mintpressnews--2020-01-15--Keeping with its Crackdown on Alternative Voices, Google Deletes Press TV from YouTube

“ This attack on the freedom of speech of Press TV ’ s journalists seems to be part of an anti-Iran purge as the West sets its sights on regime change in Iran , ” Press TV said .
Its content , in its own words , focuses on “ anti-imperialism , anti-racism , and covers aspects of the news which the mainstream corporate media in the United Kingdom have refused to air.
” The London-based outlet had over 28,000 subscribers on its YouTube account at the time of its deletion .
British-Sudanese journalist Ahmed Kaballo accused Google of acting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” for his employer ’ s channel , expressing his great disappointment that his journalistic output is now gone and his worry at “ what this really represents ” for alternative media that “ show a different perspective and holds a critical lens ” on war and empire .
MintPress News reached out to Kaballo for comment .
“ The actions of Google in the last 24 hours has made me lose hope in the idea of free press and free speech , ” he said .
“ Journalism is about pushing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but in this climate where they can do this to us in this fashion , it ’ s clear that our perspective .
which is overtly anti-imperialist , is , in the eyes of Google , simply not allowed.
” After online pushback , by Wednesday morning UK time , Google had reversed its decision .
However , just as Press TV was celebrating its reinstatement , it was again taken off the air .
YouTube sent a message to Press TV UK claiming that they had received a complaint about the channel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of service .
Kaballo described the political hokey pokey his organization was under as “ psychological warfare.
” Press TV says the move is “ part of an anti-Iran purge as the West sets its sights on regime change in Iran.
” It comes in the context of the Trump administration ’ s assassination of Lt. General Qassem Soleimani January 3 , while he was in Iraq attending peace talks .
In response , Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles at U.S.-occupied military bases in Iraq , although it was careful to warn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a result , there were no deaths .
The Iraqi parliament also immediately voted to expel all American troops from the country .
However , the U.S. refused to leave .
While the threat of a hot war with the Iran appears to have subsided , an intense , online propaganda war rages between the two countries .
During his funeral , the hashtag # IraniansDetestSoleimani trended across American Twitter .
But analysis showed that it was not Iranians , but organized Trump supporters who were boosting the message , supporting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their president ’ s decision to kill him .
Last Friday , Facebook announced that it felt compelled to delete all positive posts about the deceased general from its platform and its subsidiary Instagram .
“ We operate under U.S. sanctions laws , including those related to the U.S. government ’ s designation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ) and its leadership , ” it said , explaining that Trump ’ s new sanctions made supporting Iran online on any American website essentially illegal .
Instagram had already closed Soleimani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , following Trump ’ s designation of the IRGC as a terrorist group .
Just after Facebook ’ s decision , Twitter suspended Ayatollah Khamenei ’ s account for “ unusual activity.
” Instagram is extremely popular in Iran , with around one in three people owning an account , almost as popular as Soleimani , who over 80 percent view positively or very positively .
Thus , the U.S. government has , through pressuring monopolistic Silicon Valley giants , effectively banned a majority opinion being shared by Iranians to Iranians , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasion that the U.S. government has used the American monopoly over the means of communication online to shut down alternative voices from other countries .
Facebook has previously de-platformed Venezuela-based outlets TeleSUR English and Venezuelanalysis , both of which offered differing opinions and analysis of the U.S. government ’ s actions in Venezuela and Latin America .
Meanwhile , the Trump administration has forced RT journalists to register as “ foreign agents , ” under a rule originally set up to deal with Nazis during World War Two .
Press TV , too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment at the hands of the U.S. state .
In January last year , the FBI illegally detained Press TV anchor Marzieh Hashemi for ten days .
She was never charged and was deprived of Halal food and a hijab during her detention .
While the network is still reachable directly on its website , the fact that the U.S. government can unilaterally decide what the world sees , hears or reads , zapping British based Iranian networks from universal social media giants the entire world uses raises questions about freedom of information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a Staff Writer for MintPress News .
After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad News From Venezuela : Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary .

Without warning, tech giant Google “permanently removed” Iranian government-owned media channel Press TV UK’s YouTube channel Monday night amid increasing American hostility to Iran.
“This attack on the freedom of speech of Press TV’s journalists seems to be part of an anti-Iran purge as the West sets its sights on regime change in Iran,” Press TV said. Its content, in its own words, focuses on “anti-imperialism, anti-racism, and covers aspects of the news which the mainstream corporate media in the United Kingdom have refused to air.”
The London-based outlet had over 28,000 subscribers on its YouTube account at the time of its deletion.
British-Sudanese journalist Ahmed Kaballo accused Google of acting like the “judge jury and executioner” for his employer’s channel, expressing his great disappointment that his journalistic output is now gone and his worry at “what this really represents” for alternative media that “show a different perspective and holds a critical lens” on war and empire.
MintPress News reached out to Kaballo for comment. “The actions of Google in the last 24 hours has made me lose hope in the idea of free press and free speech,” he said. “Journalism is about pushing the boundaries and being fearless in our reporting but in this climate where they can do this to us in this fashion, it’s clear that our perspective. which is overtly anti-imperialist, is, in the eyes of Google, simply not allowed.”
We're told that freedom of speech + press underpins western values If so, explain the censorship of @Presstvuk's YouTube acc in London? We have no idea what we did wrong + we've no right of appeal Whether u agree with what we say or not – I urge u to defend our right to say it pic.twitter.com/yfLgjXEgH0 — Ahmed Kaballo (@AhmedKaballo) January 14, 2020
After online pushback, by Wednesday morning UK time, Google had reversed its decision. However, just as Press TV was celebrating its reinstatement, it was again taken off the air. YouTube sent a message to Press TV UK claiming that they had received a complaint about the channel and decided that it violates their terms of service. Kaballo described the political hokey pokey his organization was under as “psychological warfare.”
BREAKING: Google have just shutdown the Press TV UK YouTube account again less than 18 hours after reinstating our account. This is psychological warfare they want to demoralise us and this stage it's clear they are playing with us! pic.twitter.com/KWhjuvmEQc — Ahmed Kaballo (@AhmedKaballo) January 15, 2020
Press TV says the move is “part of an anti-Iran purge as the West sets its sights on regime change in Iran.” It comes in the context of the Trump administration’s assassination of Lt. General Qassem Soleimani January 3, while he was in Iraq attending peace talks. In response, Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles at U.S.-occupied military bases in Iraq, although it was careful to warn the U.S. of the attack beforehand. As a result, there were no deaths. The Iraqi parliament also immediately voted to expel all American troops from the country. However, the U.S. refused to leave.
While the threat of a hot war with the Iran appears to have subsided, an intense, online propaganda war rages between the two countries. During his funeral, the hashtag #IraniansDetestSoleimani trended across American Twitter. But analysis showed that it was not Iranians, but organized Trump supporters who were boosting the message, supporting, as 47 percent of Americans did, their president’s decision to kill him.
Last Friday, Facebook announced that it felt compelled to delete all positive posts about the deceased general from its platform and its subsidiary Instagram. “We operate under U.S. sanctions laws, including those related to the U.S. government’s designation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its leadership,” it said, explaining that Trump’s new sanctions made supporting Iran online on any American website essentially illegal. Instagram had already closed Soleimani’s account in April last year, following Trump’s designation of the IRGC as a terrorist group. Just after Facebook’s decision, Twitter suspended Ayatollah Khamenei’s account for “unusual activity.” Instagram is extremely popular in Iran, with around one in three people owning an account, almost as popular as Soleimani, who over 80 percent view positively or very positively. Thus, the U.S. government has, through pressuring monopolistic Silicon Valley giants, effectively banned a majority opinion being shared by Iranians to Iranians, in Iran.
BREAKING: #PressTVUK YouTube account taken down for a second time – without explanation – after a first appeal showed no violations committed. So is it a violation of YT’s terms to be an anti-war, anti-racism and an anti-imperialism outlet?#PressTVCensored #FreedomOfThePress pic.twitter.com/bCex5uOu4e — Press TV UK (@Presstvuk) January 15, 2020
This is not the first occasion that the U.S. government has used the American monopoly over the means of communication online to shut down alternative voices from other countries. Facebook has previously de-platformed Venezuela-based outlets TeleSUR English and Venezuelanalysis, both of which offered differing opinions and analysis of the U.S. government’s actions in Venezuela and Latin America. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has forced RT journalists to register as “foreign agents,” under a rule originally set up to deal with Nazis during World War Two.
Press TV, too, has had a history of poor treatment at the hands of the U.S. state. In January last year, the FBI illegally detained Press TV anchor Marzieh Hashemi for ten days. She was never charged and was deprived of Halal food and a hijab during her detention. While the network is still reachable directly on its website, the fact that the U.S. government can unilaterally decide what the world sees, hears or reads, zapping British based Iranian networks from universal social media giants the entire world uses raises questions about freedom of information in the digital age.
Feature photo | Andy Miah | Flickr
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.


