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THE
CITIZEN
SPRING 2009
Vol. 10
Issue 1
We apologize for the many months of delay in updating
this website, an explanation is contained within the essay listed below by our
Editor Victor M Saraiva, Cocaine
Commerce.
>in this
issue:
> An Act of State: the Execution of Martin
Luther King Jr., a talk by
William Pepper
> The Yellow Brick Road of
Gold, Peace and Prosperity, by Darryl Robert
Schoon
> What is the FED? by Greg Hobbs
> The Bottomless Bailout, by Ralph Nader
>
> Amid Jokes, Hidden Intentions...
by Victor M. Saraiva
> F.D.R.'s Inaugural Address, March 4th
1933
>
> [The Apocalypse
Cometh] an Interview With Prof. Albert Bartlett, by KMO
> On Democracy
> The Vampires, by
Zeca Afonso
> A Judge
Kicks Back at Wall Street Greed
> Washington's Plan
for Afghanistan
> Wall
Street's New Halloween Trick
> NBC
News: Where PR Triumphs Over the Truth
> In Hope of the Dream
Reborn
Today's
News
Prior News:
International;
National;
Commentary /
Opinion
What's on
your mind ?
editor1@thecitizenfsr.org
This site optimized for (c) Opera.
>Essays & articles of interest
published by other sites:
The
Citizen for Social Responsibility is not responsible for the content
of external websites. The inclusion of a link does not constitute an
endorsement of any opinions, viewpoints nor of arguments cited. We seek
to provide access to dissenting views not often available in mainstream
discourse. Clicking on any of the links below will take you to other sites,
not associated nor affiliated with our organization. Although our
website does not use "cookies" for advertising, or tracking this
will not apply to third party websites, many of whom do so. By visiting this
website and clicking on any link herein, you permit and adhere to any use of
required cyber tracking, if any, necessary for the operation of its
content. We value your privacy.
American Civil Liberties Union:
Linked Special Reports:
Government Spying
http://www.aclu.org/spying
50 Books That'll Boost Your
Civil Liberties Savvy
http://www.aclu.org/freedomwire/books/booklist.htm
INTERACTIVE FEATURES > The Drug War Clock: See
What the War on Drugs Is Costing You
NOT JUST PIZZA:
The government and
corporations are aggressively collecting information about your personal life
and your habits. They want to track your purchases, your medical records, and
even your relationships. The Bush Administration's policies, coupled with
invasive new technologies, could eliminate your right to privacy completely.
Please help protect our privacy rights and prevent the Total
Surveillance Society. http://www.aclu.org/pizza/
Authorities Target Political Groups
http://www.aclu.org/spyfiles
Information for students and youth
http://www.aclu.org/freedomwire/
ACTIVIST TOOLKIT
Become
an Effective and Efficient Activist
http://action.aclu.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AP_effective_activism
Amnesty International:
Latest Reports from
AI:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/eng-recent/reports
AI
LIBRARY
The Amnesty International library
contains an archive of most reports, news releases and urgent actions published
from 1996 to date. Documents are available in English, French, Spanish and
Arabic. You can navigate the whole library in any of these languages, but you
can also switch languages when you get to a particular section or document of
interest. http://web.amnesty.org/library/engindex
The arms
trade is out of control.
Worldwide, arms are
fueling conflict, poverty and human rights abuses.
http://www.controlarms.org
It is Better to Light One Candle Than to Curse the
Darkness.
