed_id: e86ae344ac3490479f7044a3b7cd8ac4
title: Guber in the UK
uri: Guber-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Guber_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
Guber
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/28/uber-uk-tribunal-self-employed-status">in
the UK</a> must now treat its drivers as employees, pay minimum wage,
and provide benefits.
<p>
This may be a great step forward on one of the many injustices of Guber,
but it will do nothing about how Guber 
<a href="https://stallman.org/uber.html">mistreats
its <em>customers</em></a>.


feed_id: 4ce6913c87a1df5b398af968f56ce173
title: Attacks against dissidents in Zimbabwe
uri: Attacks-against-dissidents-in-Zimbabwe
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Attacks_against_dissidents_in_Zimbabwe%29

content:
<p>
Violent attacks against dissidents in Zimbabwe are happening around 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/28/record-levels-of-assault-abduction-and-torture-reported-in-zimbabwe">2
per day</a>.


feed_id: 388ce7a9b913e8b040a64c12efed9f28
title: Film about cruel Tory welfare system
uri: Film-about-cruel-Tory-welfare-system
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Film_about_cruel_Tory_welfare_system%29

content:
<p>
The film I, Daniel Blake is fiction, but so true to life that it might
as well be a documentary about the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/28/arrogance-poverty-social-housing-benefits-ken-loach-i-daniel-blake-unrealistic">cruel
Tory welfare system</a>.
<p>
I was thinking of calling it "heartless", but 
<a href="media/62a79bb0.anuran-bevan.jpg" data-original-source="https://stallman.org/images/anuran-bevan.jpg">that word is
not strong enough</a>.


feed_id: a86c73999ccbd9ddf22de0b662ab6b8b
title: Homelessness
uri: Homelessness
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Homelessness%29
content:
<p>
Homelessness Can Only Really Be Tackled If People Have 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/28/homelessness-housing-bob-blackman-bill">Somewhere
to Go</a>.
<p>
For the medium term, we need legal and policy changes to increase the
supply of housing.  This means discouraging practices that keep
housing space vacant, as well as zoning laws that obstruct
construction.  We may also have to fund housing construction publicly.
<p>
For the long term, we must reduce population growth, which puts an
unbearable burden in many ways (housing development is just one).


feed_id: 102eda6a798e1663c1199e52950b1f8e
title: Confronting global heating through art
uri: Confronting-global-heating-through-art
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Confronting_global_heating_through_art%29

content:
<p>
Can art help people confront the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/political-science/2016/oct/28/climate-change-is-invisible-insidious-and-urgent-can-the-arts-help-us-see-it">reality
of curbing global heating</a>?


feed_id: 28989a132c74afee4cb1ef3748e2df2f
title: Free speech
uri: 2016-11-03-Free-speech
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Free_speech%29
content:
<p>
A Netherlands politician 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/28/dutch-far-right-mp-geert-wilders-says-race-hate-trial-is-travesty">faces
a trial for "inciting racial hatred"</a> for raising the question of
how many Moroccans it is desirable to have as immigrants.
<p>
This sort of question — substitute any group, it doesn't matter
which — is a legitimate question to ask.
<p>
More fundamentally, laws against "insulting religion" are blatant
injustice.  Freedom of speech includes the right to insult anyone or
anything.  Even you, even me.


feed_id: 200a0df1278dae00c8558aa1a2d9ea23
title: UK's separation from the EU
uri: UK-s-separation-from-the-EU
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28UKs_separation_from_the_EU%29
content:
<p>
The UK is offering various businesses 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/28/nissan-deal-hard-brexit-britain-trade-europe">special
deals and exemptions from whatever new rules will result from its
separation from the EU</a>.  This assures that the whole burden will
be borne by those who have no special clout.
<p>
The injustice of "free trade" is that it gives business more power
over governments and society.  To reduce "free trade" can be good, but
only if the government has the courage to insist on decreasing that
power.  The Tories, who are on the side of the wealthy anyway, don't
even think of trying to do that.


feed_id: f15187b9e97f71d8642e95849b135d44
title: US immigration policy
uri: US-immigration-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28US_immigration_policy%29
content:
<p>
Adam Crapser was 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/28/us-immigration-adam-crapser-south-korea-deportation">brought
to the US at age 4 for adoption</a>, but his parents did not arrange
to make him a US citizen.  Now he is to be deported to South Korea,
where he does not speak the language and will be treated as an
outsider.
<p>
It is wrong to deport people who came to a country as children and
have remained there.  Though they are not literally natural-born, the
difference is of no moral significance.


feed_id: 79d3df0ff3e6a67455d8c73c8afe86d2
title: Mosul civilians used as human shields
uri: Mosul-civilians-used-as-human-shields
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Mosul_civilians_used_as_human_shields%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> has made
thousands of civilians in Mosul into human shields,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/28/islamic-state-uses-hostages-as-human-shields-mosul-says-un">forcing
them to move to places where fighting is expected</a>.
<p>
It is urgent to help the people freed from 
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>'s control
to visit Muslims around the world, to inform young people of what
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> is really
like.


feed_id: b1549a49d06886ee4c6cd1c0fd0ec196
title: Pipeline-supporting banks
uri: Pipeline-supporting-banks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Pipeline-supporting_banks%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/28/how-contact-17-banks-funding-dakota-access-pipeline">
How to contact 17 giant global banks that are funding the Dakota
Access Pipeline -- and some questions to ask them.
</a>
<p>
While you're at it, if you have money in any of these banks,
how about moving it to a small bank that lends money to your
local businesses?


feed_id: 3b6aa56a64212c60d6a563390777569d
title: Urgent: Regulation of GMOs
uri: Urgent-Regulation-of-GMOs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Regulation_of_GMOs%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: call for
<a href="https://secure.foodandwaterwatch.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=2811">
better regulation and testing of GMOs.
</a>


feed_id: 7396070a5a0083780e42f59af279c836
title: Bullying as excuse for spying
uri: Bullying-as-excuse-for-spying
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Bullying_as_excuse_for_spying%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.alternet.org/grayzone-project/how-federal-govt-using-americas-concern-bullying-excuse-spy-teens">
How the Federal Govt Is Using America's Concern with Bullying as an
Excuse to Spy on Teens.
</a>


feed_id: 5eeec1c3ef5687f40503b5c6b45559d7
title: Bundy brothers
uri: Bundy-brothers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Bundy_brothers%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/27/oregon-militia-standoff-bundy-brothers-not-guilty-trial">
The Bundy brothers were found innocent of "conspiring" against the
government in their takeover of a wildlife reserve.
</a>
<p>
Perhaps that was justified.  It seems wrong to accuse people of
conspiracy for occupying some government facility.
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/further/2016/10/28/criming-while-white-vs-saving-what-truly-sacred-world">
Compare how the anti-conservation protesters were treated
with how today's unarmed environmentalist protesters are being treated.
</a>
<p>
The Bundy family places a burden on the world in two ways we can see:
grazing too many cattle,
<a href="../articles/children.html">
and having too many babies.
</a>
The latter is
not illegal, but it is even more harmful that too many cattle.


feed_id: 22318361c425d983cc71e10917ccf588
title: Gun ownership
uri: Gun-ownership
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Gun_ownership%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/29/gun-ownership-is-not-a-human-right">
Owning guns is not a human right.
</a>


feed_id: 0e6f607ac205ad8c630d4c7d2e7d2047
title: Carbon sinks
uri: Carbon-sinks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Carbon_sinks%29
content:
<p>
An Indian charity enabled farmers to turn failing farms
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/oct/29/indian-farmers-fight-against-climate-change-using-trees-as-a-weapon">
into profitable carbon sinks.
</a>


feed_id: 073348ded41e8443d966e0ceafae6601
title: Down's syndrome
uri: Down-s-syndrome
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Down%27s_syndrome%29
content:
<p>
A new noninvasive test for Down's syndrome will eliminate the small
risk of the current test.
<p>
This might lead more women to get tested, and
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/29/safer-downs-syndrome-test-nhs-pregnant-women-nipt">
abort fetuses that have
Down's syndrome.
</a>
Let's hope so!
<p>
There are people who argue for carrying these fetuses to term by
citing how moving it is to love and care for them afterwards.  Maybe
it is, but that amounts to treating a human being as a pet.  The first
step in loving a human being is to choose to make that being more
capable, not less.
<p>
If you'd like to love and care for a pet that doesn't have normal
human mental capacity, don't create a handicapped human being to be
your pet.  Get a dog or a parrot instead.  For them, having less than
normal human mental capacity is simply normal.


feed_id: 1e19fb1ee810007555171041e9b46669
title: Berkeley tent camp
uri: Berkeley-tent-camp
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Berkeley_tent_camp%29
content:
<p>
Homeless people in Berkeley have made a tent camp.  The city
government, representing the wealthy people and businesses that have
no empathy for homeless people,
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/38166-we-re-homeless-and-we-vote-homeless-people-want-a-voice-in-this-election">
keeps forcing the camp to move.
</a>


feed_id: 50d2452bac82fe9c8c11f4aef0325398
title: Disenfranchisement
uri: Disenfranchisement
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Disenfranchisement%29
content:
<p>
Republicans look beyond creating obstacles to voting and
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/38154-are-the-republicans-looking-toward-only-allowing-property-owners-to-vote">
propose to legally
disenfranchise most citizens.
</a>


feed_id: 6dfbc157edf2df9e348afe4a600f097d
title: Facebook ads by race
uri: Facebook-ads-by-race
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Facebook_ads_by_race%29
content:
<p>
Facebook lets advertisers
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/10/facebook-lets-advertisers-exclude-users-by-race/">
direct ads at people selected by race.
</a>
<p>
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/10/facebook-ad-discrimination/505703/">
Here is more information.
</a>


feed_id: 67bdc90c834bde8d7574e9e46527c634
title: Halloween costumes
uri: Halloween-costumes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Halloween_costumes%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/10/five-halloween-costumes-digital-rights-activists">
Five Halloween Costumes for Digital Rights Activists.
</a>


feed_id: 8fc5a5129148ac52a67e5f7f88eacbf7
title: Clinton's platitudes
uri: Clinton-s-platitudes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Clinton%27s_platitudes%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/28/what-crock-clinton-breaks-dapl-silence-statement-says-literally-nothing">
Clinton finally made a statement about the Dakota Access Pipeline,
</a>
and it
was a series of platitudes designed not to take any stand.


feed_id: a3854e56eb762dd960d335a19fd6b231
title: Pipeline conflict
uri: Pipeline-conflict
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Pipeline_conflict%29
content:
<p>
If Obama takes action as he should,
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/28/important-points-about-police-escalation-dakota-access-pipeline">
the conflict between pipeline
protesters and thugs will de-escalate.
</a>


feed_id: 67e640c9f778f2f7f1f7a3c92121e3ca
title: Urgent: Investigation of Clarence Thomas
uri: Urgent-Investigation-of-Clarence-Thomas
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Investigation_of_Clarence_Thomas%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call for an
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/Thomas_Assault">
investigation of Clarence Thomas's other
sexual assaults.
</a>


feed_id: e661eef8f5a7e457d076680d8bdd4750
title: Urgent: Protect pipeline protesters
uri: Urgent-Protect-pipeline-protesters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#31_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Protect_pipeline_protesters%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone the White House to call on Obama to
<a href="http://act.350.org/call/protect_water_protectors/">
protect
pipeline protesters.
</a>


feed_id: 2e00d9f31974cf5057673ed133211dd4
title: Urgent: Reject war with Iran
uri: 2016-11-03-Urgent-Reject-war-with-Iran
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#30_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_war_with_Iran%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on Congress to
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-rebuke-mike">
reject Clinton advisor Mike Morelli,
and his advice that the US should start a war with Iran.
</a>


feed_id: 9ba8d5a128be8b1b456d1347f2bef245
title: Urgent: Disclose deaths in Syria
uri: 2016-11-03-Urgent-Disclose-deaths-in-Syria
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#30_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Disclose_deaths_in_Syria%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the Pentagon to
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/pentagon-come-clean-about">
investigate and disclose civilian
deaths in Syria.
</a>
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/26/us-must-come-clean-about-civilian-carnage-syria-amnesty-international">
More information.
</a>


feed_id: 645ca553d93b237a9622aaa2e1fbcfcb
title: Urgent: Oppose coal export terminal
uri: 2016-11-03-Urgent-Oppose-coal-export-terminal
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#30_October_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_coal_export_terminal%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/coal_export_comments">
oppose the Millennium Bulk Terminal for coal export.
</a>


feed_id: 4e4fba1b1b1e99d71803b483dba75c77
title: Urgent: Oppose Social Security "reform"
uri: Urgent-Oppose-Social-Security-reform
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_Social_Security_reform%29

content:
<p>
In the US:
<a href="https://stallman.org/petitions/petition-aarp/">call on the
AARP</a> to stop supporting Paul Ryan and harmful Social Security
"reform".


feed_id: a2758d8c76b197176eae9c1f991a0422
title: Urgent: No military weapons for thugs
uri: 2016-11-06-Urgent-No-military-weapons-for-thugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_No_military_weapons_for_thugs%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://stallman.org/petitions/petition-wtp/">call on ash
Carter</a> to suspend handing military weapons to thug departments.


feed_id: 58d7340ae190263eb93904e8d0578599
title: Urgent: Regulate smog-causing ozone
uri: Urgent-Regulate-smog-causing-ozone
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Regulate_smog-causing_ozone%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://stallman.org/petitions/petition-smog/">call on the
EPA</a> to strictly regulate smog-causing ozone emissions from oil and
gas wells.


feed_id: 914e7291eeb7583f6c1a160d0790aaf0
title: Global heating plans
uri: Global-heating-plans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Global_heating_plans%29
content:
<p>
Vancouver is considering a long-term plan to cope with global heating:
<a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/vancouver-considers-abandoning-parts-of-the-coast-because-of-climate-change">moving
people out of low-lying areas by the coast</a>.


feed_id: 84084abc3432766e8b66d13179d76e74
title: California politician wants global heating
uri: California-politician-wants-global-heating
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28California_politician_wants_global_heating%29

content:
<p>
California Politician Likes Climate Change
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/04/randy-voepel-california-assembly-candidate-climate-change">Because
"Our Enemies" Live in Hot Places</a>.
<p>
This is stupid at so many levels.  But he does it because
lots of Americans have been taught to lap it up.


feed_id: 2903f6d8a32275e547611cad571451b1
title: Proprietary DNA match software
uri: Proprietary-DNA-match-software
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Proprietary_DNA_match_software%29

content:
<p>
Algorithms that purport to estimate the chance that a DNA match is
spurious could be
<a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/where-traditional-dna-testing-fails-algorithms-take-over">erroneous
— or biased — or snowing juries with babble</a>.
<p>
What is certain is that courts are being invited to depend on
proprietary software, and that's
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/government-free-software.html">always
wrong</a>.


feed_id: 5929e4e11a6fb9d269aaf0b5bda37637
title: Internet memes
uri: Internet-memes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Internet_memes%29
content:
<p>
Internet memes
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/04/political-memes-2016-election-hillary-clinton-donald-trump">make
falsehood just as powerful as truth</a>.


