B e t r a y T h e A g e

David Morris - Alternet Post China's booming economy is increasingly dependent on imported oil. But unlike the U.S., its strategies to maintain access to oil are farsighted and coherent.

February 2005 is a landmark month for international cooperation on critical issues of protecting people and our natural resources, and the U.S. is missing the boat. As both the global tobacco treaty and the Kyoto Protocol take effect with the U.S. on the sidelines, we are calling on our government to join with the global community in prioritizing people's lives over the profits of giant corporations.

Emissions have gone too far and global warming is unavoidable. What is needed is recognition and a willingness to confront the very real challenges ahead. By Mark Hertsgaard, AlterNet

This Valentine’s Day (14 February) diamond retailers will be touting the ultimate symbol of love and devotion, but according to Amnesty International consumers can expect little reassurance that their diamonds are not products of war and human rights violations.

MsGodzilla Valentine’s sales of gold jewelry in the U.S. will leave in their wake more than 34 million metric tons of waste worldwide, according to estimates from EARTHWORKS and Oxfam America, leaders of a major consumer campaign aimed at changing the way gold is produced and sold.

At the federal level, taxes last year amounted to 16.2 percent of the gross domestic product. Taxes were not that low when Ronald Reagan was in the White House. In fact, you have to go back to the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower, 1958 to be precise, to find a year when taxes were lower than they are now.

Floods, storms and droughts. Melting Arctic ice, shrinking glaciers, oceans turning to acid. The world's top scientists warned last week that dangerous climate change is taking place today, not the day after tomorrow. You don't believe it? Then, says Geoffrey Lean, read this...

Rush Global warming deniers beware – that means you, Rush! – or you may end up the recipient of a new award given to those who belittle the very real threat of global warming. Three Middlebury College students have developed this appropriate award in association with the Green House Network out of Porland Oregon. Michael Crichton, Rush Limbaugh and others are in the running to bevoted on by you for the next Earth Day celebration. So go cast your vote, and then visit Green House Network's events page to get involved in building the movement.

In the words of the taskforce report ‘the costs of failing to mobilize in the face of this threat is likely to be extremely high.’

The U.S. Model: For years, much of the world did aspire to the American way of life. But today countries are finding more appealing systems in their own backyards.

Countdown For Earth The countdown to climate-change catastrophe is spelt out by a task force of senior politicians, business leaders and academics from around the world - and it is remarkably brief. In as little as 10 years, or even less, their report indicates, the point of no return with global warming may have been reached.

Look at this imbalance: The average American consumes 25 barrels of oil a year. In China, the average is about 1.3 barrels per year; in India, less than one. So as the 2.4 billion Chinese and Indians move to improve their living standards, they're going to want more oil - likely more than can be produced.

Top Gas Mileage Autos The pollution performance of just a handful of corporations has a dramatic impact on the air we breathe and the climate we will pass on to future generations.

What about the 19,000 scientists who claim we should not worry about global warming?

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today continued the trend of California and other states demonstrating leadership on addressing global warming by requiring the state's electric utilities to account for the future cost of reducing carbon emissions in choosing energy sources

The New York Times reported today that McDonald's has taken important steps towards implementing its 2003 policy promising to reduce the use of antibiotics among its suppliers.

Americans have become accustomed to eating highly processed foods that come in a package -- the antithesis of whole foods that come from nature. The very definition of food has been transformed by industry, yet the dietary guidelines don't reflect that. If they did, it would be a major threat to a $500 billion-a-year processed foods industry whose voice is heard loud and clear in Washington.

"Poverty, disease, and environmental decline are the true axis of evil," says Worldwatch President Christopher Flavin. "Unless these threats are recognized and responded to, the world runs the risk of being blindsided by the new forces of instability, just as the United States was surprised by the terrorist attacks of September 11."

Sigmund and Anna Freud The BBC broadcast a four part series in the spring of 2002 about how Americans and Britains views of themselves have changed over the past 100 years. This riveting series was produced and directed by Adam Curtis who more recently produced another BBC series entitled The Power Of Nightmares (see review on this weblog.) Curtis chronicles in the impact of psychotherapy techniques developed by Sigmund Freud and utilized by his nephew Edward Bernays in the development of public relations and of product marketing. The series reveals just how influential Bernays was in helping corporations change their selling techiques by understanding the fundemental and irrational needs of their customers. By marketing products to these needs, Bernays was able to coach businesses to greatly increase market sales. This series traces the history of Bernays influence and how it has shaped peoples self image of themselves as a result building a consumer society. The absolutely freigh...

"No matter how you look at it, producing hydrogen from water is an energy sink. If you don't understand this concept, please mail me ten dollars and I'll send you back a dollar."