Make a donation and help end human
rights violations http://www.amnesty.org/donate
EPIC
“National Network” of Fusion Centers Raises Specter of
COINTELPRO
EPIC’s
“Spotlight on Surveillance” project scrutinizes federal government programs that
affect individual privacy. For more information, see previous Spotlights on
Surveillance. This month, Spotlight shines on fusion centers, which have
received $380 million in federal grants and millions more from state
governments.[1] There are 43 current and planned fusion centers in the U.S., and
some states have more than one.[2] http://www.epic.org/privacy/surveillance/spotlight/0607/default.html
http://www.epic.org/privacy/fusion/crs_fusionrpt.pdf
Medical Privacy Petition
Tell
Congress and the President to restore your medical privacy now! Tell them no one
should be able to see or use your medical records without your knowledge and
permission. http://www.patientprivacyrights.org/petition
EPIC
PRIVACY.ORG
THE
SITE FOR NEWS, INFORMATION, AND ACTION
http://www.privacy.org/
DoD Recruiting Database
EPIC and Over 100 Groups Seek End to
DOD Recruiting Database. The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and
more than 100 local, state, and national organizations today urged Secretary of
Defense Donald Rumsfeld to end the "Joint Advertising and Market Research
Studies" Recruiting Database. The groups cited the broad exemptions to federal
privacy laws that would allow the Defense Department to disclose personal
information to others without an individual's consent or knowledge. The database
would include name, date of birth, gender, address, telephone, e-mail address,
Social Security Number, ethnicity, high school, education level, college, and
intended field of study for more than 30 million Americans who are 16-25 years
old. http://www.epic.org/privacy/student/doddatabase.html
GREENPEACE
Challenge the Computer Industry to Market a Greener
Computer
Most
major computer manufactures have now committed to remove some of the worst
hazardous chemicals from their products. However this is only by the end of 2008
(Apple), 2009 (Dell, Lenovo, Acer).
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/greening-of-apple-310507/greencomputerchallenge
Solar Generation
Solar
Generation is young people who want to change the world by tackling climate
change. We have the most to lose from climate change inaction. We don't want to
live in a disaster of our own making, our future is at stake. Join the Solar
Generation to help make the shift from dirty energy to clean, renewable energy
now! http://www.greenpeace.org/international/solargen/sign-up
PODCAST: Whales
and U.S. Military Sonar Noise Pollution
Our
oceans campaigner Richard describes how important sound is to whales and
dolphins, and how underwater noise pollution, particularly from powerful
military sonar equipment, may be having a powerful negative impact on these
amazing creatures, even to the extent of causing their deaths.
Listen
http://oceans.greenpeace.org/raw/content/en/photo-audio-video/audio-files/ocean-defenders-audio-podcast
BECOME A
CYBERACTIVIST
Get Involved. Make a difference.
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/getinvolved/sign-up
Eco Headlines by email
This
list distributes a selection of headlines collected from news outlets throughout
the world. The subject selections will be on environmental issues. News
headlines will be in the English language. To see
the collection of prior postings to the list, visit the News-headlines
Archives.
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/subscribe3
Human Rights Watch Reports:
VIDEO: Ban Cluster Munitions
Short
film documenting the lethal effects of the use of cluster munitions worldwide,
with commentary, new statistics and analysis from military experts at Human
Rights Watch. Footage shows how cluster munitions have endangered civilian
populations from the Vietnam era through current conflicts in Iraq and
Lebanon.
http://hrw.org/campaigns/clusters/video2.htm
Support the Child Soldier Prevention Act of
2007
Of
nine governments worldwide implicated in the recruitment or use of children as
soldiers, eight receive U.S. military assistance.
http://hrw.org/campaigns/crp/child_soldiers/index.htm
Global Campaigns:
Human Rights
in the U.S.
http://www.hrw.org/doc/?t=usa&c=usdom
Every recognized
country in the world, except for the United States and the collapsed state of
Somalia, has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
pledging to uphold its protections for children. Today the convention
stands as the single most widely ratified treaty in
existence.
http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/crp/promises/
Latest Audio Programs IRIN
RADIO
IRIN
Radio gives a voice to vulnerable communities and provides them with information
to make better-informed decisions about their own lives. We operate in East and
Central Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa and Central Asia (Afghanistan).