feed_id: 3b2d51f9450978b26bdfe113294a6d06
title: Beaverton library bars kids without adult
uri: Beaverton-library-bars-kids-without-adult
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Beaverton_library_bars_kids_without_adult%29

content:
<p>
The library in Beaverton, Oregon, now
<a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/beaverton-oregon-library-rule-kids-under-10-be-within-sightlines-of-parents-at-all-times/">requires
all children to be accompanied by their parents</a>.


feed_id: 2cea594ca53ff06f6afb4934de74b0c0
title: America's nuclear waste
uri: America-s-nuclear-waste
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Americas_nuclear_waste%29
content:
<p>
America's Nuclear-Waste Plan Is a
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/11/nuclear-waste-wipp-new-mexico/506117/">Giant
Mess</a>.
<p>
This is why I don't trust nuclear power plants.


feed_id: 82f81d32c503ae465228cd8e7bc4f671
title: Governor Christie's aides convicted
uri: Governor-Christie-s-aides-convicted
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Governor_Christies_aides_convicted%29

content:
<p>
Governor Christie's aides were
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/04/bridgegate-trial-chris-christie-new-jersey-what-we-learned">convicted
of closing lanes on the George Washington bridge as political
punishment for a politician</a> that wouldn't endorse Christie's
campaign.
<p>
I hope it is possible to prosecute Christie, who was apparently the
ringleader.


feed_id: eefede3309ad3433768bd1e0eba327a8
title: Iranian journalist jailed
uri: 2016-11-06-Iranian-journalist-jailed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Iranian_journalist_jailed%29
content:
<p>
Iranian journalist Yashar Soltani has been jailed for
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/iran-blog/2016/nov/04/silencing-iranian-journalist-draws-huge-public-backlash-tehran-corruption">publishing
leaked documents showing that a powerful politician is corrupt</a>.


feed_id: ca116d46fec16ac4d856cea8bed460d5
title: Voter suppression
uri: 2016-11-06-Voter-suppression
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Voter_suppression%29
content:
<p>
The right-wing activist behind voter suppression in North Carolina
was
<a href="http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=33e4ec877eed6a43863a4a92e&id=49e434f98e&e=8283eff9b8">
recorded comparing his activities to Jim Crow.
</a>


feed_id: 1dffc9ca6cd81253cd472b3faeed0899
title: Urgent: Protect the pallid sturgeon
uri: Urgent-Protect-the-pallid-sturgeon
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Protect_the_pallid_sturgeon%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call for
<a href="https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3127">
effective protection of the endangered pallid sturgeon.
</a>


feed_id: 8388f74f0dda47af11c5bdd381edab0f
title: Degrading mummies
uri: Degrading-mummies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Degrading_mummies%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/mar/14/chinchorro-mummies-chile-climate-change">
Global heating is destroying some archeological relics.
</a>


feed_id: 74ccd4c080d7b21e876902094e852a25
title: Urgent: Protect wolverines
uri: Urgent-Protect-wolverines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Protect_wolverines%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the Fish and Wildlife Service to
<a href="https://secure.earthjustice.org/site/Advocacy;cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1909">
protect wolverines.
</a>


feed_id: 44c44ee3b5b4f86d6edb1942d8dc4137
title: Encouraging recidivism
uri: Encouraging-recidivism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Encouraging_recidivism%29
content:
<p>
A British ex-con writes about what structures a prison, and
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/03/i-spent-20-years-in-jail-hiring-officers-wont-solve-crisis">
how
foolish UK prison policy encourages violence and recidivism.
</a>
<p>
I'm pretty sure US prisons use some of the same policies and get
similar results.
<a href="2015-mar-jun.html#27_June_2015_(Prison-industrial_complex)">
Efforts for rehabilitation were cancelled in the
1980s
</a>
      as the drug-ridden War on Drugs led to today's massive
incarceration.


feed_id: 1609cbea8b6a277759d35adbfdc5dcad
title: Forensic guesswork
uri: Forensic-guesswork
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Forensic_guesswork%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/11/04/25-years-after-junk-science-conviction-texas-finally-admits-sonia-cacys-innocence/">
Many aspects of forensic "science" in the 20th century were just guesswork
and carelessness.
</a>
<p>
Some of the guesswork is being replaced with evidence-based science,
but what can we do about the carelessness?


feed_id: 7c6e7a03fd6b1c898800d89e6f7b2795
title: Public mental health
uri: Public-mental-health
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Public_mental_health%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/11/02/reduce-prison-population-invest-public-mental-health-new-study-says">
To Reduce Prison Population, Invest in Public Mental Health, New Study
Says.
</a>
<p>
It would also be a profitable change, since the decreased prison
spending would exceed the medical spending by a factor of 1.26.
<p>
(The article states this in a confusing way, but someone checked the
study for me.)


feed_id: 652f83e1a2d32bebaa3628bd21029d8c
title: Underestimated oil risk
uri: Underestimated-oil-risk
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Underestimated_oil_risk%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/11/03/pipeline-expert-government-underestimated-risk-oil-spill-dakota-access-pipeline">
The Dakota Access Pipeline was approved based on a bent environmental
impact statement.
</a>
<p>
That is a common method of disregarding environmental protection laws.


feed_id: 695c05266e350e2ebb712c5331029606
title: Greenwashing fund
uri: Greenwashing-fund
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Greenwashing_fund%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/04/oil-firms-announce-1bn-green-fund-as-paris-climate-deal-comes-into-force">
Oil companies will spend a billion dollars on energy efficiency
and methane leak reduction.
</a>
<p>
It is a useful thing to do, but far too little.


feed_id: d90c537da7bfc2eb23fb069677f06d6f
title: FBI is Trumpland
uri: FBI-is-Trumpland
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28FBI_is_Trumpland%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/03/fbi-leaks-hillary-clinton-james-comey-donald-trump">
'The FBI Is Trumpland': Anti-Clinton Atmosphere Spurred Leaks, Sources Say.
</a>
<p>
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/11/02/1590022/-FBI-investigation-fails-to-find-evidence-but-relies-on-alt-right-propaganda">
The FBI accepts false information from crackpots to attack Clinton.
</a>


feed_id: bd962c3a67c72a6bb4d3aa543a878d13
title: Campaign of destabilization
uri: Campaign-of-destabilization
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Campaign_of_destabilization%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/2/1590044/-White-nationalists-plan-to-attack-American-democracy-on-Election-Day">
Trumpets are planning a campaign to destabilize the US if Trump does
not win.
</a>


feed_id: d2d4f1bc5699188982bc99c6bc002a3f
title: Pro-Kurdish leaders arrested
uri: Pro-Kurdish-leaders-arrested
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Pro-Kurdish_leaders_arrested%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/04/turkey-arrests-pro-kurdish-party-leaders-mps">
Turkey has imprisoned the leaders of the HD party.
</a>
  They refused to testify about crimes labeled as "terrorist
propaganda", which probably refers to acts of journalism about Kurds
or political support for Kurds' rights.
<p>
You'd have to bend over backwards at this point to claim that Turkey
is a democracy.


feed_id: 89c300b7ba1993a5e0f5b94e99d28cba
title: Quit smoking before 30
uri: Quit-smoking-before-30
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Quit_smoking_before_30%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/oct/27/women-smoking-risk-death-rate">
Women Who Quit Smoking Before 30 Cut Risk of Tobacco-Related Death by 97%.
</a>
<p>
Even if you quit later, you will still reduce it a lot.


feed_id: 215daf59e44a36869efe06c2b9c7ec0a
title: US war crimes in Yemen
uri: US-war-crimes-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28US_war_crimes_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/03/us-military-members-war-crimes-yemen">
US military personnel could be prosecuted for their role in carrying out
the bombing of Yemen.
</a>
<p>
The media like to call it "Saudi-led", but it would be just as true to
say that Salafi Arabia is acting as a proxy.  The bombers are not US
planes, but the bombing campaign could not be carried out without US
support and participation.


feed_id: eb75de614c05f320d8ad93a78f3651a8
title: Change!
uri: Change
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Change%21%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/03/trump-supporters-us-elections">
Many Trump supporters are drawn by a message that seems like Obama:
"Change!"
</a>
<p>
It was foolish to support Obama for that, and it is equally foolish to
support Trump for that.


feed_id: 23eea8aec27445a5eca1e0a597d3b33e
title: Voter suppression plan
uri: Voter-suppression-plan
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Voter_suppression_plan%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/03/donald-trump-voter-suppression-campaign-north-carolina-florida">
In North Carolina and Florida, is the Trump Voter Suppression Plan Working?
</a>


feed_id: fcfceeaeebc01d0071ef05365a56a9ec
title: Wearing a poppy for war
uri: Wearing-a-poppy-for-war
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Wearing_a_poppy_for_war%29
content:
<p>
A hundred years ago, wearing a poppy in Britain was a call for peace.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/03/wearing-poppy-pledge-peace-sanitise-war-remembrance">
It has been converted into support for war.
</a>


feed_id: ecf3c3d5b9596614f5138270343d5b7a
title: Emissions trading
uri: Emissions-trading
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Emissions_trading%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/03/greece-set-to-win-175m-from-eu-climate-scheme-to-build-two-coal-plants">
The EU carbon emissions trading system is going to give Greece 2
billion dollars to build coal-fired power plants!
</a>
<p>
There is a lot of sunshine in Greece.


feed_id: 36cd06d03d3a6aa486abf23b09f7d653
title: Urgent: Cooperate in Syria
uri: Urgent-Cooperate-in-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Cooperate_in_Syria%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the US to
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/work-with-russia-on-syria?">
cooperate with Russia more in Syria.
</a>
<p>
To advocate this course does not require admiring Putin or
endorsing Russia's actions.


feed_id: a950d1871dfc957c5981b693ff9326bb
title: Prohibiting forced labor
uri: Prohibiting-forced-labor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Prohibiting_forced_labor%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.walkfree.org/forced-labour-c29/">
A revision of the International Labor Organization's treaty prohibits
forced labor.
</a>
<p>
Now we have to push the United States and most of the rest of the world
to ratify the treaty.


feed_id: ad6158b32d65639c8924e0b79c1f05f9
title: Expressing disapproval of thugs
uri: Expressing-disapproval-of-thugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Expressing_disapproval_of_thugs%29

content:
<p>
It is dangerous to
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2016/11/02/new-orleans-0-for-2-in-applying-blue-liv">
increase punishments for crimes because the perpetrator
expressed disapproval of thugs.
</a>


feed_id: 2bf3e9463ccd87476c68ff6a9c159d7d
title: Hatred of non-natives
uri: Hatred-of-non-natives
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Hatred_of_non-natives%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/03/brexit-britain-being-foreigner-evil-tabloids-racist">
The British campaign to leave the EU has associated "foreigner" with
hatred,
</a>
through a series of innuendos in the press.


feed_id: 111dae83fce11d019285ff940bef1aa7
title: Authorized ethnic groups
uri: Authorized-ethnic-groups
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Authorized_ethnic_groups%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/nov/03/myanmar-casts-minorities-to-margins-citizenship-law-denies-legal-identity">
Burma official denies citizenship to all except a specific list of
authorized ethnic groups.
</a>


feed_id: f1224ddf716b95e478a8c736fac7aec8
title: Pacifist accused of shooting
uri: Pacifist-accused-of-shooting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Pacifist_accused_of_shooting%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/03/dakota-pipeline-activist-red-fawn-fallis-accused-shooting-police-pacifist">
North Dakota thugs have accused protester Red Fawn Fallis of shooting
at them.  She is an avowed pacifist and would not have had a gun.
</a>
<p>
In the absence of any objective evidence, I think it is more plausible that
the thugs have lied (yet again).


feed_id: 2a282182e2c0622374ddc1d08325eb73
title: Anti-solar initiative
uri: Anti-solar-initiative
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Anti-solar_initiative%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/11/02/floridas-deceptive-solar-initiative-backed-utilities-companies-loses-support">
Florida electric companies have set up a referendum for a proposal to
slow the installation of home solar power.
</a>
  It is deceptively written so as to appear to be in favor of solar power.


feed_id: 0ca93ebf2902d69a1d2a955d92bbd0a3
title: UK military doctor fired
uri: UK-military-doctor-fired
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28UK_military_doctor_fired%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/02/military-officials-stasi-like-tactics-against-whistleblower-dr-stephen-frost-tribunal-hears">
The UK military fired a doctor in a non-regulation way,
</a>
apparently
because he reported a suspicion of diversion of drugs.


feed_id: 8bf9ca63ac7a63f7cb85eb59adada505
title: 3C of global heating
uri: 3C-of-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%283C_of_global_heating%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/03/world-on-track-for-3c-of-warming-under-current-global-climate-pledges-warns-un">
Governments' current greenhouse gas pledges lead to 3C of global heating,
</a>
  assuming yet-unknown positive feedbacks don't make it worse.


feed_id: 5355a81e8889785d719e5990a2fa4831
title: Spain's corrupt right-wing
uri: Spain-s-corrupt-right-wing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Spain%27s_corrupt_right-wing%29
content:
<p>
The pervasive corruption of Spain's right-wing Partido Popular
produced jealousy that resulted in the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/03/the-shocking-of-spains-most-flamboyant-politician">
murder of a powerful
politician that controlled lots of patronage.
</a>
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/03/spain-halt-europes-slide-populist-right-podemos">
Spain's Socialist Party was bullied by big corporations including
media into the betrayal of helping the PP continue to rule.
</a>
<p>
They were cowards -- they should have stood firm and used the campaign
against their attackers.


feed_id: 72e17d2227abaf7bfb6b574d4b441baf
title: Urgent: Oppose Russell amendment
uri: Urgent-Oppose-Russell-amendment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_Russell_amendment%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://secure.pfaw.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=225">call
on your senators</a> to oppose the Russell amendment.


feed_id: e7d5423feb0fda4496ba6608426ce05d
title: Urgent: Climate negotiations
uri: 2016-11-06-Urgent-Climate-negotiations
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Climate_negotiations%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: call on governments to to
<a href="http://www.signforgood.com/kickbigpollutersout/">exclude
planet roasters</a> from climate negotiations.


feed_id: adce63e1619e9e5bbb1458d1442cf139
title: Urgent: Prosecute Wells Fargo execs
uri: Urgent-Prosecute-Wells-Fargo-execs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Prosecute_Wells_Fargo_execs%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/doj-prosecute-wells-fargo-execs/?source=rootstrikers">call
on the Department of Justice</a> to prosecute Wells Fargo executives.


feed_id: a3e567b410c4270a8326dd30c1da42d0
title: Rich Ukrainians forced to declare wealth
uri: Rich-Ukrainians-forced-to-declare-wealth
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Rich_Ukrainians_forced_to_declare_wealth%29

content:
<p>
Rich Ukrainians are being
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/31/ukraine-stunned-vast-cash-reserves-political-elite-made-public">forced
to declare their wealth</a>.
<p>
I hope the declaration has a threshold that exempts most citizens
(the ones who are not rich).


