January 26, 2005
1. Pentagon support for terrorists
2. Treatment of Iraqi women in detention
3. Race and gender as determinants of Soc Sec benefits?
4. World starting to reject the American Dream
5. Speaking of the future of Social Security...
6. And the future of world politics....
 
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1. If you haven't already heard, the Pentagon is putting into action plans to support and incite terrorist groups around the world, to support Bush and Co. political aims. We keep thinking they have sunk to the lowest of the low, but we must remember that the pit is bottomless.
 http://informationclearinghouse.info/article7786.htm
 http://informationclearinghouse.info/article7769.htm
 
2. These stories are just now coming out - it is a great shame in their culture to have been sexually abused. This may be just the tip of the iceberg, but it is likely we may never know the extent to which it took place.
 http://informationclearinghouse.info/article7789.htm
 
3. Outrageous insensitivity from a Republican white man - beyond belief! 
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6858998/
 
4. Very interesting observations about the choices that other countries are making and the models they are adopting - increasingly not based on American ways.
 http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0125-01.htm
 
5. This economist refutes Bush administration claims of Soc Security disaster for us baby boomers - just another fear campaign to get some horrible program accepted by the masses, which will be of little benefit to them.
 http://www.cepr.net/columns/weisbrot/mark_weisbrot_1_18_05.htm
 
6. A very interesting summary of a new report that just came out, regarding future trends vis-a-vis world politics, and their implications for the US.
 http://www.pinr.com/report.php?ac=view_report&report_id=259

 

January 22, 2005
1. Granny D says it with style

2. Robert Fisk on Fear in Baghdad
3. A chilling proposal from the Pentagon
4. If you missed Bush's inauguration speech
5. The Scandal Sheet
 
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 1. A graceful essay from a 95 year old activist - inspiring, challenging, insightful.
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0117-31.htm
 
2. In Baghdad, everyone is afraid of everyone. What a nightmare we have created. The election will be a joke.
 http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/207765_fisk14.html
 
3. I guess I need to keep being reminded of how soulless human beings can become. This is about the proposal to institute "death squads" in Iraq, similar to those used in Central America in the 1980s.
 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6802629/site/newsweek
 
4. I personally couldn't listen to the man, but David Corn very cleverly reviews what Bush said followed by his (David's) responses, bit by bit, so I found I could sort of read Bush's speech without getting too riled up! This is how David introduces the article: "Below is my running commentary on Bush's inaugural speech. Too bad heckling the president is a federal crime."
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0121-26.htm
 
5. The Scandal Sheet - list of 34 scandals during the Bush administration's first term, and status thereof. An ugly reality check, in terms of how little consequence there has been for any of these, some of which are bigger by far than anything Clinton did, and certainly equal Nixon's misdeeds.
 http://www.truthout.org/docs_05/011905D.shtml

 

January 05, 2005
There will be no new editions of News & Notes until the end of January, as Tom and I will be away part of the month in Honduras. For info on counter-inauguration activities, visit www.nhpeaceaction.org  If you can get to any of the January vigils, please try to do so, our public presence is vital as Bush prepares to launch his second term of even more horrifying destructiveness.

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1. Domestic Violence and losing the election
2. 10 Ways to be a better person
3. Stan Goff on what we need to be doing now
4. Contribute for tsunami relief
 
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1. Michael Moore shares a letter he received from a woman who works in the area of Domestic Violence. She draws some interesting parallels.
 http://www.globalresistancenetwork.com/id15.html
 
2. I don't presume to suggest any of you need this advice, but I know I do! All of these seemed to be pertinent to anyone who is struggling to be a peacemaker in a time of extreme violence and distrust. So, it being New Year's, I pass it along for you to use or not, as you see fit.
 http://www.dailyom.com/cgi-bin/display/printerfriendly.cgi?articleid=315
 
3. Stan Goff has some interesting thoughts about how to turn the tide in this country - worth discussing, I think.
 http://www.globalresistancenetwork.com/id44.html
 
4. The Nonviolent Peaceforce has been working in Sri Lanka, attempting to be a neutral, nonviolent presence in the ongoing civil war. They suggest donating to Sarvodaya, one of their partner organizations, which will be providing relief in one of the most devastated countries.

To donate to Sarvodaya online by credit card you may donate through the Nonviolent Peaceforce:
 http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/english/help/donatetosarvodaya.asp
{http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/english/help/donation.asp}
Go directly to the Sarvodaya donation page. 100% of the money we collect at this site will go to Sarvodaya.

To donate via post within the USA, please send a tax-deductible check made out to:
Sarvodaya USA
5716 Manchester Avenue #3,
Los Angeles, CA 90045

Please note that the check is for the Tsunami disaster and sent via the Nonviolent Peaceforce.

To donate to Sarvodaya directly in Sri Lanka using a wire transfer here is the information you will need for foreign remittance:
Sarvodaya Inc.
Acct. No 159000 8015
Commercial Bank of Ceylon Limited.- Moratuwa branch
Swift Code CCEYLKLX.

Sarvodaya info in Sri Lanka: http://www.sarvodaya.lk/
{http://www.sarvodaya.lk/}