IRIN Radio produces high-quality programming in local languages on humanitarian
issues, ready for broadcast by local stations. The service also provides
hands-on training to journalists, developing their production and reporting
skills, allowing local radio to serve communities more
effectively.
http://www.irinnews.org/radio/default.asp
Weekly Reports
Asia,
Africa, & the Middle East
http://www.irinnews.org/Weeklies.aspx
Humanitarian Country
Profiles
http://www.irinnews.org/country-profile.aspx
Standards of Political Conduct for
Corporations
http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/files/pdfs/Corporate%20Accountability%20International%20Standards%20of%20Political%20Conduct%20for%20Corporations.pdf
TI has defined five global priorities in the fight against corruption:
Corruption
in politics
http://www.transparency.org/global_priorities/corruption_politics
Corruption
in public contracting
http://www.transparency.org/global_priorities/public_contracting
Corruption
in the private sector
http://www.transparency.org/global_priorities/private_sector
International
anti-corruption conventions
http://www.transparency.org/global_priorities/international_conventions
Poverty
and development
http://www.transparency.org/global_priorities/aid_corruption
CORRUPTION AFFECTS YOU
Public
contracting is one way in which public policy is implemented, and it is an
enormous and lucrative area of business. Think of pharmaceutical companies vying
to supply a government vaccination programme, the privatisation of a
government-owned telecommunications company, or the awarding of contracts to
reconstruct destroyed infrastructure in Iraq. Most of these contracts are meant
to buy or produce goods or services that should benefit citizens directly, like
the construction of a road or a sewage system. Others should benefit citizens
indirectly, by contributing to a more efficient or effective delivery of a
specific service or good, and prudently investing or increasing public funds.
The key question is whether genuine efforts to serve the public interest
motivate the contracting decisions being made. http://www.transparency.org/global_priorities/public_contracting
Organized Crime and Corruption
Information:
www.unodc.org/pdf/crime/convention_corruption/signing/Convention-e.pdf
Transparency
International’s Web Portal on Anti-Corruption Resources
(CORIS) http://www.corisweb.org/
PREVENTING
CORRUPTION ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
http://www.transparency.org/news_room/latest_news/press_releases/2005/16_03_2005_construct_projects
http://www.transparency.org/tools/contracting/construction_projects
Business Principles for Countering
Bribery
http://www.transparency.org/global_priorities/private_sector/business_principles
Corruption Fighters' Tool
Kit
http://www.transparency.org/tools/e_toolkit
Costs
of Corruption in Public Contracting
http://www.transparency.org/content/download/12496/120034
Anti-Corruption Handbook:
http://www.transparency.org/tools/a_c_handbook
National Whistleblower Center,
http://www.whistleblowers.org/
Govt
Doctors Get Whistleblower Protection
http://www.whistleblowers.org/Govt_Doctors_Get_Whistleblower_Protection.htm
International Call to Boycott U.S.
Multinationals
http://www.boycottbush.org/index_en.php
GARY WEBB'S DARK ALLIANCE SERIES
re-posted by NARCONEWS
GARY WEBB: In His Own
Words
Tribute
to the Pulitzer Prize winning reporter who broke the story of the CIA’s
involvement in the importation of cocaine into the US
http://www.guerrillanews.com/videos/viewer.php?id=30&spd=hi
Dark
Alliance: Day
One
America's
'crack' plague has roots in Nicaragua war Colombia-San Francisco Bay Area drug
pipeline helped finance CIA-backed Contras by Gary Webb
http://www.narconews.com/darkalliance/drugs/day1main.htm
Testimony
links U.S. to drugs-guns trade
Dealers
got their 'own little arsenal' by Gary Webb
http://www.narconews.com/darkalliance/drugs/day1list.htm
http://www.narconews.com/darkalliance/drugs/webintro.mov
Dark
Alliance: Day
Two
The
Crack Epidemic's Shadowy Origins, By Gary Webb
If they'd been
in a more respectable line of work, Norwin Meneses, Danilo Blandon and ''Freeway
Rick'' Ross would have been hailed as geniuses of marketing. This odd trio -- a
smuggler, a bureaucrat and a driven ghetto teen-ager -- made fortunes creating
the first mass market in America for a product so hellishly desirable that
consumers will literally kill to get it: ''crack'' cocaine. Federal
lawmen will tell you plenty about Rick Ross, mostly about the evils he visited
upon black neighborhoods by spreading the crack plague in Los Angeles and cities
as far east as Cincinnati. On Aug. 23, they hope, Freeway Rick will be sentenced
to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
http://www.narconews.com/darkalliance/drugs/day2main.htm
Drug agent thought she was onto something
big
On a
November afternoon in 1981, San Francisco DEA agent Sandra Smith inadvertently
uncovered the first direct link between cocaine and the secret army the Central
Intelligence Agency was assembling to overthrow the government of
Nicaragua. Smith,
one of the first female Drug Enforcement Administration agents in the Bay Area,
was investigating rumors that a cocaine ring run by Norwin Meneses was bringing
drugs into California and, for some reason, sending weapons down to Central
America. It was,
she said, ''the only (case) that I ever worked, in all the time I worked there,
that I thought was really big.'' http://www.narconews.com/darkalliance/drugs/day2frog.htm
Drug expert: 'Crack' born in San Francisco Bay Area in
'74
Though Miami and Los Angeles are commonly regarded as
the twin cradles of ''crack'' cocaine, the first government-financed study of
cocaine smoking concluded that it was actually born here, in the San Francisco
Bay Area, in January 1974. After comedian Richard Pryor nearly immolated himself
during a cocaine-smoking binge in 1980, the National Institute on Drug Abuse
hired UCLA drug expert Ronald K. Siegel to look into the then-unfamiliar
practice. Siegel, the first scientist to document crack's use in the United
States, traced the smoking habit back to 1930, when Colombians first started
it.