feed_id: 6214c4923a044f416b4f445d9d003f2e
title: Charity event gatecrashed by Trump
uri: Charity-event-gatecrashed-by-Trump
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Charity_event_gatecrashed_by_Trump%29

content:
<p>
Deceiving Donald gatecrashed a charity event and took a seat on stage
but he
<a href="http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/308289/trump-crashed-aids-charity-macarena/">didn't
give any money</a>.


feed_id: 2b7df6d8d12e5d1bb7ab428497caa284
title: Navy's use of depleted uranium
uri: Navy-s-use-of-depleted-uranium
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Navys_use_of_depleted_uranium%29
content:
<p>
The Navy's Use of Depleted Uranium in Our Coastal Waters
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/38185-the-navy-s-use-of-depleted-uranium-in-our-coastal-waters-threatens-humans-wildlife">Threatens
Humans, Wildlife</a>.
<p>
The threat will grow over the millennia.


feed_id: 4e8eb572ff46195755ba5b84392db5b8
title: Censorship by Facebook
uri: 2016-11-06-Censorship-by-Facebook
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Censorship_by_Facebook%29
content:
<p>
Facebook appears set to be the next US tech giant to serve as a
<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/602493/mark-zuckerbergs-long-march-to-china/">censor
for the Chinese regime</a>.


feed_id: 18a85ff8ab75208be78ecf4d4e198b90
title: Large protests in Morocco
uri: Large-protests-in-Morocco
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Large_protests_in_Morocco%29
content:
<p>
Large protests in Morocco have been
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/31/moroccan-police-question-witnesses-to-rubbish-truck-death">triggered
by the killing of a fisherman</a> who had been fishing illegally out
of season.
<p>
There is a big difference between this death and the death of Mohammed
al-Bouazizi, who committed suicide as a protest against a tyrannical
regime.  Fikri was stopped for carrying out an environmental crime,
endangering a species.  It is very important to enforce such laws.
Fikri did not deserve death for that, but it's not clear whether the
thugs expected anyone to be in the fish crusher.


feed_id: 004de1779d5b25504b3225baec9a5f52
title: Erdo&gbreve;an cripples newspaper
uri: Erdo-gbreve-an-cripples-newspaper
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Erdogan_cripples_newspaper%29
content:
<p>
Erdo&gbreve;an has crippled Cumhuriyet, one of Turkey's principal
newspapers, by
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/31/turkey-detains-editor-and-staff-at-opposition-cumhuriyet-newspaper">arresting
the editor and many of the staff</a>.


feed_id: 93ba569b8459401d6e7e258037a6ca1d
title: Coal power and poverty
uri: Coal-power-and-poverty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Coal_power_and_poverty%29
content:
<p>
Summarizing why coal power is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2016/oct/31/coal-doesnt-help-the-poor-it-makes-them-poorer">not
useful for lifting people out of poverty</a>, and why in the future it
will push people into poverty.


feed_id: 0a00eccd4ead7c7a042845a5fe05c1f0
title: Sinjar
uri: Sinjar
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Sinjar%29
content:
<p>
A year after PISSI was chased out of Sinjar,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/31/fear-and-suspicion-haunt-sinjar-a-year-after-liberation-from-isis-mosul">few
inhabitants have returned</a> and rebuilding has not started.


feed_id: 359c0258c6e0a7305aaddd65c937fe5c
title: Syrian rebels' Aleppo offensive
uri: Syrian-rebels-Aleppo-offensive
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Syrian_rebels_Aleppo_offensive%29

content:
<p>
Syrian Rebels' Aleppo Offensive Could Amount to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/31/syrian-rebels-aleppo-offensive-could-amount-to-war-crimes-un-envoy-warns">War
Crimes</a>, UN Envoy Warns.


feed_id: 8206b4fcf333508fc848c89e23896d2d
title: Air pollution
uri: 2016-11-06-Air-pollution
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Air_pollution%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/31/300-million-children-live-in-areas-with-extreme-air-pollution-data-reveals">90%
of the world's children</a> live in places with excess air pollution,
which can cause them permanent health problems.  15% live in extreme
pollution.
<p>
However, an even bigger problem is that there are over 2 billion
children.  People are making so many that the population is
increasing.
<p>
We should aim to have only 1.5 billion children, 20 years from now.


feed_id: b4b7b1ee646bdcab1e5fe4101878dfb5
title: More media outlets closed by Erdo&gbreve;an
uri: More-media-outlets-closed-by-Erdo-gbreve-an
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28More_media_outlets_closed_by_Erdogan%29

content:
<p>
Erdo&gbreve;an continues
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/30/turkey-shuts-media-outlets-terrorist-links-civil-servants-press-freedom">arbitrarily
closing</a> periodicals and news agencies.


feed_id: 73d95d8c2b674a53ada27d19cc8c3513
title: FBI's overtly political act
uri: FBI-s-overtly-political-act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28FBIs_overtly_political_act%29
content:
<p>
FBI Stands Guilty of an
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/29/fbi-guilty-political-act-crucial-moment">Overtly
Political Act at a Crucial Moment</a>.
<p>
The FBI
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/29/fbi-email-probe-election-clinton-presidency">started
a pseudo-scandal</a> about Clinton's email, where the only scandalous
information is an absence of evidence or conclusions.


feed_id: 22fe86d870d6844edbce04322eebd84c
title: Oregon militia acquittals
uri: Oregon-militia-acquittals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Oregon_militia_acquittals%29
content:
<p>
How the Oregon Militia Acquittals
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/29/oregon-militia-bundys-acquittals-anti-government-right-influence">Reflect
the Appeal of White Nationalist Agitators</a>.


feed_id: fe01db15e2f0f56eb1e6c71b17b72304
title: Facebook's STASI capitalism
uri: Facebook-s-STASI-capitalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Facebook%27s_STASI_capitalism%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/nov/02/facebook-admiral-car-insurance-privacy-data">
Facebook blocked Admiral insurance from analyzing clients' Facebook postings
to choose their rates.
</a>
<p>
Facebook is not on your side, though.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/02/facebook-privacy-data-admiral">
It wants to manipulate its
useds to keep giving Facebook lots of information about themselves
(and other people).
</a>
<p>
The fact that Admiral's program is "voluntary" does not make it
legitimate.  If it caught on, it would soon become effectively
compulsory, except for the wealthy.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/02/big-business-surveillance-admiral-insurance-facebook">
This has been called "STASI capitalism."
</a>
<p>
We need to decide democratically what information insurance companies
are allowed to have about drivers -- which means, not by letting a few
companies decide to where herd people.
<p>
<a href="http://www.computerworld.com/article/2911594/insurance-company-now-offers-discounts-if-you-let-it-track-your-fitbit.html">
Here is an example of what we should not allow.
</a>
<p>
The root of this problem i the collection of this information by
companies such as Facebook and Fitbit.  That is another issue we
should decide democratically, not by letting a company do its
damnedest to manipulate and then pressure people into giving it.


feed_id: ac72dd560ec52b64b4bd7cc22624a413
title: 3/4 of Scotland owned by 81 families
uri: 3-4-of-Scotland-owned-by-81-families
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%283%2F4_of_Scotland_owned_by_81_families%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/georgemonbiot/2012/mar/02/deer-study-highlands-scottish">
Scotland needs land reform,
</a>
for people and for nature.


feed_id: 0139d30f2fdde1cbda04be4114d39847
title: Mosul partly liberated
uri: Mosul-partly-liberated
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Mosul_partly_liberated%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/02/mosul-iraq-civilians-flee-isis">
Some of the outer areas of Mosul have been liberated by the Iraqi army.
</a>
<p>
The reaction of the civilians justifies use of the word "liberated".


feed_id: c6e425d1ae5bec9ea7a9bf8d7cf489d0
title: Handout for businesses
uri: Handout-for-businesses
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Handout_for_businesses%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/nov/03/direct-action-paying-industry-to-avoid-clearing-land-they-would-never-have-cleared-report">
Australia's substitute for a carbon tax, "direct action", pays landowners
not to cut down plants that they wouldn't have cut down anyway.
</a>
<p>
The right-wing government naturally prefers a handout for businesses
to any real CO2 reductions.


feed_id: 9039c66abcf8d5e8ae6c6d0b94a91dea
title: Protesting against "blasphemy"
uri: Protesting-against-blasphemy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Protesting_against_blasphemy%29
content:
<p>
Islamist bigots in Jakarta are protesting against the mayor, who
is a Christian,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/02/fears-over-violence-in-jakarta-as-hardline-islamists-protest-governors-blasphemy">
saying he committed "blasphemy" when he criticized
their citing the Koran for purposes of bigotry.
</a>
<p>
Indonesian Muslims did not think this way 50 years ago; they were
taught by activities sponsored by Salafi Arabia.


feed_id: ec8172711ec6ea77978706acc168ce62
title: Greens prefer Trump to Clinton
uri: Greens-prefer-Trump-to-Clinton
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Greens_prefer_Trump_to_Clinton%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/10/31/1589308/-Yes-the-Green-Party-has-Endorsed-Trump-Over-Clinton">
The Green Party says it would rather have the provocateur, Trump, to
deal with than the anesthetizer, Clinton.
</a>
<p>
Note that this is not an endorsement of Trump (or Clinton).  It is a
calculating analysis of which of two evils would give the better chance
for subsequent improvement.
<p>
I am not sure whether I agree with the analysis.  It may have been
true in 2000, but the existence of Sanders and his movement will limit
Clinton's power to anesthetize in the next few years.
<p>
But even supposing that analysis is still valid, I take a less
Machiavellian approach to the question.  I do not wish a worse
president on people merely in the hope he will create unrest.
I think things will be much worse in any case.


feed_id: 3291657e4bdc58274c53c10e8ba849cc
title: People can change
uri: People-can-change
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28People_can_change%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://cordis.europa.eu/news/rcn/126581_en.html">
It is still possible to teach Jewish and Palestinian teenagers  to
cooperate better.
</a>


feed_id: 9413eb0090500271177bf5bb8f1883e6
title: Russian dissident tortured
uri: Russian-dissident-tortured
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Russian_dissident_tortured%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/01/russian-dissident-ildar-dadin-accuses-prison-staff-torture-death-threat">
Russian Dissident Ildar Dadin Accuses Prison Staff of Torture.
</a>
  He has been imprisoned for the crime of protesting.


feed_id: f2ee86d967994beb5dde33af0bf22eff
title: Forfeiture of DMCA safe harbors
uri: Forfeiture-of-DMCA-safe-harbors
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Forfeiture_of_DMCA_safe_harbors%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20161031/16061635929/copyright-office-fucks-over-thousands-sites-with-plans-to-remove-their-dmca-safe-harbors.shtml">
Copyright Office Fucks Over Thousands Of Sites With Plans To Remove
Their DMCA Safe Harbors.
</a>
<p>
The DMCA takedown system is unjust in many ways -- it is
<a href="2003-jul-oct.html#11 October 2003 (DMCA)">
regularly
used
</a>
for
<a href="2016-jul-oct.html#14_September_2016_(Paramount_issue_DMCA_takedown_notice)">
censorship
</a>
 --
<a href="2016-may-aug.html#10_June_2016_(The_DMCA_takedown_system)">
  and Hollywood wants to make it worse.
</a>
  The Copyright Office basically treats the public with contempt.
<p>
Earlier this year the Copyright Office invited public comments
and stubbornly refused to let people submit them in any way
other than with use of nonfree Javascript code from their site.
I have a hunch they are doing the same thing now with the new
DMCA contact registration system.  Would someone like to check?


feed_id: aadc607751586cc73e838be535dc0923
title: Arab social media persecution
uri: Arab-social-media-persecution
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Arab_social_media_persecution%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/11/01/report-arab-gulf-states-are-surveiling-imprisoning-and-silencing-activists-for-social-media-posts/">
Arab Gulf States Are Surveiling, Imprisoning,
and Silencing Activists for Social Media Posts.
</a>


feed_id: 22cff3d53998eef4f1783de3c055f767
title: Obama's appointment of Republicans
uri: Obama-s-appointment-of-Republicans
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Obama%27s_appointment_of_Republicans%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/31/james-comey-has-been-abusing-his-power-years">
Comey has been politically misusing his power as FBI director for
years.
</a>
  (What else would you expect from a Republican?)
<p>
Did you notice how strange it was that Obama's appointment of some
Republicans to important jobs was treated as wise, rather than
right-wing?  I suspect that we saw the resonating voice of the
center-right elite, the same elite that backs Clinton now.


feed_id: a291cbb063f45bdc55264cb9e63a75ce
title: Obama's pipeline laissez-faireism
uri: Obama-s-pipeline-laissez-faireism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Obama%27s_pipeline_laissez-faireism%29

content:
<p>
Thugs are cracking down hard on pipeline protesters,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/02/dakota-access-pipeline-protest-arrests-standing-rock">
and the US Army
(under Obama's command) is backing them.
</a>
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/11/02/damn-right-sanders-calls-stopping-dakota-access-obama-waffles">
Obama said wants to let the pipeline advance "play out" for more weeks,
</a>
but since his own men are joining the attack on protesters, those words
misrepresent his actions.
<p>
Meanwhile, the US government is looking at "re-routing" the pipeline.
That might avoid the secondary problem of destruction of archeological
sites.  It might alter the danger of water pollution, but can't
eliminate it -- the pipeline will still have to cross the same rivers.
<p>
Re-routing certainly won't do anything to curb global heating.  It
won't get us off the path to defeat for civilization and the natural
world.  That's Obama in a nutshell.
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/02/dakota-pipeline-protest-bundy-militia">
"Why do we punish Dakota pipeline protesters but exonerate the Bundys?"
</a>
<p>
My conjecture is, because the Bundys are selfish bastards and the
pipeline protesters are not.
<p>
That answer might seem flip, but it is actually a serious conjecture
stated in flip words.


feed_id: 74dc8c19f6e3b38be8e5692000c3fb01
title: On trial for kissing
uri: On-trial-for-kissing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28On_trial_for_kissing%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/02/moroccan-teenage-girls-to-face-trial-on-homosexuality-charges">
Two Moroccan girls face criminal charges for kissing each other.
</a>
<p>
Sometimes it's Moroccan, but right now it is less rockin'.


feed_id: f2414e1789b0c4417029c2983af21c6e
title: Banning diesel engines
uri: Banning-diesel-engines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Banning_diesel_engines%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/02/diesel-vehicles-face-charges-after-uk-government-loses-air-pollution-case">
Diesel engines may be banned from UK cities to reduce pollution there.
</a>
<p>
The manufacturers lied to the public, including the purchasers of these cars.
Will they have to compensate those victims for the costs of replacing these
cars with non-diesels so they can drive into cities again?


feed_id: ece9e591ad932aac4bf4b396bd9a078d
title: Culture of childhood
uri: Culture-of-childhood
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Culture_of_childhood%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201610/the-culture-childhood-we-ve-almost-destroyed-it">
Children need to spend lots of time playing with other children, with
no adults to interfere,
</a>
in order to develop personal and social
strengths.  Today's controlling treatment by parents denies them this
opportunity.
<p>
This article made me realize something about myself.  I find myself at
a loss for what to say to children, because I am disinclined to speak
to them in the way adults usually do.  The article says that the usual
discourse of adult Americans towards children is dishonest and phony.
I think a vague perception of that is what makes me reluctant to do
it.