mintpressnews--2020-01-15--Sealed Off and Forgotten: What You Should Know About Israel’s West Bank “Firing Zones”

A seemingly ordinary news story , published in the Israeli newspaper , Haaretz , on January 7 , shed light on a long-forgotten , yet crucial , subject : Israel ’ s so-called “ firing zones ” in the West Bank .
“ Israel has impounded the only vehicle available to a medical team that provides assistance to 1,500 Palestinians living inside an Israeli military firing zone in the West Bank , ” according to Haaretz The Palestinian community that was denied its only access to medical services is Masafer Yatta , a tiny Palestinian village located in the South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exists in complete and utter isolation from the rest of the occupied West Bank , is located in ‘ Area C ’ , which constitutes the larger territorial chunk , about 60 percent of the West Bank .
This means that the village , along with many Palestinian towns , villages and small , isolated communities , is under total Israeli military control .
Do not let the confusing logic of the Oslo Accords fool you ; all Palestinians , in all parts of the occupied West Bank , East Jerusalem and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military control as well .
Unfortunately for Masafer Yatta , and those living in ‘ Area C ’ , however , the degree of control is so suffocating that every aspect of Palestinian life – freedom of movement , education , access to clean water , and so on – is controlled by a complex system of Israeli military ordinances that have no regard whatsoever for the well-being of the beleaguered communities .
It is no surprise , then , that Masafer Yatta ’ s only vehicle , a desperate attempt at fashioning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past as well , and was only retrieved after the impoverished residents were forced to pay a fine to Israeli soldiers .
There is no military logic in the world that could rationally justify the barring of medical access to an isolated community , especially when an Occupying Power like Israel is legally obligated under the Fourth Geneva Convention to ensure medical access to civilians living in an Occupied Territory .
It is only natural that Masafer Yatta , like all Palestinians in ‘ Area C ’ and the larger West Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – by the international community as well as their own quisling leadership .
But there is more that makes Masafer Yatta even more unique , qualifying it for the unfortunate designation of being a Bantustan within a Bantustan , as it subsists in a far more complex system of control , compared to the one imposed on black South Africa during the Apartheid regime era .
Soon after Israel occupied the West Bank , East Jerusalem and Gaza , it devised a long-term stratagem aimed at the permanent control of the newly occupied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the future relocation of its own citizens – who now make up the extremist illegal Jewish settler population in the West Bank – it also set aside large swathes of the Occupied Territories as security and buffer zones .
What is far less known is that , throughout the 1970s , the Israeli military declared roughly 18 % of the West Bank as “ firing zones ” .
These “ firing zones ” were supposedly meant as training grounds for the Israeli occupation army soldiers – although Palestinians trapped in these regions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training takes place within “ firing zones ” .
According to the Office for the UN Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ( OCHA ) in Palestine , there are around 5,000 Palestinians , divided among 38 communities that still live , under most dire circumstances , within the so-called “ firing zones ” .
The 1967 occupation led to a massive wave of ethnic cleansing that saw the forced removal of approximately 300,000 Palestinians from the newly-conquered territory .
Many of the vulnerable communities that were ethnically cleansed included Palestinian Bedouins , who continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s colonial designs in the Jordan Valley , the South Hebron Hills and other parts of occupied Palestine .
This vulnerability is compounded by the fact that the Palestinian Authority ( PA ) acts with little regards to Palestinians living in ‘ Area C ’ , who are left to withstand and resist Israeli pressures alone , often resorting to Israel ’ s own unfair judicial system , to win back some of their basic rights .
The Oslo Accords , signed in 1993 between the Palestinian leadership and the Israeli government , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : ‘ Area A ’ , theoretically under autonomous Palestinian control and consisting of 17.7 percent of the overall size of the West Bank ; ‘ Area B ’ , 21 percent , and under shared Israeli-PA control and ‘ Area C ’ , the remainder of the West Bank , and under total Israeli control .
This arrangement was meant to be temporary , set to conclude in 1999 once the “ final status negotiations ” were concluded and a comprehensive peace accord was signed .
Instead , it became the status @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palestinians living in ‘ Area C ’ are , those living in the “ firing zone ” within ‘ Area C ’ are enduring the most hardship .
According to the United Nations , their hardship includes “ the confiscation of property , settler violence , harassment by soldiers , access and movement restrictions and/or water scarcity.
” Expectedly , many illegal Jewish settlements sprang up in these “ firing zones ” over the years , a clear indication that these areas have no military purpose whatsoever , but were meant to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fifth of the West Bank for future colonial expansion .
Throughout the years , Israel ethnically cleansed all remaining Palestinians in these “ firing zones ” , leaving behind merely 5,000 , who are likely to suffer the same fate should the Israeli occupation continue on the same violent trajectory .
This makes the story of Masafer Yatta a microcosm of the tragic and larger story of all Palestinians .
It is also a reflection of the sinister nature of Israeli colonialism and military occupation , where occupied Palestinians lose their land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement and eventually , even the most basic medical care .
These harsh “ conditions contribute to a coercive environment that creates pressure on Palestinian communities to leave these areas , ” according to the United Nations .
In other words , ethnic cleansing , which has been Israel ’ s strategic goal all along .
Feature photo | A Palestinian ambulance emerges from a cloud of tear gas fired by Israeli forces during a protest marking the 70th anniversary of what Palestinian “ nakba , ” or catastrophe in the West Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 .
Majdi Mohammed | AP Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and the Editor of The Palestine Chronicle .
He is the author of five books .
His latest is “ These Chains Will Be Broken : Palestinian Stories of Struggle and Defiance in Israeli Prisons ” ( Clarity Press , Atlanta ) .
Dr. Baroud is a Non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs ( CIGA ) , Istanbul Zaim University ( IZU ) .
His website is www.ramzybaroud.net

A seemingly ordinary news story, published in the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, on January 7, shed light on a long-forgotten, yet crucial, subject: Israel’s so-called “firing zones” in the West Bank.
“Israel has impounded the only vehicle available to a medical team that provides assistance to 1,500 Palestinians living inside an Israeli military firing zone in the West Bank,” according to Haaretz
The Palestinian community that was denied its only access to medical services is Masafer Yatta, a tiny Palestinian village located in the South Hebron hills.
Masafer Yatta, which exists in complete and utter isolation from the rest of the occupied West Bank, is located in ‘Area C’, which constitutes the larger territorial chunk, about 60 percent of the West Bank. This means that the village, along with many Palestinian towns, villages and small, isolated communities, is under total Israeli military control.
Do not let the confusing logic of the Oslo Accords fool you; all Palestinians, in all parts of the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the besieged Gaza Strip, are under Israeli military control as well.
Unfortunately for Masafer Yatta, and those living in ‘Area C’, however, the degree of control is so suffocating that every aspect of Palestinian life – freedom of movement, education, access to clean water, and so on – is controlled by a complex system of Israeli military ordinances that have no regard whatsoever for the well-being of the beleaguered communities.
It is no surprise, then, that Masafer Yatta’s only vehicle, a desperate attempt at fashioning a mobile clinic, was confiscated in the past as well, and was only retrieved after the impoverished residents were forced to pay a fine to Israeli soldiers.
There is no military logic in the world that could rationally justify the barring of medical access to an isolated community, especially when an Occupying Power like Israel is legally obligated under the Fourth Geneva Convention to ensure medical access to civilians living in an Occupied Territory.
It is only natural that Masafer Yatta, like all Palestinians in ‘Area C’ and the larger West Bank, feel neglected – and outright betrayed – by the international community as well as their own quisling leadership.
But there is more that makes Masafer Yatta even more unique, qualifying it for the unfortunate designation of being a Bantustan within a Bantustan, as it subsists in a far more complex system of control, compared to the one imposed on black South Africa during the Apartheid regime era.
Soon after Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, it devised a long-term stratagem aimed at the permanent control of the newly occupied territories. While it designated some areas for the future relocation of its own citizens – who now make up the extremist illegal Jewish settler population in the West Bank – it also set aside large swathes of the Occupied Territories as security and buffer zones.
What is far less known is that, throughout the 1970s, the Israeli military declared roughly 18% of the West Bank as “firing zones”.
These “firing zones” were supposedly meant as training grounds for the Israeli occupation army soldiers – although Palestinians trapped in these regions often report that little or no military training takes place within “firing zones”.
According to the Office for the UN Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Palestine, there are around 5,000 Palestinians, divided among 38 communities that still live, under most dire circumstances, within the so-called “firing zones”.
The 1967 occupation led to a massive wave of ethnic cleansing that saw the forced removal of approximately 300,000 Palestinians from the newly-conquered territory. Many of the vulnerable communities that were ethnically cleansed included Palestinian Bedouins, who continue to pay the price for Israel’s colonial designs in the Jordan Valley, the South Hebron Hills and other parts of occupied Palestine.
This vulnerability is compounded by the fact that the Palestinian Authority (PA) acts with little regards to Palestinians living in ‘Area C’, who are left to withstand and resist Israeli pressures alone, often resorting to Israel’s own unfair judicial system, to win back some of their basic rights.
The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993 between the Palestinian leadership and the Israeli government, divided the West Bank into three regions: ‘Area A’, theoretically under autonomous Palestinian control and consisting of 17.7 percent of the overall size of the West Bank; ‘Area B’, 21 percent, and under shared Israeli-PA control and ‘Area C’, the remainder of the West Bank, and under total Israeli control.
This arrangement was meant to be temporary, set to conclude in 1999 once the “final status negotiations” were concluded and a comprehensive peace accord was signed. Instead, it became the status quo ante.
As unfortunate as the Palestinians living in ‘Area C’ are, those living in the “firing zone” within ‘Area C’ are enduring the most hardship. According to the United Nations, their hardship includes “the confiscation of property, settler violence, harassment by soldiers, access and movement restrictions and/or water scarcity.”
Expectedly, many illegal Jewish settlements sprang up in these “firing zones” over the years, a clear indication that these areas have no military purpose whatsoever, but were meant to provide an Israeli legal justification to confiscate nearly a fifth of the West Bank for future colonial expansion.
Throughout the years, Israel ethnically cleansed all remaining Palestinians in these “firing zones”, leaving behind merely 5,000, who are likely to suffer the same fate should the Israeli occupation continue on the same violent trajectory.
This makes the story of Masafer Yatta a microcosm of the tragic and larger story of all Palestinians. It is also a reflection of the sinister nature of Israeli colonialism and military occupation, where occupied Palestinians lose their land, their water, their freedom of movement and eventually, even the most basic medical care.
These harsh “conditions contribute to a coercive environment that creates pressure on Palestinian communities to leave these areas,” according to the United Nations. In other words, ethnic cleansing, which has been Israel’s strategic goal all along.
Feature photo | A Palestinian ambulance emerges from a cloud of tear gas fired by Israeli forces during a protest marking the 70th anniversary of what Palestinian “nakba,” or catastrophe in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, May 15, 2018. Majdi Mohammed | AP
Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and the Editor of The Palestine Chronicle. He is the author of five books. His latest is “These Chains Will Be Broken: Palestinian Stories of Struggle and Defiance in Israeli Prisons” (Clarity Press, Atlanta). Dr. Baroud is a Non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA), Istanbul Zaim University (IZU). His website is www.ramzybaroud.net