http://www.narconews.com/darkalliance/drugs/day2rock.htm
Dark Alliance: Day
Three
War
on Drugs Has Unequal Impact on Blacks in U.S.
http://www.narconews.com/darkalliance/drugs/day3main.htm
On PEACE:
Central
Committee for Conscientious Objectors:
IRAQ
COALITION CASUALTY COUNT
Find Out What the War is
Costing America.
Why Question the Military's JROTC
Program?
http://www.objector.org/jrotc/why.html
Before You Enlist...
You
wouldn't buy a car without looking under the hood. Don't enlist before you check
out the reality of military life that lies behind the glamorous television ads
and glossy brochures. http://www.objector.org/before-you-enlist.html
Get the Military Out of Our
Schools
Are students getting a balanced
education about the military? http://www.objector.org/
GI Rights
Training
Train to Help Stop the Military Machine! Or at Least to slow it
down. http://www.objector.org/gitraining060325.html
Tools for Activists
The
military and its recruiters are present in almost every public high school in
the United States. Recruiters are at schools to sell students military
enlistment. They use a sales pitch that is riddled with half-truths and
deceptions and individual recruiters will resort to outright lies to sign young
people up. http://www.objector.org/moos/strategies.html
How Oil Companies Hurt Consumers and the
Environment
http://69.63.136.213/documents/HotProfitsGlobalWarming.pdf
Latest Public Citizen Action Items
http://www.citizen.org/action/
Tracking
the activities of special interests.
http://www.lobbyinginfo.org/
Auto and Truck
Safety
http://www.citizen.org/autosafety/
Auto Industry http://www.citizen.org/congress/campaign/special_interest/articles.cfm?ID=5730
Asbestos
Industry http://www.citizen.org/documents/master%20report.pdf
Congress &
the Lobbying Industry http://www.citizen.org/documents/DeLay_Lby_Fndr_Tbl.pdf
http://www.lobbyinginfo.org/documents/RevovDoor.pdf
Energy
Industry http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/documents/dirtiest_plants2.pdf
Gambling
Industry http://www.citizen.org/congress/campaign/special_interest/articles.cfm?ID=5771
Health Care
& Pharmaceutical Industries http://www.citizen.org/documents/MedicareDrugWarReportREVISED72104.pdf
http://www.citizen.org/documents/DrugImportationFactSheet.pdf
Homeland
Security Industries http://www.citizen.org/documents/ACF1B7.pdf
Tobacco Industry
http://www.citizen.org/congress/civjus/tort/articles.cfm?ID=800
Medical Malpractice Facts
Challenging the Malpractice Claims
of the Doctors' Lobby
http://www.citizen.org/congress/civjus/medmal/
Public Citizen is a national, non profit consumer advocacy group
based in Washington D.C., for more information visit http://www.citizen.org/
Public Citizen is not
affiliated with THE CITIZEN
for Social Responsibility in any manner.
WBAI--99.5 FM, NYC
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Last
updated October 05, 2009
URL: www.thecitizenfsr.org
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