feed_id: ee2db024d7337ddd3a1b0ab95fabfc5c
title: Behavior-modification schemes
uri: Behavior-modification-schemes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Behavior-modification_schemes%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20160308160251/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/05/23/the_internet_of_things_helps_insurance_firms_reward_punish/">
The main driver of the Internet of Stings may be to help insurance companies
control people.
</a>

<p>
The article has the artificially light tone which, in today's
mainstream media, is the obligatory substitute for standing for
people's rights.  But it ends by identifying a series of technologies
that contribute to oppressive surveillance: portable phones, activity
trackers, "smart watches", Internet of Stings, and cars.
<p>
I don't own any of those, and I don't tolerate them in my home or my
office.


feed_id: 3456672dee0912c90a1aaaa310cd002a
title: Hidden election funds
uri: Hidden-election-funds
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Hidden_election_funds%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/11/01/new-analysis-ten-top-senate-races-outside-groups-outspending-candidates-and">
Most election spending this year in the US is "outside" funds,
</a>
often
from hidden sources.


feed_id: 953e8e0de35e1ca473aa41394575c9ed
title: Iran perhaps sending arms
uri: Iran-perhaps-sending-arms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Iran_perhaps_sending_arms%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/01/justifying-saudi-slaughter-yemen">
The US says its intervention in Yemen is because Iran is sending arms
to the Houthis in Yemen.
</a>
Arms were found in boats, but evidence suggests
it was bound for Somalia instead.
<p>
More fundamentally, even if Iran is sending arms to the Houthis, so
what?  Salafi Arabia has sent plenty of arms to jihadis;
that is a much bigger harm to western countries.  It makes no sense
for the US to support Salafi Arabia's war crimes.


feed_id: 75efde19dc346cb7599b137cb4aca5ec
title: Tax cut for the wealthy
uri: Tax-cut-for-the-wealthy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Tax_cut_for_the_wealthy%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/nov/02/institute-for-economic-affairs-report-abolish-20-taxes-income-tax-15-per-cent">
The latest plan to cut taxes on the wealthy in the UK is a "flat tax",
with a few smaller tax cuts for the poor added in.
</a>
<p>
They don't point out that the decrease in revenue would mean
additional cruel cuts to support for the poor and disabled.
What we need to do is increase tax on the rich.


feed_id: 639fc51a690a8720a9efd7a88a5b9598
title: Zuma's history of corruption
uri: Zuma-s-history-of-corruption
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Zuma%27s_history_of_corruption%29

content:
<p>

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/02/jacob-zuma-on-the-edge-and-in-retreat-south-africa">
President Zuma's history of corruption.
</a>
<p>
He's not as horrible as his predecessor
<a href="2008-sep-dec.html#28 November 2008 (Medicine for HIV)">
Thabo Mbeki,
who denied HIV
medicine to millions
because he refused to recognize that it caused
AIDS.
</a>
  But Zuma's pretty lousy anyway.


feed_id: 211ba0d060bd43cb892265960a2d475b
title: Lawns in California
uri: Lawns-in-California
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Lawns_in_California%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/02/california-drought-lawns-grass-sod">
Californians are gong back to wasteful lawns again.
</a>
<p>
I don't like the article's tone of sympathy for that.


feed_id: 687daf8f6a9726a4928dc783da343d7a
title: Tortured into confession
uri: Tortured-into-confession
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Tortured_into_confession%29
content:
<p>
An Israeli judge ruled that thugs
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/02/israeli-court-orders-release-british-man-forced-confession-faiz-mahmoud-ahmed">
tortured Faiz Mahmoud Ahmed Sherari
into making a confession.
</a>
<p>
It is normal practice to do this to Palestinians, but Sherari
is a UK citizen so he can't be treated that way.


feed_id: b0bd91e731deea97a492dfca5f58875f
title: Indigenous rights
uri: Indigenous-rights
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Indigenous_rights%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/02/indigenous-rights-forests-climate-change-study">
"Indigenous rights are key to preserving forests."
</a>


feed_id: 3cd94641be044d13eced3f7b4ebd74cb
title: South Africa's corrupt president
uri: South-Africa-s-corrupt-president
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28South_Africa%27s_corrupt_president%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/02/protests-in-pretoria-as-south-africans-call-for-jacob-zuma-to-resign">
Protesters demand resignation of South Africa's corrupt president Zuma.
</a>
<p>
The African National Congress has lost all the moral stature that it
built up during years of fighting apartheid.  Mandela's successors
are not worthy of him.


feed_id: 9d6c78dde41ddcf203dc87812275459a
title: Amnesty office seized
uri: Amnesty-office-seized
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Amnesty_office_seized%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/02/amnesty-staff-blocked-from-moscow-office-after-officials-seal-building">
Russia seized the Amnesty International office and changed the locks,
as a surprise.
</a>


feed_id: 839fd1ddff6fa8db0338b52aa3bc84e4
title: Bottled water
uri: 2016-11-06-Bottled-water
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Bottled_water%29
content:
<p>
Wasteful bottled water sales in the US are based on
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/11/01/flint-suffers-nestle-plans-dramatic-expansion-water-privatization-michigan">
taking water from
the ground, gratis, and leaving communities scant.
</a>


feed_id: 5833af8097676a1294fee425feb3dc6b
title: Pricing by Facebook posts
uri: Pricing-by-Facebook-posts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Pricing_by_Facebook_posts%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/02/admiral-to-price-car-insurance-based-on-facebook-posts">
A car insurance company will offer discounts based on scanning all the
text someone has posted on Facebook.
</a>
<p>
Participation in this is "voluntary", but if it typically offers
significant discounts, non-rich people will say they "have no choice"
about posting on Facebook.  This sort of system trashes people's
rights in practice even though in theory they still have the rights.
We therefore should prohibit it.
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/02/admiral-facebook-data-insurers-internet-of-things">
"Wait until insurers can see the contents of your fridge."
</a>
<p>
Don't get a refrigerator which keeps track of its contents, dummy!


feed_id: 651916eba80fcf59915c6251a3238d3e
title: Papuan gold mines
uri: Papuan-gold-mines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Papuan_gold_mines%29
content:
<p>

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/nov/02/100-bn-dollar-gold-mine-west-papuans-say-they-are-counting-the-cost-indonesia">
The $100bn Gold Mine And the West Papuans Who Say They Are Counting the Cost.
</a>


feed_id: ae6b3b1ad72d14fc0ab7c68b864332aa
title: Socialism for the rich
uri: Socialism-for-the-rich
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Socialism_for_the_rich%29
content:
<p>
US laws have been designed to produce
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/01/american-way-socialism-rich-free-enterprise-rest">
"Socialism for the Rich, Free
Enterprise for the Rest".
</a>


feed_id: 393fc8abab7833dc368a1818e51da7ef
title: "Anti-terrorism"
uri: Anti-terrorism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Anti-terrorism%29
content:
<p>
The Montreal thug department used Canada's new "anti-terrorism" powers to
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/11/01/critics-decry-surveillance-canadian-journalist-part-horrifying-culture-shift">
spy on the contacts of a reporter that writes about that department.
</a>
<p>
This is what "anti-terrorism" laws typically do.  States really love
having more power to crush criticism, which is why massive
surveillance is more dangerous than terrorists.


feed_id: 35d0fb87bf24f768abc595443feef852
title: ICC to examine US war crimes
uri: ICC-to-examine-US-war-crimes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28ICC_to_examine_US_war_crimes%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/11/01/historic-first-icc-preparing-investigate-us-war-crimes-afghanistan">
The International Criminal Court will examine war crimes in Afghanistan,
including those carried out by the US.
</a>
<p>
I expect it will find that the Taliban carried out plenty of war
crimes, but that conclusion will cause me no sense of guilt.  It's
different when my country is the culprit.


feed_id: 78492838e85dd9241cb6d6cac5ab37e5
title: Re-enacting lynchings
uri: Re-enacting-lynchings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Re-enacting_lynchings%29
content:
<p>
Reminding people of the reality of lynching,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/02/a-lynching-in-georgia-the-living-memorial-to-americas-history-of-racist-violence">
by re-enacting one of the
last lynchings, in 1946,
</a>
which helped launch the civil rights movement.


feed_id: 853cf4680ab758efc13c8251f7d6ca69
title: License plate cameras
uri: 2016-11-06-License-plate-cameras
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28License_plate_cameras%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/10/mass-surveillance-public-gatherings-why-we-need-oversight-policies">
We need to regulate the use of license plate cameras.
</a>
<p>
Limiting where they are used is only part of what's needed.
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">
They should be built so that they only "see" license plates that
are being sought under court order, or are invalid.
</a>


feed_id: 80ad6cdb654c622a78845a30a94b8e6e
title: Unjust copyright laws
uri: Unjust-copyright-laws
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Unjust_copyright_laws%29
content:
<p>
Under Canada's unjust copyright laws, publishers are
<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/86-year-old-grandma-accused-of-pirating-a-zombie-game-161031/">
bullying thousands
of users into paying settlements of thousands of dollars.
</a>


feed_id: a0a5e3981bc23556e68c08bd59baf1a3
title: Urgent: Stop Facebook's discrimination feature
uri: Urgent-Stop-Facebook-s-discrimination-feature
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_Facebook%27s_discrimination_feature%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: call on Facebook to
<a href="http://act.freepress.net/sign/internet_fb_ads/?t=1004&">
stop offering advertisers the feature of
discriminating by race.
</a>


feed_id: 80822e8aa9e6c8ce41b8547112bd329e
title: Charter schools
uri: 2016-11-06-Charter-schools
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Charter_schools%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/01/vote-no-charter-schools">
Vote "No" on Charter Schools.
</a>


feed_id: 76520f74f8670c82342817b4dcd6966d
title: Fear of poisoned candy
uri: Fear-of-poisoned-candy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Fear_of_poisoned_candy%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonianmag/where-did-the-fear-of-poisoned-halloween-candy-come-from-822302/?no-ist">
There is no need to be afraid of poisoned candy on Halloween.
</a>
It has
only happened once, so you're in more danger of being hit by
lightning.


feed_id: cae4216aed4a57b48aef71a8b8ca3ac5
title: Unpaid Trump pollster
uri: Unpaid-Trump-pollster
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Unpaid_Trump_pollster%29
content:
<p>
Pollster Tony Fabrizio made a fool's mistake:
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/10/31/1589135/-WaPo-Donald-Trump-owes-767-000-to-a-pollster-hired-by-the-campaign-and-is-now-refusing-to-pay-up">
he agreed to work for
the Trump campaign and did not demand payment in advance.
</a>


feed_id: abca6ebc6e50c6009aa1d2e3f40213a4
title: Religious child abuse
uri: Religious-child-abuse
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Religious_child_abuse%29
content:
<p>
Christian fanatics in the US want to use
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/10/31/1589131/-Mother-uses-Mike-Pence-s-religious-freedom-law-as-a-defense-for-beating-her-son-and-gets-probation">
"religious freedom" laws
to excuse child abuse.
</a>


feed_id: 73182b4a80330ab7254caf2d628cc72a
title: Trump's defiance of court
uri: Trump-s-defiance-of-court
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Trump%27s_defiance_of_court%29
content:
<p>
Trump has repeatedly dodged lawsuits by
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/10/31/1589009/-Donald-Trump-destroyed-emails-recordings-documents-in-defiance-of-court-orders">
deleting emails and other documents.
</a>


feed_id: 40488238003b05afda4bfabc287729ed
title: Trump's tax avoidance
uri: Trump-s-tax-avoidance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Trump%27s_tax_avoidance%29
content:
<p>
Trump's 1990s tax avoidance, which removed almost a billion dollars
from his taxable income,
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/01/us/politics/donald-trump-tax.html">
is illegal now, and arguably was illegal then
too.
</a>
<p>
Trump would say this makes him smart, but really it just makes him
crooked.


feed_id: c6d28bde87a23084117e619b3755db3a
title: Urgent: Petition to stop pipeline
uri: Urgent-Petition-to-stop-pipeline
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Petition_to_stop_pipeline%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: petition on Obama to
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/NoDAPL?t=1002&">
kill the Dakota Access Pipeline.
</a>


feed_id: 561f5d247eb33b0a97d6a21e2dfa2ebe
title: Threat of exile
uri: Threat-of-exile
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Threat_of_exile%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/10/28/israel-1984-everlasting/">
Israeli politicians have threatened human rights defender Hagai El-Ad
(head of B'tselem) with exile, cancellation of his citizenship,
</a>
because he spoke to the UN Security Council against Israel's
colonization and repression in the West Bank.
<p>
While the threat of exile is new, it occurs in a context of pervasive
censorship applied to dissidents and reporters in general, including
Arabs and Jews.  Don't forget
<a href="2011-sep-dec.html#10_November_2011_(Journalist_Espionage_In_Israel)">
Anat Kam, who was jailed for talking to
an Israeli newspaper about secret death squads,
</a>
and
<a href="2012-may-aug.html#01_June_2012_(Israeli_journalist_on_trial)">
Uri Blau,
the leading journalist who was convicted of publishing about them.
</a>


feed_id: 70b0727468f79adf47497c34ade50139
title: Privatized occupation
uri: Privatized-occupation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Privatized_occupation%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/how-israel-privatized-its-occupation-of-palestine/">
Israel has privatized the guards at checkpoints, which makes it harder
to get any accountability when they harass or kill Palestinians.
</a>
  Anyone trying to find out who is actually responsible gets a runaround.
<p>
Privatization has also impoverished many Israelis.


feed_id: 4735da68f72b3c71c282b2b97756c51a
title: Being born Palestinian
uri: Being-born-Palestinian
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Being_born_Palestinian%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://palsolidarity.org/2016/10/occupation-through-the-eyes-of-a-child-the-way-to-school/">
What the Israeli occupation looks like to a schoolchild in the West Bank.
</a>
<p>
<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/palestinian-villages-hours-water-week-161023105150024.html">
Water is now available in parts of Palestine only two hours a week.
</a>


feed_id: 1a6800fe6fe5d0ac4d2ef9ebc37b4e76
title: List of computers cracked by NSA
uri: List-of-computers-cracked-by-NSA
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28List_of_computers_cracked_by_NSA%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/security/2016/10/new-leak-may-show-if-you-were-hacked-by-the-nsa/">
A leaked list of IP addresses that might be those of computers that
the NSA has cracked.
</a>
<p>
(Please don't use the word "hacking" as if it referred principally to
breaking security -- that's insulting to us hackers.  See
/articles/on-hacking.html.)


feed_id: c1ef3be0288199f14cba1e02db696188
title: Urgent: Ask Obama to stop pipeline
uri: Urgent-Ask-Obama-to-stop-pipeline
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Ask_Obama_to_stop_pipeline%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call the White House via 877-559-7809 and ask Obama to
stop the Dakota Access Pipeline, and protect the protesters from
violent abuse by so-called "law enforcement".
<p>
You may have to wait on hold for quite some time, so use a
speakerphone or headset.