mintpressnews--2020-01-15--CNN, Warren’s Sexism Jibe Against Sanders Backfires as #CNNisTrash Trends on Twitter

CNN has been widely criticized for its perceived bias in moderating yesterday ’ s Democratic presidential debate in Iowa .
With just three weeks before the first primaries , six leading candidates descended upon Des Moines last night to take part .
But , as with previous debates , much of the public discussion centered on the organization , framing and bias of the organizers and moderators .
CNN asked Bernie Sanders , the most left-leaning of the candidates , if he thought he “ owed voters an explanation ” on how much his health plan would cost them and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid bankrupting the country ” when implementing Medicare for All .
Meanwhile , on trade , Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren was questioned about a new deal with Canada and Mexico and asked “ why is Sanders ’ opposition to it wrong , ” giving her a puff question with which to undermine Sanders .
Like in previous debates , CNN continually framed issues in a conservative manner , accepting right-wing talking points as true and attacking the left .
While it appeared alarmed about the cost of a healthcare system that virtually every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( and at a much cheaper price than a privatized American system ) , CNN asked 27 questions about the American military presence in the Middle East without even once considering how the U.S. would pay for these wars .
Host Wolf Blitzer even tried to associate Sanders with Ayatollah Khamenei , noting that they have both called for American troops to leave the region , something that , in Blitzer ’ s estimation , led to the rise of ISIS .
An exasperated Sanders laughed at the assertion before cautioning the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war .
The debate was perhaps most notable for what analysts have described as the end of the non-aggression pact between the senators from Massachusetts and Vermont as Warren refused to shake Bernie ’ s hand and accused him of making sexist comments against her in December 2018 , telling her that a woman could never be president .
The bias in moderation reached comical levels for many when the candidates were asked about Warren ’ s assertions .
Sanders was asked “ You ’ re saying that you never told Senator Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , ” to which he responded , “ That is correct.
” The moderator , Abby Phillip , immediately switched to Warren to ask “ what did you think when Senator Sanders told you a woman could not win the election ?
” The blatant , childish attempt to redefine her hotly disputed assertion as a fact within one sentence drew hoots of laughter from the crowd , and Bernie alike , who all immediately noticed the rhetorical trick CNN was trying to play .
Even Warren let out an embarrassed smile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The allegations themselves were originally published by CNN on Monday , supposedly based on four anonymous sources who the network itself admits did not attend the meeting where the sexist comments are alleged to have been made .
The sources were widely considered to likely have been members of Warren ’ s campaign , but even if they were not , hearsay from sources not even present at an event who refuse to go on the record should not have been published .
What makes the story particularly dubious is that Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since at least the 1980s and in 2016 beseeched Warren to run for the top office .
Her gambit was roundly criticized in the press as a cynical and lazy attempt at turning her campaign around .
The Boston Herald , Warren ’ s home newspaper , described the move as such : “ It is the classical political dirty trick from a desperate candidate — leak a damaging tidbit about your opponent to a friendly media outlet , wait for the fireworks to explode , then act like you ’ re the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is not clear if the attack was coordinated between Warren and CNN but what is certain is that they are paying a price for it .
The top three trends on Twitter Wednesday morning across the United States were # CNNisTrash , # NeverWarren , and # WarrenIsaSnake , suggesting that the American public perceived the accusations in much the same way as the Boston Herald did .
Warren also performed poorly by other metrics .
During the debate , Sanders gained three times as many new Twitter followers as Warren , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tom Steyer and Pete Buttigieg .
Warren ’ s campaign is on a downward trend ; from a high of 27 percent national support in November , her campaign has now fallen to 16 percent , according to Real Clear Politics .
Over the same period , Sanders has increased his support by five percentage points .
Sanders has been the subject of a sustained media attack since declaring as a presidential candidate in 2016 , not least from CNN .
Last year its fact-checking division claimed he was spreading false statistics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much as any other country on healthcare .
This was despite CNN itself making the same claim earlier in the year in a news piece .
While reporting on a new poll showing Sanders three points ahead of his nearest challenger in New Hampshire , it claimed there was “ no clear leader.
” And after his heart attack , it photoshopped his skin shocking pink in video images , trying to emphasize the idea that Sanders was sicker than he was .
The Vermont senator ’ s key policy proposals of Medicare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher taxes on the super-wealthy and a Green New Deal are popular among the public and Sanders has had success in pulling the American political conversation to the left .
However , the closer he gets to the White House , the harder those in power will fight to keep him out of it , not least of all , CNN .
Feature photo | Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , answers a question , Jan. 14 , 2020 , during a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by CNN and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Iowa .
Patrick Semansky | AP Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News .
After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad News From Venezuela : Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary .

CNN has been widely criticized for its perceived bias in moderating yesterday’s Democratic presidential debate in Iowa. With just three weeks before the first primaries, six leading candidates descended upon Des Moines last night to take part. But, as with previous debates, much of the public discussion centered on the organization, framing and bias of the organizers and moderators.
CNN asked Bernie Sanders, the most left-leaning of the candidates, if he thought he “owed voters an explanation” on how much his health plan would cost them and demanded to know “how will he avoid bankrupting the country” when implementing Medicare for All. Meanwhile, on trade, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren was questioned about a new deal with Canada and Mexico and asked “why is Sanders’ opposition to it wrong,” giving her a puff question with which to undermine Sanders.
Framing on every question is massively right-wing. They just accused @BernieSanders of bankrupting country when his proposal costs LESS than current system! How come they don’t ask Biden if he’s comfortable with letting 45,000 a year people die under current system? #DemDebate — Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) January 15, 2020
Like in previous debates, CNN continually framed issues in a conservative manner, accepting right-wing talking points as true and attacking the left. While it appeared alarmed about the cost of a healthcare system that virtually every other advanced country in the world employs (and at a much cheaper price than a privatized American system), CNN asked 27 questions about the American military presence in the Middle East without even once considering how the U.S. would pay for these wars. Host Wolf Blitzer even tried to associate Sanders with Ayatollah Khamenei, noting that they have both called for American troops to leave the region, something that, in Blitzer’s estimation, led to the rise of ISIS. An exasperated Sanders laughed at the assertion before cautioning the American public about starting another “disastrous” war.
The debate was perhaps most notable for what analysts have described as the end of the non-aggression pact between the senators from Massachusetts and Vermont as Warren refused to shake Bernie’s hand and accused him of making sexist comments against her in December 2018, telling her that a woman could never be president.
MODERATOR: You’re saying that you never told Sen. Warren that a women could not win the election. SANDERS: That is correct. MODERATOR: Sen. Warren, what did you think when Sen. Sanders told you a woman could not win the election. WARREN: I disagreed. pic.twitter.com/8UUKONNaCY — Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) January 15, 2020
The bias in moderation reached comical levels for many when the candidates were asked about Warren’s assertions. Sanders was asked “You’re saying that you never told Senator Warren that a woman could not win the election,” to which he responded, “That is correct.” The moderator, Abby Phillip, immediately switched to Warren to ask “what did you think when Senator Sanders told you a woman could not win the election?” The blatant, childish attempt to redefine her hotly disputed assertion as a fact within one sentence drew hoots of laughter from the crowd, and Bernie alike, who all immediately noticed the rhetorical trick CNN was trying to play. Even Warren let out an embarrassed smile as she answered: “I disagreed.”
The allegations themselves were originally published by CNN on Monday, supposedly based on four anonymous sources who the network itself admits did not attend the meeting where the sexist comments are alleged to have been made. The sources were widely considered to likely have been members of Warren’s campaign, but even if they were not, hearsay from sources not even present at an event who refuse to go on the record should not have been published.
What makes the story particularly dubious is that Sanders has been calling for a female president since at least the 1980s and in 2016 beseeched Warren to run for the top office. Her gambit was roundly criticized in the press as a cynical and lazy attempt at turning her campaign around. The Boston Herald, Warren’s home newspaper, described the move as such:
“It is the classical political dirty trick from a desperate candidate — leak a damaging tidbit about your opponent to a friendly media outlet, wait for the fireworks to explode, then act like you’re the one who’s been wronged.”
Two hours of manufacturing consent, brought to you by @CNN #DemDebate — John Iadarola (@johniadarola) January 15, 2020
It is not clear if the attack was coordinated between Warren and CNN but what is certain is that they are paying a price for it. The top three trends on Twitter Wednesday morning across the United States were #CNNisTrash, #NeverWarren, and #WarrenIsaSnake, suggesting that the American public perceived the accusations in much the same way as the Boston Herald did.
Warren also performed poorly by other metrics. During the debate, Sanders gained three times as many new Twitter followers as Warren, who was also outgained by Amy Klobuchar, Tom Steyer and Pete Buttigieg. Warren’s campaign is on a downward trend; from a high of 27 percent national support in November, her campaign has now fallen to 16 percent, according to Real Clear Politics. Over the same period, Sanders has increased his support by five percentage points.
During the first hour of tonight's debate: 1. @BernieSanders donors made more than 15,000 donations, a rate of 250 donations per minute. 2. It was the single best fundraising hour of any debate so far. 3. During that hour we accounted for 43% of all money raised on ActBlue. — Robin Curran (@robingrace5) January 15, 2020
Sanders has been the subject of a sustained media attack since declaring as a presidential candidate in 2016, not least from CNN. Last year its fact-checking division claimed he was spreading false statistics by claiming the U.S. spends twice as much as any other country on healthcare. This was despite CNN itself making the same claim earlier in the year in a news piece. While reporting on a new poll showing Sanders three points ahead of his nearest challenger in New Hampshire, it claimed there was “no clear leader.” And after his heart attack, it photoshopped his skin shocking pink in video images, trying to emphasize the idea that Sanders was sicker than he was.
The Vermont senator’s key policy proposals of Medicare for All, free college tuition, higher taxes on the super-wealthy and a Green New Deal are popular among the public and Sanders has had success in pulling the American political conversation to the left. However, the closer he gets to the White House, the harder those in power will fight to keep him out of it, not least of all, CNN.
Feature photo | Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., answers a question, Jan. 14, 2020, during a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by CNN and the Des Moines Register in Des Moines, Iowa. Patrick Semansky | AP
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.


mintpressnews--2020-01-15--Why Israel’s So-Called “Occupation” of “Palestinian Territories” is a Farce

The occupation .
A phrase commonly used when speaking about the injustices taking place in Palestine .
It is a phrase that limits the discussion to a small part of Palestine and to only a portion of the Palestinian people .
The occupation only exists in the two small areas that we are permitted to state that human rights abuses take place .
There are checkpoints and road-blocks and a dual system of justice , one for Jews and another for Palestinians .
The Jewish residents in the “ Occupied Territories ” are called “ settlers , ” and unlike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal ” and the places in which they live are known as “ illegal settlements.
” The phrases , “ the occupation ” and “ Occupied Palestinian Territories , ” refer generally to the West Bank , Gaza Strip and sometimes parts of East Jerusalem , depending on who is speaking .
These are , of course , the territories which Israel seized in 1967 , and which comprise only 22 percent of Palestine as a whole .
“ The occupation ” and the “ Occupied Palestinian Territories , ” have become the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice for Palestinians and peace in the Middle East , yet that claim misses the mark .
The lion ’ s share of Palestine has been occupied since 1948 , only it is not called “ occupied.
” Millions of refugees in and around Palestine live in squalor because of the 1948 ethnic cleansing of Palestine .
Two million Palestinians live in other parts of Palestine and while the oppression and violence that Palestinians of 1948 suffer is slightly different than that which the 1967 Palestinians experience , it still includes a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Israeli settlers have been living on stolen Palestinian land since 1948 , but they are not called “ settlers ” and for reasons beyond understanding they are deemed legal .
It ’ s not only the Occupation The root cause of oppression and violence that Palestinians experience is not “ the occupation ” of 1967 as many people claim , but Zionism and Zionist institutions that have been active long before that time .
The Zionist onslaught which brought about the displacement , massacres and destruction of cities , towns and villages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ century .
Even before the State of Israel was established , Zionist organizations around the world have been responsible for the fate of Palestine and its people .
The World Zionist Organization , for example , openly states among other things that : “ For the purpose of establishing a legally assured home in Eretz Yisrael for the Jewish people , it shall engage in , “ Promoting the settlement of Jewish farmers , artisans , and tradesmen in Palestine.
” Aliyah , the Jewish Agency for Israel , claims : “ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we continue creating links globally—bringing Jews to Israel and Israel to Jews.
” Aliyah also states that “ All Jews , no matter where they were born , are Israeli citizens by right.
” The Jewish National Fund ( JNF ) , which has been involved in displacing Palestinians and destroying the Palestinian landscape , admits on its website : “ We plant trees , build houses and parks , source water solutions , support Aliyah , promote Zionist education and engagement.
” Of course , they leave out the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land , at the expense of Palestinians and excludes the native people of Palestine , the Palestinian people .
In other words , major organizations that are all well-funded and well-established have been directly responsible for the destruction of Palestine and the dispossession of its people long before 1967 .
When we limit the conversation to the “ Occupied Palestinian Territories , ” which refers only to the West Bank and Gaza Strip , we are letting these organizations off the hook .
Describing the oppression , dispossession , mass arrests and killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finger at the root cause of these injustices is almost as criminal as the actions themselves .
Discussing the situation in which Palestinians have to live without discussing who is responsible all but ensures things will not change .
Using the term “ occupation ” lets Israel off the hook for colonizing the vast majority of Palestine and it all but legitimizes the conquests and the ethnic cleansing of 1948 .
Palestinian refugees languish in camps , not because of the “ occupation ” but because of Zionism .
Two million Palestinians who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live without rights , not because of the “ occupation.
” Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Bedouin live in poverty and are denied services by the State of Israel right next to Israelis who live in beautiful colonies built for Jews only in the Naqab desert .
This is not a result of the “ occupation ” but of Zionism and the Zionist institutions which perpetuate these injustices .
Zionist left is , in fact , an oxymoron .
One can either believe in and support a racist ideology like Zionism or believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , politics which exclude racism and settler colonialism .
There are , however , a substantial group of people , including Israelis , Americans and others , who refer to themselves as the “ Zionist Left.
” These so-called “ Leftists ” claim they are opposed to the “ occupation , ” yet they refuse to accept that the root causes of injustice in Palestine are Israel and Zionism .
Any person , group or ideology that claims to be Zionist accepts , almost by default , the legitimacy of Israel .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Israel will continue .
The Zionist Left is beholden to Israel , accepts Israel ’ s legitimacy , and insists that the injustices and atrocities are a result of Israeli policies and not rooted in Zionism and the existence of the State of Israel .
In fact , they refuse to reject Zionism .
However , there are those who believe in justice , freedom and equality .
Three values without which no country can exist in peace .
People who care about this issue must take off the kid gloves .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do not tackle this issue head on , Palestine and its people will forever suffer .
Miko Peled is an author and human rights activist born in Jerusalem .
He is the author of “ The General ’ s Son .
Journey of an Israeli in Palestine , ” and “ Injustice , the Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five .
”