feed_id: fd314a5d9c08455009bd4283b721a180
title: Jellyfish tampons
uri: Jellyfish-tampons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Jellyfish_tampons%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/nov/01/jellyfish-tampons-diapers-hydromash-environment-israel">
Using jellyfish to make absorbant products.
</a>
<p>
Some species are tasty, too!


feed_id: eb945c38c5f1d87bf274f63027a0fcd0
title: Blaming diseases on individuals
uri: Blaming-diseases-on-individuals
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Blaming_diseases_on_individuals%29

content:
<p>
The War on Drugs is responsible for shielding HIV from medicine's
awareness for many years.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/commentisfree/2016/nov/01/patient-zero-aids-hiv-gaetan-dugas">
Junkies died from AIDS without seeing
doctors, since they were scared to visit a hospital, and nobody
investigated why.
</a>
By the time society took note, years had been lost.
<p>
If junkies had had an alternative to sharing needles, the disease might
never have affected many people.


feed_id: c653e49c25adcb2ad57123abd5f2b11b
title: Disabled voters
uri: Disabled-voters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Disabled_voters%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/01/us-citizens-vote-disabled-voters-democracy-election-polling">
Disabled US citizens face a struggle to vote.
</a>


feed_id: 7d51d1a6c6b3e6a5cf3bd751ff5befbc
title: CO2 per dollar
uri: CO2-per-dollar
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28CO2_per_dollar%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/01/global-carbon-intensity-falls-as-coal-use-declines">
Carbon emission per dollar of global production is declining significantly,
</a>
but not as fast as is necessary to avoid global disaster.


feed_id: ab85e959ea68e47880bdc60596bd825e
title: Desert tortoises
uri: Desert-tortoises
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Desert_tortoises%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/01/mojave-desert-tortoise-california-endangered-lasers-ravens">
Trying high tech methods to protect desert tortoises from extinction
by ravens.
</a>
<p>
Since the ravens are plentiful, and attack sage grouse which need
protection too, I wonder if it might be better to cull the ravens.


feed_id: e86b16d19d2249d4c8fbb7f69eacac09
title: Turkish trolls
uri: Turkish-trolls
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Turkish_trolls%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/01/turkish-journalists-face-abuse-threats-online-trolls-attacks">
Turkish journalists face constant harassment from regime supporters
</a>
if they do not fully parrot the regime's line.


feed_id: 0a507c1f3b4cbbe171e222a990c3c33d
title: War is hell
uri: War-is-hell
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28War_is_hell%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/01/war-hell-for-natural-world-battle-atlantic-guillemot-population-95-per-cent">
War Is Hell -- for the Natural World, Too.
</a>


feed_id: 5184a9f681a908de4d58ac62aed5570b
title: Contraceptives in Africa
uri: Contraceptives-in-Africa
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Contraceptives_in_Africa%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/nov/01/contraceptive-rates-poorest-countries-leap-by-30-million-users-in-four-years-family-planning-2020-report">
A big leap forward in use of contraceptive use in Africa.
</a>
<p>
If anyone is being held back by lack of money, the developed world
has the responsibility to help them.


feed_id: d8fe195977db297fcc98f601b2b2571d
title: Uber discrimination
uri: Uber-discrimination
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Uber_discrimination%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/31/uber-lyft-racial-discrimination-us-boston-seattle">
Uber systematically discriminates against passengers that are black,
and tends to cheat women.
</a>
<p>
The study does not demonstrate how the discrimination and cheating occur,
but does demonstrate the statistical phenomenon.


feed_id: 8936d2799b54f92858d85269ffbaab1b
title: GMOs not increasing yields
uri: GMOs-not-increasing-yields
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28GMOs_not_increasing_yields_%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/10/new-york-times-cuts-through-hype-gmos">
Massive use of GMO corn, cotton and soybeans in the US has not
increased yields or reduced overall pesticide use.
</a>
<p>
What it has done, rather, is to enrich a few large companies that use their
money to
<a href="2014-may-aug.html#03_August_2014_(Monsantos_attack_on_food_safety_laws)">
lobby our plutocratic government for unjust laws to cover up
what they are doing.
</a>


feed_id: d82ba45f7b674f1e03063f7d0c1493c7
title: Who runs America
uri: Who-runs-America
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Who_runs_America%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/31/the-podesta-emails-show-who-runs-america-and-how-they-do-it">
The Podesta Emails Show Who Runs America - And How They Do It.
</a>
<p>
The people participating in that discussion are not the ultimate
masters -- the billionaires.  Rather, the participants are the
billionaires' fixers.


feed_id: bcf284bb82926e1ed885ecd6a0216a19
title: Lack of housing
uri: Lack-of-housing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Lack_of_housing%29
content:
<p>
The Oakland "housing cabinet", whose goal is to enable ordinary people
poor people to remain in Oakland,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/31/oakland-eviction-notices-affordable-housing-crisis-rent-bay-area">
includes the landlord who has the
record for eviction notices in the city.
</a>
<p>
He's right, though, that the real solution is to build lots of
housing.  With too little place to live, people will compete for them,
and that competition will inevitably have losers.
<p>
When zoning laws limit the amount of housing construction, in effect
those who are locally on top (and expect to hold on to their housing)
mistreat those locally who are worse-paid or precarious.  I have no
sympathy for this practice.


feed_id: 3c78b2e2b770cdacb4962ed6a7b15009
title: Jailing defendants
uri: Jailing-defendants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Jailing_defendants%29
content:
<p>
In some parts of the US, women get fined, even jailed,
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/10/why-are-women-thrown-jail-after-theyre-raped-or-assaulted">
if they won't
press charges for domestic violence.
</a>
<p>
I am in favor of encouraging victims to testify, but this is not the
way to do it.


feed_id: f0ceb2daaf610ca293675937917cd590
title: Leaked debate question
uri: Leaked-debate-question
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Leaked_debate_question%29
content:
<p>
Donna Brazile, the new head of the Democratic National Committee,
seems to have
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/31/donna-brazile-hillary-clinton-debate-question-podesta-emails-cnn">
leaked a primary debate question to the Clinton campaign,
</a>
then falsely claimed she didn't.


feed_id: 9b9603c0c6dc841ed22029d3343f7f35
title: Propaganda and coverup
uri: Propaganda-and-coverup
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Propaganda_and_coverup%29
content:
<p>

How the US is applying today the
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/30/finally-winning-viet-nam-war-afghanistan">
propaganda and coverup lessons it learned
in Vietnam.
</a>


feed_id: f039c6592ec15880b0efd6159e43424a
title: On the wrong side of history
uri: On-the-wrong-side-of-history
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28On_the_wrong_side_of_history%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/30/after-two-wars-standing-rock-first-time-i-served-american-people">
After Two Wars, Standing Rock Is the First Time I Served the American People.
</a>


feed_id: 37483f34ffd13353a8cc150cfb21a040
title: Salafi/US bombing
uri: Salafi-US-bombing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Salafi%2FUS_bombing%29
content:
<p>
The American UN ambassador called for an
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/31/us-calls-for-end-to-saudi-airstrikes-in-yemen">
end to the Salafi/US bombing campaign
in Yemen.
</a>
<p>
This is paradoxical since the US actively supports and advises that
campaign.  The US could stop it immediately if it decided to.


feed_id: ff2ef2d07d98278ca13ab0587799ebbf
title: UK child poverty
uri: UK-child-poverty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28UK_child_poverty%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/31/child-poverty-theresa-may-housing-benefit-cuts">
Tories: Creating Child Poverty for a Whole New Generation.
</a>
<p>
<a href="media/855ef485.anuran-bevan.jpg" data-original-source="https://stallman.org/archives/../images/anuran-bevan.jpg">
"The Tories are lower than vermin" -- Aneurin Bevan
</a>


feed_id: 25c075d531bfff59fc947d54bf883ffa
title: Thug violence catalog
uri: Thug-violence-catalog
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Thug_violence_catalog%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/10/standing-rock-protests-pipeline-police-tasers-teargas">
A catalog of the violence used by thugs against nonviolent pipeline
protesters.
</a>
<p>
Why were the Bundy occupiers treated with more respect?
Was it because they were right-wing and thugs support the right wing?
Was it because they had a lot of guns?


feed_id: 051a48612df6fcb57cdebd2a5db5db67
title: Comey's abuse of power
uri: Comey-s-abuse-of-power
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Comey%27s_abuse_of_power%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/31/james-comey-fbi-director-clinton-emails">
James Comey Has Been Abusing His Power for Years.
</a>


feed_id: a9f0f75753a1477eb2f3d7ea3fbeea24
title: Urgent: Ask Clinton to oppose pipeline
uri: Urgent-Ask-Clinton-to-oppose-pipeline
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Ask_Clinton_to_oppose_pipeline%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: call on Clinton to
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/hillary-clinton-stand-2?mailing_id=35750&source=s.icn.em.cr&">
oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline.
</a>


feed_id: 2c80f08db27da6597f60243129dea32d
title: US and Russian relations
uri: US-and-Russian-relations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28US_and_Russian_relations%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/31/putin-obama-trust-evaporates">
Putin claims the US military is sabotaging Obama's diplomatic efforts
with Russia.
</a>
<p>
Putin is not above lying, but there seems to be some truth in this
claim.  Many of the activities cited in the article, on both sides,
are only gestures, but they reflect the current state of tension
which the US could have avoided by not proposing to extend NATO to
Ukraine and Georgia.


feed_id: 533127773f4ce76523be9103fd29c19d
title: Urgent: Stop Social Security FUD
uri: Urgent-Stop-Social-Security-FUD
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_Social_Security_FUD%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on AARP to
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/aarp_social_security?t=1003&">
stop spreading right-wing FUD about
Social Security.
</a>


feed_id: 1581aad5318123d8bdf3485c528de142
title: "Abstinence only" to sexting
uri: Abstinence-only-to-sexting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#3_November_2016_%28Abstinence_only_to_sexting%29
content:
<p>
"Abstinence only" is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/31/teens-should-be-educated-about-safer-sexting-not-just-abstinence-report-says">as
silly in regard to sexting as it is in regard to sex</a>.


feed_id: 533aa714c8119772240eb5dd71f28317
title: Harassing registered sex offenders on Halloween
uri: Harassing-registered-sex-offenders-on-Halloween
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#3_November_2016_%28Harassing_registered_sex_offenders_on_Halloween%29

content:
<p>
Harassing registered sex offenders on Halloween is
<a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/challenge-for-the-media-find-one-case-of-child-predation-by-a-registered-sex-offender-on-halloween/">completely
gratuitous and pointless</a>.


feed_id: a8d3508c9512bde3ad519f6456b0f45b
title: Massive surveillance
uri: 2016-11-06-Massive-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#3_November_2016_%28Massive_surveillance%29
content:
<p>
"Bulk collection clearly
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/30/government-data-collection-citizens-acceptance-global-rights-privacy-free-speech'>violates
global rights to privacy and free speech</a>."


feed_id: 47641a9495e4a07718635b57537cb38d
title: US military spending
uri: US-military-spending
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#3_November_2016_%28US_military_spending%29
content:
<p>
Why Can't We [Americans] Rein In This
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/10/tomdispatch-pentagon-government-military-spending">Ridiculous
Military Spending</a>?
<p>
Because politicians listen to lobbyists, is the answer in a nutshell.
<p>
So what if the F-35 fighter project has created 125,000 jobs in 46
states?  Instead of spending that money paying businesses to build a
weapon that works badly, we could spend it on renewable energy
development and create more jobs, and achieve something useful at the
same time.


feed_id: 858a96eea8662908d53975bb4d345149
title: Gorbachev on coldness between US and Russia
uri: Gorbachev-on-coldness-between-US-and-Russia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#3_November_2016_%28Gorbachev_on_coldness_between_US_and_Russia%29

content:
<p>
Gorbachev: the coldness between the US and Russia is a
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/29/mikhail-gorbachev-appeals-sanity-dialogue">more
dangerous problem than the disputes that provoked it</a>.


feed_id: 1c8d70804ffeb7c27b7802e954aba298
title: Thugs treat journalism as "crime"
uri: Thugs-treat-journalism-as-crime
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#3_November_2016_%28Thugs_treat_journalism_as_crime%29

content:
<p>
Thugs confiscated the camera of a journalist at a pipeline protest,
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/29/dapl-confiscating-cameras-evidence-journalism">claiming
it is "evidence of a crime"</a>.  Evidently, the "crime" is
journalism.


feed_id: 7da39a69f511b1dbcb9455b7c47ef45e
title: Trump acts like abusive spouse
uri: Trump-acts-like-abusive-spouse
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#3_November_2016_%28Trump_acts_like_abusive_spouse%29

content:
<p>
Trump, in his campaign,
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/29/trump-nations-abuser-chief">uses
the same maneuvers as an abusive spouse</a>.
<p>
I wonder how he has treated his wives.


feed_id: f874f6829691d48eae1758dcdf2d4690
title: PISSI leaves booby traps as it retreats
uri: PISSI-leaves-booby-traps-as-it-retreats
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#3_November_2016_%28PISSI_leaves_booby_traps_as_it_retreats%29

content:
<p>
As PISSI retreats, it leaves behind large numbers of booby traps, even
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/29/isis-booby-trapped-toys-mosul">booby-trapped
toys to kill children who return</a>.


feed_id: 508e739f71fe98c9a6f06df9c78cce2c
title: Thwarting continued fossil fuel use
uri: Thwarting-continued-fossil-fuel-use
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#3_November_2016_%28Thwarting_continued_fossil_fuel_use%29

content:
<p>
Fossil fool state prosecutors
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/24/crossing-fossil-fuel-industry-could-now-get-you-locked-decades">want
to put protesters and journalists in prison for decades</a>.
<p>
Any sort of crime committed against fossil fuel facilities is covered
by the necessity defense.  Continuing fossil fuel use will kill
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-jul-oct.html#04_October_2012_(Effect_of_global_heating_on_people)">hundreds
of millions of people</a>; activities to increase that use will be the
biggest atrocity in history, worse even than the crime of starting
World War II.  To thwart even a millionth of that atrocity would save
many lives.


feed_id: f54f08225045ed0307106536e6457472
title: Expansion of Heathrow airport
uri: Expansion-of-Heathrow-airport
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#3_November_2016_%28Expansion_of_Heathrow_airport%29
content:
<p>
The UK's decision to expand Heathrow airport is a decision to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/25/heathrow-third-runway-davies-commission">spend
tens of billions to rush to disaster</a>.  But all that matters to the
government is that fossil fools will make a profit from it for a few
decades.


feed_id: 86a246c7b6c23788eeb8dfa0f1a0e3fe
title: UN's responsibility for cholera to Haiti
uri: UN-s-responsibility-for-cholera-to-Haiti
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#3_November_2016_%28UNs_responsibility_for_cholera_to_Haiti%29

content:
<p>
The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/25/united-nations-expert-special-rapporteur-calls-actions-over-haiti-cholera-outbreak-2010-a-disgrace">condemned
the UN for refusing to take responsibility</a> for bringing cholera to
Haiti.


feed_id: 81ebeb535264c44cb37616bf84634a9d
title: Trump says something valid
uri: Trump-says-something-valid
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#3_November_2016_%28Trump_says_something_valid%29
content:
<p>
Donald Trump:
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/25/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-syria-world-war-three">Hillary
Clinton's Policy for Syria Would "Lead To World War Three"</a>.
<p>
Since Trump says all sorts of contradictory things, occasionally he
says something valid.


feed_id: 930b2181894251e9e756ed8da3caf393
title: Albuquerque thug department violence
uri: Albuquerque-thug-department-violence
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#3_November_2016_%28Albuquerque_thug_department_violence%29

content:
<p>
Albuquerque thugs were tried for a gratuitous killing, but the
Albuquerque thug department
<a href="https://thinkprogress.org/despite-reform-effort-a-culture-of-aggression-still-exists-in-albuquerque-s-police-force-3f595c11177d">continues
its aggressive and violent practices</a>.


feed_id: 4f66244d682ef518921a0a3c2b9d09dc
title: War on Sharing
uri: 2016-11-06-War-on-Sharing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28War_on_Sharing%29
content:
<p>
The US government wants to label all sorts of services that don't
join in the War on Sharing as
<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/mpaa-and-riaas-anti-piracy-plans-harm-the-internet-161027/">"piracy
facilitators"</a>, using its
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Piracy">typical
propaganda</a> for the enemy.
<p>
The article quotes a statement that uses the confused term
"intellectual property" when it clearly refers to copyright and only
copyright.  That's like saying "New England law" in an article about a
law adopted only in New Hampshire or only in Vermont — a bogus
and misleading generalization from one state to several that are quite
different from each other.  "Intellectual property" is a bogus and
misleading generalization from one law to several dissimilar laws.
<p>
That term
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html">spreads confusion
every time it is used</a>, so no one should ever use it.  Even when it
is mentioned in a quotation or a name, we should warn people that it
misrepresents reality.


feed_id: 643b6629f8eeb6fc3555067a29cd3cfc
title: EU's proposed "link tax"
uri: 2016-11-06-EU-s-proposed-link-tax
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28EUs_proposed_link_tax%29
content:
<p>
The EU's absurd proposed "link tax" — actually a
<a href="http://www.politico.eu/article/copyright-conundrum-tweeting-this-may-cost-you/">fee
for copying small snippets from articles</a> — would apply to
anyone who posts a small quotation, even individuals.
<p>
The whole idea is foolish, because Facebook is the big threat to
publishing, not aggregators such as Google and Reddit.
<p>
The article unfortunately uses propaganda terms of the copyright
industry such as "protection" and "intellectual creation".  See
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html</a>,
and please don't fall into their trap.


feed_id: b0357dfc65aae05a0a3980e1d3b3555a
title: Keeping the deficit down
uri: 2016-11-06-Keeping-the-deficit-down
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28Keeping_the_deficit_down%29
content:
<p>
We're
<a href="http://fair.org/home/were-not-helping-our-kids-by-keeping-the-deficit-down/">Not
Helping Our Kids</a> by Keeping the Deficit Down.


feed_id: a1c9ac60c0b979549df1289242b009f8
title: Wife and child of dissident held hostage
uri: 2016-11-06-Wife-and-child-of-dissident-held-hostage
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28Wife_and_child_of_dissident_held_hostage%29

content:
<p>
Bahrain is holding as hostages the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/29/bahrain-london-duaa-sayed-alwadaei">wife
and child of an exiled dissident</a> to punish him for criticizing the
cruel and violent regime.


feed_id: 778ed5829539245967ab8b880fb9d04a
title: CETA
uri: 2016-11-06-CETA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28CETA%29
content:
<p>
CETA faces
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20161027/09490835898/eu-canada-trade-deal-dodges-belgian-veto-now-faces-multiple-legal-challenges.shtml">legal
challenges in Europe and in Canada</a>.


feed_id: b14c75cde198b113e35da3e9f8a65e64
title: Kuwait drops mandatory DNA database
uri: 2016-11-06-Kuwait-drops-mandatory-DNA-database
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28Kuwait_drops_mandatory_DNA_database%29

content:
<p>
Public opposition convinced Kuwait to
<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20161023/03322035861/kuwait-backtracks-mandatory-dna-database-all-citizens-visitors.shtml">drop
its plan to take DNA from all residents and visitors</a>.


feed_id: 7f8a73a8f05dc1272dcefd43ac4447d4
title: Protonmail disappears from Google search results
uri: 2016-11-06-Protonmail-disappears-from-Google-search-results
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#2_November_2016_%28Protonmail_disappears_from_Google_search_results%29

content:
<p>
Protonmail
<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/27/why-did-protonmail-vanish-from-google-search-results-for-months/">mysteriously
disappeared</a> from Google search results.


feed_id: cdee28e023930e36097ebec843d9721d
title: Trump and Wall Street fraud
uri: Trump-and-Wall-Street-fraud
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Trump_and_Wall_Street_fraud%29
content:
<p>
How Donald Trump 
<a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/how-donald-trump-used-fine-print-make-it-harder-sue-wall-street-fraud-2440890">Used
Fine Print To Make It Harder To Sue Wall Street For Fraud</a>.
<p>
He made bullshit predictions about the profit his casino would make,
then said "But it might not be true".  When sued, he cited the latter
to excuse the former.
<p>
He's used the same approach, over and over, in his campaign.


feed_id: 43ca6655c8f2cb92056dd7f8a6aae2dc
title: Government spying cases
uri: Government-spying-cases
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Government_spying_cases%29
content:
<p>
Report Collects 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/31/report-collects-government-spying-cases-10-countries">Government
Spying Cases from 10 Countries</a>.


feed_id: 7150f094ae29180a30b35a08e48c383a
title: Sheriff plans to intimidate voters
uri: Sheriff-plans-to-intimidate-voters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Sheriff_plans_to_intimidate_voters%29

content:
<p>
Sheriff Arpaio, facing imprisonment for contempt of court, is alas not
in prison yet.  So he is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/06/sheriff-joe-arpaio-arizona-voter-intimidation-ethnic-profiling-latinos">planning
to try to intimidate voters on election day</a>.


feed_id: 6e3555ce9f0fd2a68101c189029ae7cc
title: FBI director's dirty trick
uri: FBI-director-s-dirty-trick
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28FBI_directors_dirty_trick%29
content:
<p>
Comey said that his latest statement about Clinton's emails
was a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/06/fbi-director-hillary-clinton-email-investigation-criminal-james-comey">false
alarm</a>.
<p>
Of course, this "forget what I said" statement won't cancel the effect
of what he said.  It was a dirty trick and he ought to be punished for
it.  An FBI director that feels entitled to mess with people by sowing
suspicion based only on lack of information is unacceptable.
<p>
If the FBI is going to disregard the rules not to discuss
investigations that have not led to any significant conclusion, here
are 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/31/comeys-disclosures-set-stage-for-a-public-interest-exception-to-fbi-secrecy/">some
others it should explain</a>.


feed_id: 46e19143cdf7ce5363b31258b9cc2d69
title: Urgent: Ban tar sands tankers
uri: Urgent-Ban-tar-sands-tankers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Ban_tar_sands_tankers%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=4041">call
on Obama</a> to ban tar sands tankers from US coasts.


feed_id: facf2e77dd59594976616c0afe9031b3
title: Destruction of koala habitat
uri: Destruction-of-koala-habitat
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Destruction_of_koala_habitat%29
content:
<p>
New 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/07/koalas-under-siege-from-policy-changes-set-to-destroy-habitat-report-finds">extractivist
government policies</a> will destroy the remaining koala habitat in a
major Australian state.


feed_id: 0847c29d1ec8484f786e1df58c2b6490
title: Indigenous artifacts ignored by pipeline company
uri: Indigenous-artifacts-ignored-by-pipeline-company
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Indigenous_artifacts_ignored_by_pipeline_company%29

content:
<p>
Officials of North Dakota rebuked the pipeline company for 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/05/dakota-access-oil-pipeline-native-american-artifacts-discovered">ignoring
indigenous artifacts</a> which it was required to report.


feed_id: 592ac238d2f2a6a89128fd9a14c1332a
title: Urgent: Press Israel to disavow hate group
uri: Urgent-Press-Israel-to-disavow-hate-group
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Press_Israel_to_disavow_hate_group%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-press-israeli">call
on Congress</a> to press the Israeli government to disavow an
anti-Muslim hate group.


feed_id: 7e8d225a083d2aaa14846d5f95cdd140
title: Bombings
uri: Bombings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Bombings%29
content:
<p>
The Russian bombing of Aleppo is horrible, but don't forget that the
the 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/04/us-hypocrisy-bombing-aleppo-no-worse-what-happened-gaza-and-iraq">US
bombing of Iraq</a> and the (mostly gratuitous) 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#27_July_2014_(Israel_did_not_need_to_invade_Gaza)">Israeli
bombing of Gaza</a> were roughly equally horrible.  And there's the
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_(US_war_crimes_in_Yemen)">US-Salafi
bombing of Yemen</a> right now.


feed_id: 093d3d0bbfcb91a5f4bd578669936515
title: Urgent: Hearings about Roundup
uri: Urgent-Hearings-about-Roundup
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Hearings_about_Roundup%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://stallman.org/petitions/petition-roundup/">call on the
EPA</a> to reschedule hearings about Roundup soon.


feed_id: a6da94e49f0dd5d3353bcb4a92320b21
title: Urgent: Cancel the F35
uri: Urgent-Cancel-the-F35
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Cancel_the_F35%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://stallman.org/petitions/petition-f35/">call for
cancellation</a> of the F35 fighter plane.


feed_id: 4bf79c168f6129860892591f6d9f0ef6
title: Letting Facebook use children
uri: Letting-Facebook-use-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Letting_Facebook_use_children%29
content:
<p>
Parents that post on Facebook about their children (especially photos)
are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/nov/05/parents-posting-about-kids-share-too-much-online-facebook-paula-cocozza">making
an imposition</a>.  It won't always do specific and direct harm to the
children, but it is never right.


feed_id: 71c338b5c2338d7027ad45b66e1aef12
title: Official Air Travel Replacement Knife
uri: Official-Air-Travel-Replacement-Knife
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Official_Air_Travel_Replacement_Knife%29

content:
<p>
Michele Pred distributed 
<a href="http://hyperallergic.com/334444/on-anniversary-of-the-patriot-act-artist-passes-out-pocket-knives-at-the-airport/">Official
Air Travel Replacement Knives</a> to passengers arriving at San
Francisco Airport.


feed_id: 74ae5c764760def30abe344fb16a9e1b
title: Taxing the rich and increasing minimum wage
uri: Taxing-the-rich-and-increasing-minimum-wage
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Taxing_the_rich_and_increasing_minimum_wage%29

content:
<p>
Governor Dayton created an 
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carl-gibson/mark-dayton-minnesota-economy_b_6737786.html">economic
boom in Minnesota</a> by raising taxes on the rich and increasing the
minimum wage.
<p>
Reagan's "trickle-own" economics is nothing but an excuse for dooH
niboR.


feed_id: 112099d0fb3e8d2bce5be63b1379fe5b
title: Data base of "malicious" web pages
uri: Data-base-of-malicious-web-pages
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Data_base_of_malicious_web_pages%29

content:
<p>
A data base of "malicious" web pages is allegedly corrupted with hash
codes of 
<a href="http://www.eurasia.nu/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3544">pages
with useful DRM-breaking software</a>.


feed_id: f50ec1c2bc3853c17781528a4fb16c37
title: File-sharing
uri: 2016-11-09-File-sharing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#7_November_2016_%28File-sharing%29
content:
<p>
File-Sharing
<a href="http://falkvinge.net/2016/11/02/file-sharing-can-legalized-tomorrow-fully-complying-treaties/">Can
Be Legalized Immediately, While Complying With All Treaties</a>.


feed_id: 005a732d907f5582c7de913164ab409c
title: Countering "violent extremism" online
uri: Countering-violent-extremism-online
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#7_November_2016_%28Countering_violent_extremism_online%29

content:
<p>
Beware: Countering "Violent Extremism" Online
<a href="https://www.accessnow.org/beware-countering-violent-extremism-online-risks-human-rights/">Risks
Human Rights</a>.


feed_id: 616d14dadcc7d809ed3ea60124e3a334
title: Many voting places closed since 2012
uri: Many-voting-places-closed-since-2012
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#7_November_2016_%28Many_voting_places_closed_since_2012%29

content:
<p>
Republicans have
<a href="https://thinkprogress.org/mass-poll-closures-in-battleground-states-create-potential-for-election-day-chaos-3933184e9f6d">eliminated
many voting places</a> since 2012.


feed_id: 52eadf80005847797587d8707d214565
title: US officials' incompetent decisions
uri: US-officials-incompetent-decisions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#7_November_2016_%28US_officials_incompetent_decisions%29

content:
<p>
The US was totally incompetent in sending Afghans to Guantanamo.
Then, as typically happens, officials
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/02/guantanamo-bay-afghanistan-detainees-gross-incompetence">went
to absurd lengths to justify the incompetent decisions</a>.


feed_id: ad3fc7bcd160241296ddcba20517af7d
title: Global business agenda
uri: Global-business-agenda
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#7_November_2016_%28Global_business_agenda%29
content:
<p>
The
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/02/trade-democracy-and-politics-backlash">global
business agenda</a>: "small government for helping people; big
government for keeping business on top of people."
<p>
I think it should be the other way around.


feed_id: cf30bdbef0845d8063409eaffe53e356
title: Social pressure to have children
uri: Social-pressure-to-have-children
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#7_November_2016_%28Social_pressure_to_have_children%29

content:
<p>
The singing star Adele said she was
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/womens-blog/2016/nov/02/if-even-adele-feels-inadequate-what-hope-is-there-for-the-rest-of-us">pushed
to have children by pervasive social pressure</a>, and said that "it's
the bravest thing not to have a child".
<p>
You can help women resist this pressure, by speaking up when you see
others create this pressure.  You can also say, "Having children is
selfish.  If you don't have children, you can dedicate your time to
something that the world really needs."


feed_id: b848695d048cd5b7f6c56078509aa6e7
title: Urgent: Stop disenfranchising black voters
uri: Urgent-Stop-disenfranchising-black-voters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#7_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_disenfranchising_black_voters%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/lawson_indiana_voter_fraud/">call
on Indiana's governor</a> to back off an attempt to disenfranchise
tens of thousands of black voters.


feed_id: f3393bd95a5d63d19265f34ff9a6a6ea
title: Urgent: Investigate phone jamming at protests
uri: Urgent-Investigate-phone-jamming-at-protests
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#7_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Investigate_phone_jamming_at_protests%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/fcc-investigate-alleged">call
on the FBI</a> to investigate apparent cell phone jamming at pipeline
protests.


feed_id: 5912e82e254f3e65fbd2a98a0ad9f2fb
title: Canada's national snooping agency
uri: Canada-s-national-snooping-agency
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#7_November_2016_%28Canadas_national_snooping_agency%29

content:
<p>
A Canadian court ordered the national snooping agency to stop 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/04/canadian-judge-blasts-spy-agency-for-illegally-hoarding-private-data">"sharing
and analysing" data about people that are not specifically
suspects</a>.
<p>
The stoppage is temporary, pending an analysis.  It remains to be seen
how much change will be made after the review is complete.