The occupation. A phrase commonly used when speaking about the injustices taking place in Palestine. It is a phrase that limits the discussion to a small part of Palestine and to only a portion of the Palestinian people. The occupation only exists in the two small areas that we are permitted to state that human rights abuses take place. There are checkpoints and road-blocks and a dual system of justice, one for Jews and another for Palestinians. The Jewish residents in the “Occupied Territories” are called “settlers,” and unlike other Israeli Jews, they are “illegal” and the places in which they live are known as “illegal settlements.”
The phrases, “the occupation” and “Occupied Palestinian Territories,” refer generally to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and sometimes parts of East Jerusalem, depending on who is speaking. These are, of course, the territories which Israel seized in 1967, and which comprise only 22 percent of Palestine as a whole. “The occupation” and the “Occupied Palestinian Territories,” have become the focus of those who claim to seek justice for Palestinians and peace in the Middle East, yet that claim misses the mark.
The lion’s share of Palestine has been occupied since 1948, only it is not called “occupied.” Millions of refugees in and around Palestine live in squalor because of the 1948 ethnic cleansing of Palestine. Two million Palestinians live in other parts of Palestine and while the oppression and violence that Palestinians of 1948 suffer is slightly different than that which the 1967 Palestinians experience, it still includes a great deal of violence and systems of oppression. Israeli settlers have been living on stolen Palestinian land since 1948, but they are not called “settlers” and for reasons beyond understanding they are deemed legal.
It’s not only the Occupation
The root cause of oppression and violence that Palestinians experience is not “the occupation” of 1967 as many people claim, but Zionism and Zionist institutions that have been active long before that time. The Zionist onslaught which brought about the displacement, massacres and destruction of cities, towns and villages has been going on for over a century. Even before the State of Israel was established, Zionist organizations around the world have been responsible for the fate of Palestine and its people.
The World Zionist Organization, for example, openly states among other things that: “For the purpose of establishing a legally assured home in Eretz Yisrael for the Jewish people, it shall engage in, “Promoting the settlement of Jewish farmers, artisans, and tradesmen in Palestine.”
Aliyah, the Jewish Agency for Israel, claims: “We founded and built the State of Israel, and we continue creating links globally—bringing Jews to Israel and Israel to Jews.” Aliyah also states that “All Jews, no matter where they were born, are Israeli citizens by right.”
The Jewish National Fund (JNF), which has been involved in displacing Palestinians and destroying the Palestinian landscape, admits on its website: “We plant trees, build houses and parks, source water solutions, support Aliyah, promote Zionist education and engagement.” Of course, they leave out the fact that this is all done on Palestinian land, at the expense of Palestinians and excludes the native people of Palestine, the Palestinian people.
In other words, major organizations that are all well-funded and well-established have been directly responsible for the destruction of Palestine and the dispossession of its people long before 1967. When we limit the conversation to the “Occupied Palestinian Territories,” which refers only to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, we are letting these organizations off the hook.
A Fight Against Zionism
Describing the oppression, dispossession, mass arrests and killing of Palestinians by Israel without pointing a finger at the root cause of these injustices is almost as criminal as the actions themselves. Discussing the situation in which Palestinians have to live without discussing who is responsible all but ensures things will not change. Using the term “occupation” lets Israel off the hook for colonizing the vast majority of Palestine and it all but legitimizes the conquests and the ethnic cleansing of 1948.
Palestinian refugees languish in camps, not because of the “occupation” but because of Zionism. Two million Palestinians who possess the dubious status of quasi-Israeli citizenship live without rights, not because of the “occupation.” Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Bedouin live in poverty and are denied services by the State of Israel right next to Israelis who live in beautiful colonies built for Jews only in the Naqab desert. This is not a result of the “occupation” but of Zionism and the Zionist institutions which perpetuate these injustices.
The Zionist Left
Zionist left is, in fact, an oxymoron. One can either believe in and support a racist ideology like Zionism or believe and support the ideals of Left-wing politics, politics which exclude racism and settler colonialism. There are, however, a substantial group of people, including Israelis, Americans and others, who refer to themselves as the “Zionist Left.” These so-called “Leftists” claim they are opposed to the “occupation,” yet they refuse to accept that the root causes of injustice in Palestine are Israel and Zionism. Any person, group or ideology that claims to be Zionist accepts, almost by default, the legitimacy of Israel. This ensures that the injustices and atrocities perpetrated by Israel will continue.
The Zionist Left is beholden to Israel, accepts Israel’s legitimacy, and insists that the injustices and atrocities are a result of Israeli policies and not rooted in Zionism and the existence of the State of Israel. In fact, they refuse to reject Zionism. However, there are those who believe in justice, freedom and equality. Three values without which no country can exist in peace. People who care about this issue must take off the kid gloves. Opposing Zionism is not anti-semitism and if we do not tackle this issue head on, Palestine and its people will forever suffer.
Feature photo | Armed Israeli soldiers watch people pass through a Palestinian-only Israeli checkpoint at Qalandia, West Bank. Nasser Shiyoukhi | AP
Miko Peled is an author and human rights activist born in Jerusalem. He is the author of “The General’s Son. Journey of an Israeli in Palestine,” and “Injustice, the Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five.”


mintpressnews--2020-01-17--In France’s Longest Protests Since 1968, Striking Workers Continue the Fight Against Neoliberalism

Nationwide protests against the government of Emanuel Macron entered their seventh continuous week today in France , as between 187,000 ( a government estimate ) and 250,000 people ( the unions ’ count ) took to the streets to oppose Macron ’ s plans to radically alter the country ’ s pension plan , seen by many as the crown jewel in France ’ s substantial welfare state .
Led by transport unions , mass protests occurred yesterday across the country , including in Paris , Lyon , Grenoble , Nantes , Dijon and Angers .
Meanwhile , in Nice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists organized a torchlight evening demonstration .
Despite the light-hearted tone some of the protests took , they now constitute the longest and most intense actions against the government since the famous May 1968 “ revolution , ” an event that continues to define French society .
For weeks , transport unions have blocked the capital ’ s arteries , with the large majority of Paris ’ famous metro lines closed or virtually unusable , an action that government-owned train operator SNCF estimates has cost them around €700 million ( ~775 million U.S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and national services have been canceled , with many people ’ s Christmas and New Year plans affected .
Transport unions are the most organized and committed resistance to Macron ’ s agenda and have shut down many of France ’ s port cities , including Calais , Dunkirk , Le Havre , La Rochelle and Marseille , calling for “ dead ports ” over the weekend .
Yet as the strike continues into its seventh week , its intensity has waned , with many strikers forced to go back to work after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some have returned to work is Prime Minister Edouard Philippe ’ s announcement that he would “ temporarily ” suspend the controversial “ pivot age ” that would see the de facto retirement age rise from 62 to 67 .
Nevertheless , Philippe has also said that the transport chaos “ has gone on for too long , ” as the government attempts to divide and conquer the workers .
President Macron is attempting to unify 42 separate state-funded pension programs into one amalgamated system that he argues would be more fair and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many unions would have to give up hard-earned benefits for their members to accept a national standard , including a higher retirement age , as the president attempts to mold France into a new , neoliberal image .
However , just as the enthusiasm from transport workers has waned , they have found allies in strange places .
French lawyers , whose union has managed to build up an impressive €2 billion surplus in pension funds , have struck in opposition to the plan that they fear would see it liquidated .
Across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thrown their gowns down in a symbolic challenge to the government .
Yesterday also saw mass walkouts from schoolteachers .
Other groups have found particularly creative ways to fight Macron ’ s vision .
Striking ballet dancers performed a free show on the steps of the famous Palais Garnier opera house in Paris , while a week later , the Paris Opera orchestra staged their own al fresco concert .
Meanwhile , employees of the Louvre Museum shut the building down today , blocking the entrance at the famous glass pyramid , telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on strike ” and arguing that Macron ’ s plan would “ lower everyone ’ s pensions.
” President Macron came to power in 2017 , winning in the final round of the election against fascist challenger Marine Le Pen .
A strong believer in neoliberalism and an admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher , he has insisted that France must not merely be reformed , but transformed , as he attempts to radically alter the shape of French society , away from a social democratic model to one more resembling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put his approval rate at around 30 percent and found that two-thirds of the French public disapproves of him .
The protests are the longest and among the most intense since those of May 1968 , a generation-defining movement of wildcat strikes and sit ins that led to a government , fearful of a socialist revolution , hastily decreeing sweeping worker and citizen rights programs that characterize French society today .
The French worker ’ s confidence and disdain for the authority of bosses emanates from the spirit of that movement .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power of organized labor .
However , Macron has been clear in his intentions to end the welfare state .
Time will tell if his plans will succeed .
But from the looks of things , there are a considerable number of people who oppose them .
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News .
After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad News From Venezuela : Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary .

Nationwide protests against the government of Emanuel Macron entered their seventh continuous week today in France, as between 187,000 (a government estimate) and 250,000 people (the unions’ count) took to the streets to oppose Macron’s plans to radically alter the country’s pension plan, seen by many as the crown jewel in France’s substantial welfare state.
Led by transport unions, mass protests occurred yesterday across the country, including in Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, Nantes, Dijon and Angers. Meanwhile, in Nice, there was a party atmosphere as activists organized a torchlight evening demonstration. Despite the light-hearted tone some of the protests took, they now constitute the longest and most intense actions against the government since the famous May 1968 “revolution,” an event that continues to define French society.
https://twitter.com/BLIXOW38/status/1217887602088517632
For weeks, transport unions have blocked the capital’s arteries, with the large majority of Paris’ famous metro lines closed or virtually unusable, an action that government-owned train operator SNCF estimates has cost them around €700 million (~775 million U.S. Dollars). Likewise, suburban and national services have been canceled, with many people’s Christmas and New Year plans affected.
Transport unions are the most organized and committed resistance to Macron’s agenda and have shut down many of France’s port cities, including Calais, Dunkirk, Le Havre, La Rochelle and Marseille, calling for “dead ports” over the weekend. Yet as the strike continues into its seventh week, its intensity has waned, with many strikers forced to go back to work after their funds ran dry. Another reason some have returned to work is Prime Minister Edouard Philippe’s announcement that he would “temporarily” suspend the controversial “pivot age” that would see the de facto retirement age rise from 62 to 67. Nevertheless, Philippe has also said that the transport chaos “has gone on for too long,” as the government attempts to divide and conquer the workers.
President Macron is attempting to unify 42 separate state-funded pension programs into one amalgamated system that he argues would be more fair and transparent. However, this would mean many unions would have to give up hard-earned benefits for their members to accept a national standard, including a higher retirement age, as the president attempts to mold France into a new, neoliberal image.
We went to the Louvre and picked the one day they went on strike pic.twitter.com/YKynQtmkHK — Sophie Osborn (@sophielosborn) January 17, 2020
However, just as the enthusiasm from transport workers has waned, they have found allies in strange places. French lawyers, whose union has managed to build up an impressive €2 billion surplus in pension funds, have struck in opposition to the plan that they fear would see it liquidated. Across the country, legal workers have theatrically thrown their gowns down in a symbolic challenge to the government. Yesterday also saw mass walkouts from schoolteachers.
Other groups have found particularly creative ways to fight Macron’s vision. Striking ballet dancers performed a free show on the steps of the famous Palais Garnier opera house in Paris, while a week later, the Paris Opera orchestra staged their own al fresco concert. Meanwhile, employees of the Louvre Museum shut the building down today, blocking the entrance at the famous glass pyramid, telling visitors that “the Mona Lisa is on strike” and arguing that Macron’s plan would “lower everyone’s pensions.”
https://twitter.com/_ericblanc/status/1209515749120724992
President Macron came to power in 2017, winning in the final round of the election against fascist challenger Marine Le Pen. A strong believer in neoliberalism and an admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, he has insisted that France must not merely be reformed, but transformed, as he attempts to radically alter the shape of French society, away from a social democratic model to one more resembling the United States. December opinion polls put his approval rate at around 30 percent and found that two-thirds of the French public disapproves of him.
The protests are the longest and among the most intense since those of May 1968, a generation-defining movement of wildcat strikes and sit ins that led to a government, fearful of a socialist revolution, hastily decreeing sweeping worker and citizen rights programs that characterize French society today. The French worker’s confidence and disdain for the authority of bosses emanates from the spirit of that movement. For decades, even conservative presidents feared the power of organized labor. However, Macron has been clear in his intentions to end the welfare state. Time will tell if his plans will succeed. But from the looks of things, there are a considerable number of people who oppose them.
Feature photo | Protestors carry a poster depicting French President Emmanuel Macron during a demonstration, Jan. 16, 2020 in Lille, northern France. Michel Spingler | AP
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.


mintpressnews--2020-01-17--91% of Peer-Reviewed Papers Find Medicare for All Would Save Public Money, Cover Everyone

91 percent of all peer-reviewed scientific articles find that a single payer healthcare system like Medicare for All would save the country money , according to a meta analysis released Wednesday .
The study , published in the influential open access journal PLOS Medicine , is a systematic review of 22 single payer plans from 18 studies , published between 1991 and 2018 , including 8 national cases and 14 state-level plans .
It found that 20 analyses ( 91 percent ) predicted savings over a few years , and 19 ( 86 percent ) projected there to be immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team , headed by lead author Christopher Cai of the University of California , San Francisco School of Medicine , concluded that : “ In this systematic review , we found a high degree of analytic consensus for the fiscal feasibility of a single-payer approach in the US.
” The authors found that studies funded by organizations across the political spectrum agreed that there were huge savings to be made by switching to a single payer system ; with a median estimate of a 3.5 percent reduction in total costs in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studies predicted gigantic savings was in healthcare administration , with estimates varying from 1.2 to 16.4 percent of total costs ( with a median of 8.8 percent ) .
Many studies also highlighted a reduction in fraud and waste that could amount to as much as five percent of all healthcare costs being eliminated .
However , the areas where most progress could be made were in a simplified billing system and lower drug prices due to collective bargaining .
The U.S. government is unique in blocking itself from negotiating drug prices , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pharmaceutical lobby .
As a result , drugs such as insulin have tripled in price in the last decade , to the point where American-made insulin is over ten times as expensive in the U.S. as it is in Canada .
Another example of American price inflation is the HIV medication Truvada .
The U.S. public footed the bill for the research and development of the drug , but the patent is owned by Gilead Sciences , who charge Americans around $ 1,700 a month for it , a gross profit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government negotiates the price , the same medication is sold for $ 8 per month .
The drug effectively stops the transmission of HIV , but , because of the prohibitive cost , fewer than ten percent of the Americans who should be taking it currently are .
The U.S. already buys Truvada from Gilead for around $ 6 per month and gives it to people in Sub-Saharan Africa .
But it is banned by its own laws from doing the same for its own citizens .
Last month MintPress reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development of Truvada in order to maximize profits , causing an estimated 16,000 deaths .
It was not savings across the board , however .
One potential increase in costs that the studies identified with a single payer system , such as the one proposed by Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders , was that “ higher utilization ” of medical facilities would be more expensive .
Proponents of the plan are hardly likely to see more people using hospitals and health clinics as a negative , however .
Support for a healthcare system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ literature has increased in recent years to the point where it is a top issue for many Americans .
A September 2018 poll from Reuters found that nearly three-quarters of the country backed Medicare for All , including a majority of Republican voters .
Even when costs are emphasized in questioning , over 50 percent of Americans continue to support the idea .
Even a majority of physicians in the private healthcare industry back nationalization of the sector .
The number of completely uninsured Americans rose to 27.5 million in 2018 , equivalent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even those with insurance must often still pay thousands in out of pocket expenses , copays and deductibles .
With regard to healthcare , the United States is an outlier in not having a socialized system .
The U.S. spends between two to three times as much as other high-income nations , with the worst results among them .
The crisis in the nation ’ s health has become an increasingly salient issue , with much of the Democratic presidential candidacy race revolving around the hopefuls ’ position on health .
An increasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a silver bullet to the problem .
This latest study adds weight to their claims ; as the authors note : “ There is near-consensus in these analyses that single-payer would reduce health expenditures while providing high-quality insurance to all US residents.
” Feature photo | Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , introduces the Medicare for All Act of 2019 , on Capitol Hill in Washington , April 10 , 2019 .
Manuel Balce Ceneta | AP Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News .
After completing his PhD in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News From Venezuela : Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary .

91 percent of all peer-reviewed scientific articles find that a single payer healthcare system like Medicare for All would save the country money, according to a meta analysis released Wednesday.
The study, published in the influential open access journal PLOS Medicine, is a systematic review of 22 single payer plans from 18 studies, published between 1991 and 2018, including 8 national cases and 14 state-level plans. It found that 20 analyses (91 percent) predicted savings over a few years, and 19 (86 percent) projected there to be immediate overall savings in year one.
The team, headed by lead author Christopher Cai of the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, concluded that: “In this systematic review, we found a high degree of analytic consensus for the fiscal feasibility of a single-payer approach in the US.”
The authors found that studies funded by organizations across the political spectrum agreed that there were huge savings to be made by switching to a single payer system; with a median estimate of a 3.5 percent reduction in total costs in the first year alone. One area where the studies predicted gigantic savings was in healthcare administration, with estimates varying from 1.2 to 16.4 percent of total costs (with a median of 8.8 percent). Many studies also highlighted a reduction in fraud and waste that could amount to as much as five percent of all healthcare costs being eliminated.
AOC confronts and grills Gilead CEO over HIV drug price tag pic.twitter.com/RSOzJbnhz8 — The Independent (@Independent) May 18, 2019
However, the areas where most progress could be made were in a simplified billing system and lower drug prices due to collective bargaining. The U.S. government is unique in blocking itself from negotiating drug prices, largely on account of the power of the pharmaceutical lobby. As a result, drugs such as insulin have tripled in price in the last decade, to the point where American-made insulin is over ten times as expensive in the U.S. as it is in Canada.
Another example of American price inflation is the HIV medication Truvada. The U.S. public footed the bill for the research and development of the drug, but the patent is owned by Gilead Sciences, who charge Americans around $1,700 a month for it, a gross profit of $28,000. In Australia, where the government negotiates the price, the same medication is sold for $8 per month. The drug effectively stops the transmission of HIV, but, because of the prohibitive cost, fewer than ten percent of the Americans who should be taking it currently are. The U.S. already buys Truvada from Gilead for around $6 per month and gives it to people in Sub-Saharan Africa. But it is banned by its own laws from doing the same for its own citizens. Last month MintPress reported that Gilead is accused of holding back the development of Truvada in order to maximize profits, causing an estimated 16,000 deaths.
It was not savings across the board, however. One potential increase in costs that the studies identified with a single payer system, such as the one proposed by Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, was that “higher utilization” of medical facilities would be more expensive. Proponents of the plan are hardly likely to see more people using hospitals and health clinics as a negative, however.
Health care is not a commodity. It is a human right. #MedicareForAll pic.twitter.com/v4mg8bz4lF — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 10, 2019
Support for a healthcare system like the ones discussed in the academic literature has increased in recent years to the point where it is a top issue for many Americans. A September 2018 poll from Reuters found that nearly three-quarters of the country backed Medicare for All, including a majority of Republican voters. Even when costs are emphasized in questioning, over 50 percent of Americans continue to support the idea. Even a majority of physicians in the private healthcare industry back nationalization of the sector.
The number of completely uninsured Americans rose to 27.5 million in 2018, equivalent to 8.5 percent of the population. Even those with insurance must often still pay thousands in out of pocket expenses, copays and deductibles.
With regard to healthcare, the United States is an outlier in not having a socialized system. The U.S. spends between two to three times as much as other high-income nations, with the worst results among them. The crisis in the nation’s health has become an increasingly salient issue, with much of the Democratic presidential candidacy race revolving around the hopefuls’ position on health. An increasing number of people see Medicare for All as a silver bullet to the problem. This latest study adds weight to their claims; as the authors note: “There is near-consensus in these analyses that single-payer would reduce health expenditures while providing high-quality insurance to all US residents.”
Feature photo | Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., introduces the Medicare for All Act of 2019, on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 10, 2019. Manuel Balce Ceneta | AP
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.


mintpressnews--2020-01-17--While Some Battle to Save Australia’s Ecosystems, Others Blame Gov’t for Climate Change Denial

Australia is burning .
Since September of last year , an area larger than Japan has gone up in flames– more than twelve times the area that the California wildfires of 2018 engulfed .
The worst blazes are concentrated in the south and east of the enormous island continent , but every state and territory has been hit .
States of emergency have been called in New South Wales and Victoria , as aid agencies and volunteers battle to save property and both human and animal lives .
Many have put their lives on hold , dedicating themselves to fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australian history .
The government of Scott Morrison has been condemned for years for ignoring the increasingly alarming warning signs of potentially catastrophic events .
Fires are a natural occurrence in the Australian bush , vital for regeneration .
But the intensity and the speed of the blazes , which have been recorded traveling as fast as 40 miles per hour , have staggered those attempting to deal with it .
Carolyn Jones from RSPCA South Australia , a charity which treats and rehomes injured animals , told MintPress News that , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from these fires is unlike anything we have experienced , ” adding that she fears that the bushfires have driven many native species to extinction .
Josh Meadows from the Australian Conservation Foundation ( ACF ) , an environmental group numbering some 600,000 members , agrees : Australia contains incredible natural beauty , from temperate rainforests to deserts to long mountain ranges , and possesses extraordinary biodiversity , with huge numbers of mammals , birds and reptiles evolving uniquely from the rest of the world in the more than 10 million years the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , much of it is under grave threat .
MintPress News followed the RSPCA ’ s attempts on Kangaroo Island , South Australia , ( the country ’ s third-largest island ) , an area hit by particularly intense fires .
It was home to over 25,000 koala bears , the only population in the world free from the endemic diseases of mainland koalas .
Over 32,000 of the island ’ s livestock have already been confirmed dead .
Dr. Gayle Kothari , a veterinarian with the RSPCA said that they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Staff are currently doing their best with limited resources to treat and ease the pain of a wide range of wildlife they find .
Many animals are in a state of shock ; severely dehydrated , confused and hungry .
Some arrive with terrible burns to their faces , skin or hands and need regular bandage changes and pain relief .
When the RSPCA first arrived they had no electricity so they treated animals by torchlight .
In lieu of a proper field hospital , they have had to improvise ; “ Every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subcutaneous fluids from a drip , and in the absence of a drip pump or a drip stand , we used a ladder and managed to get a rope over one of the beams on the roof of the shed , ” Dr. Kothari said .
Without cages , animals are placed in baskets lined with blankets after surgery .
Their efforts have been stymied by the fires themselves , which forced them to evacuate the island earlier this month .
Jones told MintPress , “ Our teams of expert staff are working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carers from other organizations .
It is an ongoing team effort by tireless and compassionate people to save as many animals as possible.
” However , for many , it is already too late .
Meadows suggests that the Kangaroo Island dunnart , a marsupial found only on the island , may have been driven to extinction , while he fears that the koala population across the southeast of the country has been decimated .
RSPCA South Australia are currently raising funds – online donations can be made here .
Dr. Kothari says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment to animals , many of whom need weeks of care , revegetating the island and supporting wildlife rehabilitation groups .
The increasingly hard to ignore background to the fires is a swiftly changing climate .
Australia ’ s average temperature has increased by over 1°C over the last century .
Before the fires began , the country was already suffering through its hottest and driest year on record , and things have got hotter still , with both the capital Canberra and the largest city , Sydney , experiencing all-time temperature highs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sydney reached over 120°F , replete with winds of over 60 mph on January 4 .
Many , not least the ACF , have pointed the finger at the government of Scott Morrison .
“ This fire season has been a devastating wake-up call for many Australians .
People who may have thought climate change was a vague , distant threat are now breathing bushfire smoke and reeling from the lives lost , the thousands of houses destroyed and the death of a possible billion native animals , ” Meadows said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been bought off by the Australian fossil fuel lobby : The annual Climate Change Performance Index ranks Australia as one of the poorest performing countries on global warming , the index scoring Australia ’ s climate policy as the worst of all countries in the world .
The country has seen huge protests over the past year over the building of more mines and coal power plants that assure that the world will not reach the required levels to stave off the worst effects of climate change .
Morrison himself , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power stations , personally attacked teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg , accusing her of spreading “ needless anxiety ” about climate change , suggesting that children were being propagandized into becoming environmental zealots .
His government contains a number of outright climate change deniers who float disinformation and block efforts to reduce Australia ’ s CO2 emissions .
In 2017 , while Treasurer , Morrison axed funding to the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility , the organization telling The Guardian that Australia was now in no position to respond to climate emergencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bushfires – conspiracy theories abound that arsonists , the Islamic State , or even China started the fires – the “ real news ” coverage of the catastrophe has not been much better .
There has been a distinct reluctance to contextualize the fires as a consequence of global warming in both Australian and American corporate media , all of whom are either owned by or are funded through advertisements from heavy carbon-producing corporations .
As one media watchdog put it : “ Australia Wildfire Coverage Is Long on Koalas , Short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an estimated 400 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere .
While firefighters have managed to extinguish some bushfires , others rage on ; last week two merged to create a “ megafire ” measuring over 1.5 million acres .
The smoke released is choking the country ; microscopic , toxic particles released into the air are causing severe respiratory problems across the nation , as particles enter the human bloodstream and internal organs .
The death toll officially stands at 28 .
However , long after the blazes have been extinguished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness induced by trauma will continue to take theirs .
Nearly 3,000 homes have been destroyed and countless numbers have been evacuated .
Included in those were the residents of Mallacoota , Victoria , who spent New Year ’ s Eve trapped on the beach , as fires raged around the coastal town and smoke turned the sky orange .
The clouds of smoke have traveled across New Zealand and the Pacific and have reached as far as South America , according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .
Virtually every Australian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the country , in particular in the more densely populated southeastern states .
Both Melbourne and Sydney have been engulfed in choking hazes .
The fires have brought into sharp relief Australia ’ s vulnerability to climate change , with many with the opportunity considering permanently leaving .
And as the country gets hotter , disasters on a similar scale will become a more regular occurrence .
Money has been pouring in in the form of donations worldwide , not least from Amazon ’ s Jeff Bezos , who donated three minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heavy rain in the southeast has finally extinguished some of the blazes .
But for residents of Melbourne , it was out of the frying pan and into the fire , as torrents of rain caused severe flooding today , reminding all that , no matter how much we fool ourselves , we are all subject to the elements .
Without a substantial change in policy , rescue workers like those on Kangaroo Island will be fighting an uphill battle in the future .
Feature photo | Dr. Gayle Kothari , a veterinarian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildfires on Kangaroo Island , South Australia .
Photo | RSPCA South Australia Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News .
After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad News From Venezuela : Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary .

Australia is burning. Since September of last year, an area larger than Japan has gone up in flames– more than twelve times the area that the California wildfires of 2018 engulfed. The worst blazes are concentrated in the south and east of the enormous island continent, but every state and territory has been hit. States of emergency have been called in New South Wales and Victoria, as aid agencies and volunteers battle to save property and both human and animal lives. Many have put their lives on hold, dedicating themselves to fighting one of the worst natural disasters in Australian history. The government of Scott Morrison has been condemned for years for ignoring the increasingly alarming warning signs of potentially catastrophic events.
Fires are a natural occurrence in the Australian bush, vital for regeneration. But the intensity and the speed of the blazes, which have been recorded traveling as fast as 40 miles per hour, have staggered those attempting to deal with it. Carolyn Jones from RSPCA South Australia, a charity which treats and rehomes injured animals, told MintPress News that, “The scale of wildlife and habitat devastation from these fires is unlike anything we have experienced,” adding that she fears that the bushfires have driven many native species to extinction. Josh Meadows from the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), an environmental group numbering some 600,000 members, agrees:
Conservative estimates by scientists suggest more than a billion native animals have been killed so far. Huge areas of habitat have been destroyed, meaning many animals that have survived the fires are now struggling to get enough food and water.”
Australia contains incredible natural beauty, from temperate rainforests to deserts to long mountain ranges, and possesses extraordinary biodiversity, with huge numbers of mammals, birds and reptiles evolving uniquely from the rest of the world in the more than 10 million years the landmass has been separated from others. However, much of it is under grave threat.
MintPress News followed the RSPCA’s attempts on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, (the country’s third-largest island), an area hit by particularly intense fires. It was home to over 25,000 koala bears, the only population in the world free from the endemic diseases of mainland koalas. Over 32,000 of the island’s livestock have already been confirmed dead. Dr. Gayle Kothari, a veterinarian with the RSPCA said that they were being inundated with dozens of animals. Staff are currently doing their best with limited resources to treat and ease the pain of a wide range of wildlife they find.
Many animals are in a state of shock; severely dehydrated, confused and hungry. Some arrive with terrible burns to their faces, skin or hands and need regular bandage changes and pain relief. When the RSPCA first arrived they had no electricity so they treated animals by torchlight. In lieu of a proper field hospital, they have had to improvise; “Every koala that gets an anesthetic is given subcutaneous fluids from a drip, and in the absence of a drip pump or a drip stand, we used a ladder and managed to get a rope over one of the beams on the roof of the shed,” Dr. Kothari said. Without cages, animals are placed in baskets lined with blankets after surgery. Their efforts have been stymied by the fires themselves, which forced them to evacuate the island earlier this month.
Jones told MintPress, “Our teams of expert staff are working in coordination with expert animal rescuers and carers from other organizations. It is an ongoing team effort by tireless and compassionate people to save as many animals as possible.” However, for many, it is already too late. Meadows suggests that the Kangaroo Island dunnart, a marsupial found only on the island, may have been driven to extinction, while he fears that the koala population across the southeast of the country has been decimated. RSPCA South Australia are currently raising funds – online donations can be made here. Dr. Kothari says the money will go towards providing lifesaving treatment to animals, many of whom need weeks of care, revegetating the island and supporting wildlife rehabilitation groups.
A Changing Climate
The increasingly hard to ignore background to the fires is a swiftly changing climate. Australia’s average temperature has increased by over 1°C over the last century. Before the fires began, the country was already suffering through its hottest and driest year on record, and things have got hotter still, with both the capital Canberra and the largest city, Sydney, experiencing all-time temperature highs this month. The western suburbs of Sydney reached over 120°F, replete with winds of over 60 mph on January 4. Many, not least the ACF, have pointed the finger at the government of Scott Morrison.
“This fire season has been a devastating wake-up call for many Australians. People who may have thought climate change was a vague, distant threat are now breathing bushfire smoke and reeling from the lives lost, the thousands of houses destroyed and the death of a possible billion native animals,” Meadows said.
The ACF released a press statement claiming Morrison had been bought off by the Australian fossil fuel lobby:
While our country burns on a scale and intensity never seen before, the Morrison government refuses to address the root cause – burning polluting fuels like coal… Coal, oil and gas companies donate big money to Australian political parties, buying access to decision-makers to block climate action and keep burning dirty fuels,” its CEO, Kelly O’Shanassy said.
The annual Climate Change Performance Index ranks Australia as one of the poorest performing countries on global warming, the index scoring Australia’s climate policy as the worst of all countries in the world. The country has seen huge protests over the past year over the building of more mines and coal power plants that assure that the world will not reach the required levels to stave off the worst effects of climate change.
Morrison himself, while giving the go ahead to more fossil-fuel-burning power stations, personally attacked teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg, accusing her of spreading “needless anxiety” about climate change, suggesting that children were being propagandized into becoming environmental zealots. His government contains a number of outright climate change deniers who float disinformation and block efforts to reduce Australia’s CO2 emissions. In 2017, while Treasurer, Morrison axed funding to the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, the organization telling The Guardian that Australia was now in no position to respond to climate emergencies.
This isn’t a Salvador Dali painting, it’s a public pay phone melted by the bushfires in southern NSW. #AustralianBushfireDisaster #AustraliaFires pic.twitter.com/G9FAm4a6ev — Taylor Auerbach (@tauerbach) January 9, 2020
While fake news spreads faster than the bushfires – conspiracy theories abound that arsonists, the Islamic State, or even China started the fires – the “real news” coverage of the catastrophe has not been much better. There has been a distinct reluctance to contextualize the fires as a consequence of global warming in both Australian and American corporate media, all of whom are either owned by or are funded through advertisements from heavy carbon-producing corporations. As one media watchdog put it: “Australia Wildfire Coverage Is Long on Koalas, Short on Causes.”
The Human Cost
The fires have released an estimated 400 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. While firefighters have managed to extinguish some bushfires, others rage on; last week two merged to create a “megafire” measuring over 1.5 million acres. The smoke released is choking the country; microscopic, toxic particles released into the air are causing severe respiratory problems across the nation, as particles enter the human bloodstream and internal organs. The death toll officially stands at 28. However, long after the blazes have been extinguished, complications from smoke inhalation and mental illness induced by trauma will continue to take theirs.
Nearly 3,000 homes have been destroyed and countless numbers have been evacuated. Included in those were the residents of Mallacoota, Victoria, who spent New Year’s Eve trapped on the beach, as fires raged around the coastal town and smoke turned the sky orange. The clouds of smoke have traveled across New Zealand and the Pacific and have reached as far as South America, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Virtually every Australian has been affected, as fires rage across the country, in particular in the more densely populated southeastern states. Both Melbourne and Sydney have been engulfed in choking hazes. The fires have brought into sharp relief Australia’s vulnerability to climate change, with many with the opportunity considering permanently leaving. And as the country gets hotter, disasters on a similar scale will become a more regular occurrence.
Smoke pollution in Melbourne city from the Australian bushfires. Now vs a few days ago pic.twitter.com/5v87qeNzPi — Beau Brooks (@BrooksBeau) January 14, 2020
Money has been pouring in in the form of donations worldwide, not least from Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, who donated three minutes’ income to help the operations. Heavy rain in the southeast has finally extinguished some of the blazes. But for residents of Melbourne, it was out of the frying pan and into the fire, as torrents of rain caused severe flooding today, reminding all that, no matter how much we fool ourselves, we are all subject to the elements. Without a substantial change in policy, rescue workers like those on Kangaroo Island will be fighting an uphill battle in the future.
Feature photo | Dr. Gayle Kothari, a veterinarian with the RSPCA, inspects damage from wildfires on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Photo | RSPCA South Australia
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.