feed_id: fecd3962f0259e3f6d7b06fa8a5b6480
title: Student privacy
uri: Student-privacy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#7_November_2016_%28Student_privacy%29
content:
<p>
A School Administrator in Indiana 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/10/fewer-resources-fewer-choices-school-administrator-indiana-works-protect-student">Works
to Protect Student Privacy</a>.  And also rejection by some students,
or their parents, of digital technology.
<p>
The article doesn't mention it, but almost all the programs in
question are proprietary software (hence, unjust to the user), and I
expect that nearly all of them are malware (spyware, DRM, or both).
You <em>should</em> tell your children's school not to use them on
your child.


feed_id: f1b27dd94afc697c860b717c94cc3151
title: Sentenced to pay $10,000 per downloaded song
uri: Sentenced-to-pay-10-000-per-downloaded-song
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Sentenced_to_pay_%2410%2C000_per_downloaded_song%29

content:
<p>
Jammie Thomas-Rasset has been 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/sep/11/minnesota-woman-songs-illegally-downloaded">sentenced
to pay almost $10,000 for each</a> of the 24 songs she downloaded.
<p>
This is a victory for those bullies, the record factories.
<p>
The legally authorized disservices for downloading or streaming music
are 
<a href="https://stallman.org/internet-music.html">unjust, usually in
several ways at once</a>.  (I absolutely refuse to use them, and I
hope you do, too.)  Even sales of CDs over the internet disrespect
customer's rights, because they have to identify themselves.
<p>
Aside from sales of CDs in physical stores where you can pay cash, the
only form of music distribution that doesn't do you an injustice is
peer-to-peer.


feed_id: bcd0a250dc8da1a727157ce136595c92
title: Nuclear disarmament
uri: 2016-11-09-Nuclear-disarmament
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Nuclear_disarmament%29
content:
<p>
The US representative in the UN 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/03/us-world-we-cant-eliminate-our-nukes-because-we-rely-our-nukes">opposed
the very idea</a> of nuclear disarmament.


feed_id: b7e6e5bf7fe34789bab8513959715ac3
title: Hidden sources of political campaigning
uri: Hidden-sources-of-political-campaigning
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Hidden_sources_of_political_campaigning%29

content:
<p>
The Grocery Manufacturers Association has been fined 18 million
dollars for 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/11/03/ruling-against-pro-gmo-lobby-highlights-dark-moneys-egregious-role-state-ballot">hiding
the sources of its political campaigning</a>.
<p>
Unfortunately, it comes too late — and they already won this
battle at the federal level.


feed_id: 16fcdae5a653b8be5c2ca3427ddcfba2
title: Restoring democracy
uri: Restoring-democracy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Restoring_democracy%29
content:
<p>
One large progressive issue that Clinton really cares about is 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/3/1590747/-Here-s-a-WikiLeaks-email-you-aren-t-hearing-about-from-Trump-or-anyone-else-for-that-matter">women's
rights</a>.
<p>
I support them too, but I think that fighting to restore democracy
(which means ending plutocracy) is the most important issue of all.
Don't forget that plutocracy is what has enabled the global heating
denialists to push us more or less to the edge of the pit.


feed_id: ebd569ee1447d73fbab2ba3de95c06ab
title: Purely private-purpose corporation
uri: Purely-private-purpose-corporation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Purely_private-purpose_corporation%29

content:
<p>
"The Purely Private-Purpose Corporation Is an 
<a href='http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/04/forget-more-regulation-make-corporations-serve-public-interest'>Illegitimate
Entity</a>."


feed_id: 1649220a5780badda509153f7b06653f
title: Obama invites protesters to become NIMBYs
uri: Obama-invites-protesters-to-become-NIMBYs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Obama_invites_protesters_to_become_NIMBYs%29

content:
<p>
Obama invites the local indigenous people protesting the Dakota Access
Pipeline to become 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/04/why-there-are-no-acceptable-rerouting-options-dakota-access">NIMBYs</a>.


feed_id: ad830081e63ad6da76e2bcd09b37b80c
title: Trump with political insiders
uri: Trump-with-political-insiders
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Trump_with_political_insiders%29
content:
<p>
Trump lied (as always) when he said he was against the political
insiders.  His
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/11/08/trump-transition-lobbyists/">transition
plan</a> is the opposite.


feed_id: 2e0122c8f4de179f7bf23f9949a2be3f
title: Israel rejecting peace talks
uri: Israel-rejecting-peace-talks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Israel_rejecting_peace_talks%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/07/israel-france-not-join-talks-revive-palestine-peace-process-benjamin-netanyahu">
Israel rejected France's proposed peace process
</a>
in favor of an alterative
that has been dead since 2014,
<a href="2016-jan-apr.html#30_January_2016_(Ban_Ki-moon_condemns_Israeli_colonization)">
   and was only a sham before that.
</a>


feed_id: bcbbe67ad0b9f08360d221519e666f39
title: Phone WiFi tracking
uri: Phone-WiFi-tracking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Phone_WiFi_tracking%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/11/07/hackers-and-law-enforcement-could-hijack-wifi-connections-to-track-cellphones/">
The WiFi systems of portable phones make it easy to get the phone's
unique number or IMSI.
</a>
<p>
I think the root of this problem is that the phone transmits a unique
number that the user cannot change.  When I connect to WiFi or
ethernet, I change my MAC address each time I use a different network.
Machines that won't let you do this are mistreating you.


feed_id: eff19e1f5814808a449277382b4a81e6
title: Fake Trump news
uri: Fake-Trump-news
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Fake_Trump_news%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/craigsilverman/how-macedonia-became-a-global-hub-for-pro-trump-misinfo">
How Teens In The Balkans Are Duping Trump Supporters With Fake News.
</a>


feed_id: e1e9a8aa3ec08033086cfe462690ae0a
title: Wall Street
uri: Wall-Street
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Wall_Street%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/would-wall-street-have-a-place-in-a-clinton-administration">
Would Wall Street Have a Place in a Clinton Administration?
</a>


feed_id: 1a2d05847e4da635790d515447ecedf8
title: Trump's enablers
uri: Trump-s-enablers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Trump%27s_enablers%29
content:
<p>
Trump's Three Enablers:
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/07/trumps-three-enablers-gop-media-and-establishment-democrats">
The GOP, the Media, and... The Establishment Democrats.
</a>


feed_id: c0264abb1d5a8e246ab7062eb6a6adeb
title: Meat and dairy tax
uri: Meat-and-dairy-tax
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Meat_and_dairy_tax%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/07/tax-meat-and-dairy-to-cut-emissions-and-save-lives-study-urges">
"Tax meat and dairy to cut emissions and save lives."
</a>


feed_id: 078fda6665b36d468fa4a6ccbe3fbf19
title: Land grabs
uri: Land-grabs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Land_grabs%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/06/africa-still-crosshairs-land-grabs-intensify">
Africa Still in the Crosshairs as Land Grabs Intensify.
</a>


feed_id: 66455a675199489f17df7237b3cd15d1
title: Inappropriate imprisonment
uri: Inappropriate-imprisonment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Inappropriate_imprisonment%29
content:
<p>
A UK prison doctor says that
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/07/prison-doctor-jails-inmates-addicts-sentences">
half the people in prison should be getting
medical treatment instead.
</a>


feed_id: 3a1b8f8e0b861e7cadceecebec86b916
title: Freedom of speech
uri: 2016-11-09-Freedom-of-speech
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Freedom_of_speech%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/07/beyond-18c-six-barriers-to-freedom-of-speech-in-australia">
Many laws restrict freedom of speech in Australia.
</a>


feed_id: ad32aaf37276fe372dd64b51283da923
title: Encroachments by Beijing
uri: Encroachments-by-Beijing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Encroachments_by_Beijing%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/07/china-bans-hong-kong-pro-independence-politicians-crisis-grows">
China banned the two pro-independence legislators from taking office
in Hong Kong's legislature.
</a>
<p>
This confirms that the legislature is just a rubber stamp for Chinese
power.
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/07/hong-kong-publishing-industry-shrinking-under-pressure-china">
China is also repressing Hong Kong's book publishing.
</a>


feed_id: c3a085eaef97d1b0b74572885887719b
title: Ultrasonic tracking
uri: Ultrasonic-tracking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Ultrasonic_tracking%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2110762-your-homes-online-gadgets-could-be-hacked-by-ultrasound/">
Utrasound beacons (actually, speakers that humans can't hear) allow
surreptitious connections to malicious apps on phones.
</a>
<p>
Rather than looking at how to regulate these beacons, which would
limit only those that don't think they can get away with breaking
regulations, I think it would be wiser to modify a phone's operating
system to filter out all ultrasound so nothing can use it.


feed_id: 8388a2bb06d051c73a7932ebb7552233
title: Debt-based currency
uri: Debt-based-currency
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Debt-based_currency%29
content:
<p>
Arguing that
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/nov/05/how-a-new-money-system-could-help-stop-climate-change">
debt-based currency must be abolished
</a>
because
it requires countries to run unsustainable economic growth.
<p>
I am not sure this argument is conclusive.  I think it would be
possible to run some continued economic growth in a sustainable way,
although that is not how it's being done at present.
<p>
But the idea of changing the monetary system might have other advantages
such as reducing the concentration of wealth.


feed_id: 999e53440779732774c02622238df32a
title: Net of a Million Lies
uri: Net-of-a-Million-Lies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Net_of_a_Million_Lies%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/06/technology-disruption-infects-political-system">
The fictional Net of a Million Lies has become real,
</a>
and the filter bubble
has made serious politican discourse almost ineffective.


feed_id: bf0c123c91fc2d4ff96a76007550ff84
title: Attacked at Trump rally
uri: Attacked-at-Trump-rally
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Attacked_at_Trump_rally%29
content:
<p>
A protester holding a sign, "Republicans against Trump", at a Trump rally
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/06/trump-protester-i-was-beaten-for-holding-a-republicans-against-trump-sign">
was attacked by a mob of Trump supporters.
</a>


feed_id: 7dd352f1ed9b2cf690c4e169eb7daaba
title: Hong Kong MPs banned
uri: Hong-Kong-MPs-banned
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Hong_Kong_MPs_banned%29
content:
<p>
China seems to be planning to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/06/hong-kongs-pro-independence-mps-a-grave-threat-to-security-says-china">
ban the election-winning
pro-democracy candidates entirely
</a>
from being admitted to Hong
Kong's legislature.
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/06/police-and-protesters-clash-in-hong-kong-pro-democracy-march">
Pro-democracy protesters marched again in Hong Kong.
</a>


feed_id: 68bfbf634975b87151618e33ba408e5b
title: Trump redolent of Khomeini
uri: Trump-redolent-of-Khomeini
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Trump_redolent_of_Khomeini%29
content:
<p>
An Iranian-American who visited the old country as a child, and saw
Khomeini's violent followers impose the official line on everyone
there, says says that
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/11/tomdispatch-iran-navy-veteran-islamophobia-donald-trump">
Trump's racist movement reminds him of that.
</a>


feed_id: dabc1f6adc2571b872a53dd671564d33
title: Urgent: Oppose imprisonment of lawyer
uri: Urgent-Oppose-imprisonment-of-lawyer
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_imprisonment_of_lawyer%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: call on Turkey
<a href="https://act.amnestyusa.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1839&ea.campaign.id=55931&ac=W1611EAW4R1&ea.url.id=763077">
not to imprison human rights lawyer and
journalist Eren Keskin.
</a>


feed_id: ec350701dd84ef31620193e29fa5ac20
title: Urgent: Oppose pipeline
uri: Urgent-Oppose-pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_pipeline%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: Call on Clinton to
<a href="https://go.ourrevolution.com/page/s/hillary-clinton-DAPL?source=em161031-kicker-pt">
oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline.
</a>


feed_id: 99ee58bce10d8668afb67f0233d494a2
title: Voter fraud
uri: Voter-fraud
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Voter_fraud%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/06/trump-campaign-and-republicans-paid-18m-to-companies-mired-in-voter-claims">
Trump Campaign and Republicans Paid $1.8m To Companies Mired in Voter Fraud
Claims.
</a>


feed_id: 2763ddb350358e7b28147040bf9f1943
title: Anonymous march
uri: Anonymous-march
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Anonymous_march%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/06/dozens-of-arrests-at-million-mask-march-in-central-london">
Anonymous held a "million mask march" in London.
</a>


feed_id: c777d7f6640a547cc270fc99933d1552
title: Blackmailing of sharers
uri: Blackmailing-of-sharers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Blackmailing_of_sharers%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/copyright-infringement-notice-canada-piracy-1.3831492">
Canada has required ISPs to forward notices making large claims for
"piracy".
</a>
Some foreign students fear they will be deported.
<p>
"It feels like blackmail" is an understatement.  It <em>is</em> blackmail.
Canada should get rid of its unjust copyright laws and legalize sharing.


feed_id: 435963351565978efa6f63e6d6b719f0
title: E-declaration system
uri: E-declaration-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28E-declaration_system%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/06/ukraine-corruption-assets-e-declaration-volodymyr-groysman">
"Why I declared my wealth and made Ukraine's elite follow suit."
</a>
<p>
I think that it is legitimate to require these declarations from
public officials as an anti-corruption measure.
<p>
<a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html">
I hope the e-declaration web site does not require running nonfree software.
</a>


feed_id: 3987126efac7c66b9b07129eb85b0ac3
title: Global heating
uri: 2016-11-09-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/06/nicholas-stern-climate-change-review-10-years-on-interview-decisive-years-humanity">
Stern, whose report ten years ago warned of the dangers of global heating,
says things are worse than he expected then.
</a>
  He also says that the world is slowly coming around to making efforts
to slow global heating.


feed_id: da82539d47427da5ea8647199304405c
title: Game addiction
uri: Game-addiction
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Game_addiction%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/06/fears-children-addicted-online-games">
Many children are becoming addicted to proprietary software games.
</a>
<p>
The games are designed to make users keep playing -- and, in many
cases, keep paying.  Unlike the games of 30 years ago, you don't just
buy a copy once and use it as much as you like.  In many games,
players are pressured to pay to advance.
<p>
The fact that the games are proprietary, not free (libre) software, is
a crucial part of the problem, because that enables the designers to
maximize the amount they draw out of people, and gives them an incentive
to make the games addictive.
<p>
The technology-industrial complex shows a general dynamic of
<a href="2012-jul-oct.html#18_July_2012_(Addiction)">
designing
things to be increasingly addictive.
</a>
<p>


feed_id: 9734a1ea6b769a115616f319b1495c0f
title: Trump and Wall Street fraud
uri: 2016-11-09-Trump-and-Wall-Street-fraud
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Trump_and_Wall_Street_fraud%29
content:
<p>
How Donald Trump
<a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/how-donald-trump-used-fine-print-make-it-harder-sue-wall-street-fraud-2440890">Used
Fine Print To Make It Harder To Sue Wall Street For Fraud</a>.
<p>
He made bullshit predictions about the profit his casino would make,
then said "But it might not be true".  When sued, he cited the latter
to excuse the former.
<p>
He's used the same approach, over and over, in his campaign.


feed_id: faba836de519e28e5249b14ee5fbb512
title: Government spying cases
uri: 2016-11-09-Government-spying-cases
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Government_spying_cases%29
content:
<p>
Report Collects
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/10/31/report-collects-government-spying-cases-10-countries">Government
Spying Cases from 10 Countries</a>.


feed_id: 08ace32725e60907b47355064fb511dc
title: Sheriff plans to intimidate voters
uri: 2016-11-09-Sheriff-plans-to-intimidate-voters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Sheriff_plans_to_intimidate_voters%29

content:
<p>
Sheriff Arpaio, facing imprisonment for contempt of court, is alas not
in prison yet.  So he is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/06/sheriff-joe-arpaio-arizona-voter-intimidation-ethnic-profiling-latinos">planning
to try to intimidate voters on election day</a>.


feed_id: 1f03b6bceca3696b24f7885ffa6f5fc5
title: FBI director's dirty trick
uri: 2016-11-09-FBI-director-s-dirty-trick
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28FBI_directors_dirty_trick%29
content:
<p>
Comey said that his latest statement about Clinton's emails
was a
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/06/fbi-director-hillary-clinton-email-investigation-criminal-james-comey">false
alarm</a>.
<p>
Of course, this "forget what I said" statement won't cancel the effect
of what he said.  It was a dirty trick and he ought to be punished for
it.  An FBI director that feels entitled to mess with people by sowing
suspicion based only on lack of information is unacceptable.
<p>
If the FBI is going to disregard the rules not to discuss
investigations that have not led to any significant conclusion, here
are
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/10/31/comeys-disclosures-set-stage-for-a-public-interest-exception-to-fbi-secrecy/">some
others it should explain</a>.


feed_id: fb5a44e70746b1b060d391167d8500c9
title: Urgent: Ban tar sands tankers
uri: 2016-11-09-Urgent-Ban-tar-sands-tankers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Ban_tar_sands_tankers%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=4041">call
on Obama</a> to ban tar sands tankers from US coasts.


feed_id: 2547f933dc89e881adaced22257b68e8
title: Destruction of koala habitat
uri: 2016-11-09-Destruction-of-koala-habitat
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Destruction_of_koala_habitat%29
content:
<p>
New
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/07/koalas-under-siege-from-policy-changes-set-to-destroy-habitat-report-finds">extractivist
government policies</a> will destroy the remaining koala habitat in a
major Australian state.


feed_id: 2ab1f00090163adafd13d91591ef91fb
title: Indigenous artifacts ignored by pipeline company
uri: 2016-11-09-Indigenous-artifacts-ignored-by-pipeline-company
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Indigenous_artifacts_ignored_by_pipeline_company%29

content:
<p>
Officials of North Dakota rebuked the pipeline company for
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/05/dakota-access-oil-pipeline-native-american-artifacts-discovered">ignoring
indigenous artifacts</a> which it was required to report.


feed_id: acebed86ce89f4c969091c0709360551
title: Urgent: Press Israel to disavow hate group
uri: 2016-11-09-Urgent-Press-Israel-to-disavow-hate-group
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Press_Israel_to_disavow_hate_group%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-press-israeli">call
on Congress</a> to press the Israeli government to disavow an
anti-Muslim hate group.


feed_id: 674e741361ecf056070e53d6ad55bfff
title: Bombings
uri: 2016-11-09-Bombings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Bombings%29
content:
<p>
The Russian bombing of Aleppo is horrible, but don't forget that the
the
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/04/us-hypocrisy-bombing-aleppo-no-worse-what-happened-gaza-and-iraq">US
bombing of Iraq</a> and the (mostly gratuitous)
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#27_July_2014_(Israel_did_not_need_to_invade_Gaza)">Israeli
bombing of Gaza</a> were roughly equally horrible.  And there's the
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#4_November_2016_(US_war_crimes_in_Yemen)">US-Salafi
bombing of Yemen</a> right now.


feed_id: f933add85b6d01f4eb96cc0be244ad4f
title: Urgent: Hearings about Roundup
uri: 2016-11-09-Urgent-Hearings-about-Roundup
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Hearings_about_Roundup%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://stallman.org/petitions/petition-roundup/">call on the
EPA</a> to reschedule hearings about Roundup soon.


feed_id: e8f759abca92ce4cbea7df63f75b9637
title: Urgent: Cancel the F35
uri: 2016-11-09-Urgent-Cancel-the-F35
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Cancel_the_F35%29
content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://stallman.org/petitions/petition-f35/">call for
cancellation</a> of the F35 fighter plane.


feed_id: 89aefeb00f8be14795d73c77f61bbe55
title: Official Air Travel Replacement Knife
uri: 2016-11-09-Official-Air-Travel-Replacement-Knife
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Official_Air_Travel_Replacement_Knife%29

content:
<p>
Michele Pred distributed
<a href="http://hyperallergic.com/334444/on-anniversary-of-the-patriot-act-artist-passes-out-pocket-knives-at-the-airport/">Official
Air Travel Replacement Knives</a> to passengers arriving at San
Francisco Airport.


feed_id: 37ce1b2742d7d787016495b6e411db4c
title: Taxing the rich and increasing minimum wage
uri: 2016-11-09-Taxing-the-rich-and-increasing-minimum-wage
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Taxing_the_rich_and_increasing_minimum_wage%29

content:
<p>
Governor Dayton created an
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carl-gibson/mark-dayton-minnesota-economy_b_6737786.html">economic
boom in Minnesota</a> by raising taxes on the rich and increasing the
minimum wage.
<p>
Reagan's "trickle-own" economics is nothing but an excuse for dooH
niboR.


feed_id: 4574038f6df1f4d9624d089529a070f1
title: Data base of "malicious" web pages
uri: 2016-11-09-Data-base-of-malicious-web-pages
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#8_November_2016_%28Data_base_of_malicious_web_pages%29

content:
<p>
A data base of "malicious" web pages is allegedly corrupted with hash
codes of
<a href="http://www.eurasia.nu/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3544">pages
with useful DRM-breaking software</a>.


feed_id: cafa0a065f8a39f62511b55d8c0b3d14
title: Urgent: Stop disenfranchising black voters
uri: 2016-11-09-Urgent-Stop-disenfranchising-black-voters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#7_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_disenfranchising_black_voters%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/lawson_indiana_voter_fraud/">call
on Indiana's governor</a> to back off an attempt to disenfranchise
tens of thousands of black voters.


feed_id: 14e513039e3be408a7d4ec895fdc8ce7
title: Urgent: Investigate phone jamming at protests
uri: 2016-11-09-Urgent-Investigate-phone-jamming-at-protests
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#7_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Investigate_phone_jamming_at_protests%29

content:
<p>
Everyone:
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/fcc-investigate-alleged">call
on the FBI</a> to investigate apparent cell phone jamming at pipeline
protests.


feed_id: 80da4e4efdcddfdc6786091d71655113
title: Canada's national snooping agency
uri: 2016-11-09-Canada-s-national-snooping-agency
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#7_November_2016_%28Canadas_national_snooping_agency%29

content:
<p>
A Canadian court ordered the national snooping agency to stop
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/04/canadian-judge-blasts-spy-agency-for-illegally-hoarding-private-data">"sharing
and analysing" data about people that are not specifically
suspects</a>.
<p>
The stoppage is temporary, pending an analysis.  It remains to be seen
how much change will be made after the review is complete.


feed_id: 5eba8e3e7de760f4f9d871554eb08bce
title: Student privacy
uri: 2016-11-09-Student-privacy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#7_November_2016_%28Student_privacy%29
content:
<p>
A School Administrator in Indiana
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/10/fewer-resources-fewer-choices-school-administrator-indiana-works-protect-student">Works
to Protect Student Privacy</a>.  And also rejection by some students,
or their parents, of digital technology.
<p>
The article doesn't mention it, but almost all the programs in
question are proprietary software (hence, unjust to the user), and I
expect that nearly all of them are malware (spyware, DRM, or both).
You <em>should</em> tell your children's school not to use them on
your child.


feed_id: b596ec6f95bab2d164f4bb348a65130b
title: Sentenced to pay $10,000 per downloaded song
uri: 2016-11-09-Sentenced-to-pay-10-000-per-downloaded-song
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Sentenced_to_pay_%2410%2C000_per_downloaded_song%29

content:
<p>
Jammie Thomas-Rasset has been
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/sep/11/minnesota-woman-songs-illegally-downloaded">sentenced
to pay almost $10,000 for each</a> of the 24 songs she downloaded.
<p>
This is a victory for those bullies, the record factories.
<p>
The legally authorized disservices for downloading or streaming music
are
<a href="https://stallman.org/internet-music.html">unjust, usually in
several ways at once</a>.  (I absolutely refuse to use them, and I
hope you do, too.)  Even sales of CDs over the internet disrespect
customer's rights, because they have to identify themselves.
<p>
Aside from sales of CDs in physical stores where you can pay cash, the
only form of music distribution that doesn't do you an injustice is
peer-to-peer.


feed_id: 8fac07de3c957703c6df221808ea0fe6
title: Nuclear disarmament
uri: 2016-11-09-Nuclear-disarmament
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Nuclear_disarmament%29
content:
<p>
The US representative in the UN
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/03/us-world-we-cant-eliminate-our-nukes-because-we-rely-our-nukes">opposed
the very idea</a> of nuclear disarmament.


feed_id: 48eecb01b3f651c21a18168e6abe1cd9
title: Hidden sources of political campaigning
uri: 2016-11-09-Hidden-sources-of-political-campaigning
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Hidden_sources_of_political_campaigning%29

content:
<p>
The Grocery Manufacturers Association has been fined 18 million
dollars for
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/11/03/ruling-against-pro-gmo-lobby-highlights-dark-moneys-egregious-role-state-ballot">hiding
the sources of its political campaigning</a>.
<p>
Unfortunately, it comes too late — and they already won this
battle at the federal level.


feed_id: 1162bd101072741b88ea658e305e144b
title: Restoring democracy
uri: 2016-11-09-Restoring-democracy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Restoring_democracy%29
content:
<p>
One large progressive issue that Clinton really cares about is
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/3/1590747/-Here-s-a-WikiLeaks-email-you-aren-t-hearing-about-from-Trump-or-anyone-else-for-that-matter">women's
rights</a>.
<p>
I support them too, but I think that fighting to restore democracy
(which means ending plutocracy) is the most important issue of all.
Don't forget that plutocracy is what has enabled the global heating
denialists to push us more or less to the edge of the pit.


feed_id: 6eab56896ff8973a859fc1e74467a3ea
title: Purely private-purpose corporation
uri: 2016-11-09-Purely-private-purpose-corporation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Purely_private-purpose_corporation%29

content:
<p>
"The Purely Private-Purpose Corporation Is an
<a href='http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/04/forget-more-regulation-make-corporations-serve-public-interest'>Illegitimate
Entity</a>."


feed_id: fab7766293dc7207112b8bb45632bbb1
title: Obama invites protesters to become NIMBYs
uri: 2016-11-09-Obama-invites-protesters-to-become-NIMBYs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#6_November_2016_%28Obama_invites_protesters_to_become_NIMBYs%29

content:
<p>
Obama invites the local indigenous people protesting the Dakota Access
Pipeline to become
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/04/why-there-are-no-acceptable-rerouting-options-dakota-access">NIMBYs</a>.


feed_id: 800ba1263da794b5f3e5818e6870127d
title: Urgent: Oppose monopolies on medicines
uri: Urgent-Oppose-monopolies-on-medicines
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_monopolies_on_medicines%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://stallman.org/petitions/petition-pharma/">
oppose the "21st century cures act" which would
create longer monopolies on medicines.
</a>


feed_id: 14186666f33801933fcc1631dde82771
title: Urgent: Compensate victims of pollution
uri: Urgent-Compensate-victims-of-pollution
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Compensate_victims_of_pollution%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: call on Sempra Energy to
<a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/eight_mile_mercaptan_pollution/?t=1011&">
compensate and aid the poor residents
of Eight Mile just as it did the wealthy residents of Porter Ranch.
</a>


feed_id: d8fcc11938e2536dd31e6bbb7a11f370
title: Stop corporate abuse
uri: Stop-corporate-abuse
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Stop_corporate_abuse%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/11/07/struggle-continues-binding-treaty-stopcorporateabuse">
The campaign for a UN treaty against abuses by corporations.
</a>


feed_id: 34edbd6b0419232a2379fad45ed5a647
title: Urgent: Support pipeline protesters
uri: Urgent-Support-pipeline-protesters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Urgent%3A_Support_pipeline_protesters%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on your congresscritter to
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/sign-grijalva-huffman?">
sign the Grijalva-Huffman
letter in support of pipeline protesters.
</a>
<p>
I don't call the protesters "water protectors" because, important as
it is not to pollute rivers, not burning more oil is even more
important in the long term.


feed_id: eace743d2177c45fec990961074805f2
title: Banning tankers
uri: Banning-tankers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Banning_tankers%29
content:
<p>
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/11/07/blow-enbridge-canada-ban-oil-tankers-northern-bc-coast">
Canada will
ban oil tankers on the coast of British Columbia
</a>
where
a pipeline for tar sands oil was planned.


feed_id: 8b6f0f88a951814b871ec84a4168e0e0
title: Great urbanisation era
uri: Great-urbanisation-era
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Great_urbanisation_era%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/nov/08/mankind-great-urbanisation-era-act-now-planet-pay">
"This is mankind's 'great urbanisation' era. We must act now, or the planet
will pay."
</a>


feed_id: 69acb3e722688c3a83914df1b3cfdd43
title: Bill Clinton mocking Corbyn
uri: Bill-Clinton-mocking-Corbyn
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Bill_Clinton_mocking_Corbyn%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/08/labour-elected-jeremy-corbyn-maddest-person-in-room-bill-clinton">
Bill Clinton mocked Corbyn, and no wonder.
</a>
<p>
Clinton supports the plutocratic power structure, and thinks anyone
that challenges it must be mad.


feed_id: e44dce0eed81b51a082a9d2bf1758f99
title: Voter intimidation
uri: Voter-intimidation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Voter_intimidation%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/11/08/texas-republicans-target-elderly-latino-voters-with-fraud-accusations/">
A Republican "voter fraud investigation" is really an intimidation
operation
</a>
designed to make Hispanic citizens afraid to vote.


feed_id: 3d5de36a9b3aafacf9fdca934c841f59
title: Avoiding bias
uri: Avoiding-bias
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Avoiding_bias%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2016/nov/08/impartial-journalism-is-laudable-but-false-balance-is-dangerous">
Impartial Journalism Is Laudable.  But False Balance Is Dangerous.
</a>


feed_id: 41bb892406871d2ea5a8e8a6e7fa3e4c
title: Biosphere carbon uptake
uri: Biosphere-carbon-uptake
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2016-sep-dec.html#9_November_2016_%28Biosphere_carbon_uptake%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/08/global-greening-has-slowed-rise-of-co2-in-the-atmosphere-study-finds">
1/4 of the increase in CO2 levels is absorbed by increased plant growth.
</a>
  The other 3/4 is causing global heating.


