Eyebrow-Raising Stories of the Week:
New leak shows that US and UK spied on world leaders at 2009 conference:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/17/world/europe/new-leak-indicates-us-and-britain-eavesdropped-at-09-world-conferences.html
As Chinese dissident is forced out of NYU…”
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/17/world/asia/china-dissident-says-hes-being-forced-from-nyu.html
…revelation that electronic devices “gifted” to him by U.S. contained tracking spyware:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/22/world/asia/chinese-advocates-devices-were-loaded-with-spyware-nyu-says.html
In Brazil, level of unrest stuns even the protesters themselves:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/world/americas/brazil-protests.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/world/americas/thousands-gather-for-protests-in-brazils-largest-cities.html?_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/world/americas/brazilian-leaders-brace-for-more-protests.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/22/world/americas/sweeping-protests-in-brazil-pull-in-an-array-of-grievances.html?ref=world&_r=0
Environment:
As flooding in Calgary forces evac of 75,000…:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/22/world/americas/flooding-in-alberta-forces-75000-to-evacuate.html
….flooding in France threatens Lourdes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/world/europe/flooding-damages-lourdes-french-holy-site.html?_r=0
Fuel from microalgae is a little closer to reality:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/23/business/for-solazyme-a-side-trip-on-the-way-to-clean-fuel.html?pagewanted=all
At a huge energy fair, a cry is heard: “Solar power to the people”:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/garden/solar-power-to-the-people.html?pagewanted=all
Obama makes major move toward limiting power plant emissions:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/science/earth/obama-preparing-big-effort-to-curb-climate-change.html?pagewanted=all
Pollution in Singapore hits record level:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/world/asia/pollution-in-singapore-hits-record-level.html
Why is Phoenix allowed to use so much water?:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/17/us/an-arid-arizona-city-manages-its-thirst.html
“Quantifying” the “social cost” of pollution:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/us/politics/new-effort-to-quantify-social-cost-of-pollution.html
Controversy surrounds sale of John Denver’s “sanctuary”:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/us/commotion-over-the-sale-of-john-denvers-sanctuary.html
Some marijuana-growing in California is threatening forests and wildlife:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/us/marijuana-crops-in-california-threaten-forests-and-wildlife.html?pagewanted=all
In NYC, Bloomberg proposes major composting plan…:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/17/nyregion/bloombergs-final-recycling-frontier-food-waste.html?pagewanted=all
…and AT&T introduces solar-powered charging stations:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/technology/att-to-introduce-solar-powered-charging-stations.html
New NYC flood plan adds 600,000 to evac zones:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/nyregion/new-storm-evacuation-zones-add-600000-city-residents.html
An example of what happens when good intentions backfire – the Dutch bicycle experiment:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/world/europe/a-sea-of-bikes-swamps-amsterdam-a-city-fond-of-pedaling.html
Some interesting (and sad) facts:
-The Pacific Ocean has four times as much plastic as it has zooplankton. The “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” (which circulates between Japan and North America) is at least twice the size of Texas, and possibly the size of the entire U.S. And it’s getting bigger.
-Only a few products (mostly metals and glass) can be recycled indefinitely. Everything else breaks down eventually and has to be burned or become landfill. That burning adds to pollution and airborn particulates. The extra trucks used for transporting recycled materials, and the recycling process itself, also adds to fossil fuel pollution. And re-manufacturing of recycled materials uses more power (and thus creates more pollution) than the initial production.
Health/Food:
In a first, USDA approves label for non-GMO meat:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/business/us-approves-a-label-for-meat-from-animals-fed-a-diet-free-of-gene-modified-products.html
Can Twitter help prevent food poisoning outbreaks?…:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/23/opinion/sunday/theres-a-fly-in-my-tweets.html
Could Yelp do the same?:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/07/youll-never-throw-up-in-this-town-again/309383/
Could junk food help end obesity?:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/07/how-junk-food-can-end-obesity/309396/
“Profiting from Pain” – the overprescribing of narcotics:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/23/sunday-review/profiting-from-pain.html
Only in a Kafka-esque world is this possible: A Monsanto exec wins the World Food Prize:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/business/monsanto-executive-is-among-world-food-prize-winners.html
Your child needs to interact with you (Another issue on which I have been something of a Cassandra):
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/07/papa-dont-text/309385/
Privacy/Surveillance:
I. Further to NSA leaks
As Snowden is charged with violating Espionage Act…:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/22/us/snowden-espionage-act.html?hpw
…and WikiLeaks says it will help with asylum in Iceland…:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/world/europe/wikileaks-says-it-is-working-to-negotiate-asylum-in-iceland-for-snowden.html
…Snowden sneaks into Russia, with eye toward Ecuador:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/world/asia/nsa-leaker-leaves-hong-kong-local-officials-say.html?hp
Is NSA following restrictions on surveillance?”
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/us/politics/documents-detail-nsa-surveillance-rules.html
II. Op-Eds
“Where Did Our ‘Inalienable Rights’ Go?”:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/23/opinion/sunday/where-did-our-inalienable-rights-go.html?pagewanted=all
“Living With the Surveillance State”:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/17/opinion/keller-living-with-the-surveillance-state.html?pagewanted=all
III. Other News
Facebook “inadvertently” exposed phone numbers and emails of 6 million users:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/22/business/facebook-says-technical-flaw-exposed-6-million-users.html
As marketers find new ways to manipulate data in order to manipulate you…:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/new-ways-marketers-are-manipulating-data-to-influence-you/
…you can make it harder for them:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/ways-to-make-your-online-tracks-harder-to-follow-2/
Worry about data security affects classrooms, too:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/23/business/data-security-is-a-classroom-worry-too.html?pagewanted=all
Legal/Law Enforcement:
SCOTUS strikes down AZ law requiring proof of citizenship for voters:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/us/justices-reject-arizona-voting-law-requiring-proof-of-citizenship.html?hpw
Zimmerman trial will have six jurors – all female:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/us/6-female-jurors-are-selected-for-zimmerman-trial.html
As SCOTUS rules on three issues (with mixed results)…:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/us/supreme-court-hands-down-three-decisions-that-are-5-to-4.html
…decisions on three imminent cases may change the legal landscape re affirmative action, gay marriage, and voting rights:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/23/us/supreme-court-weighs-cases-redefining-legal-equality.html?pagewanted=all
Internal FBI investigation says agents were “faultless” in 150 of 150 shootings (Are we surprised?):
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/us/in-150-shootings-the-fbi-deemed-agents-faultless.html?pagewanted=all
Politics/Elections/Voting:
In NYC, use of lever voting machines approved for 2013 elections:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/nyregion/lopez-case-raised-as-assembly-takes-up-womens-rights.html
War/Military:
Women will be able to serve in elite military units:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/us/elite-units-in-us-military-to-admit-women.html
Some interesting (and scary) facts: 65% of Americans support use of drone strikes on suspected terrorists on foreign soil; 25% of Americans support use of drone strikes on suspected terrorists on U.S. soil (!); 23% of Americans support the use of drones to issue speeding tickets (!!).
Economics:
How “shareholder value” is damaging American society:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/07/stop-spoiling-the-shareholders/309381/
Austerity issues in Europe affecting attempts in U.S.:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/17/business/economy/for-g-8-meeting-talk-of-economy-but-syria-looms-large.html?pagewanted=all
Hot-Button Issues:
House passes hyper-restrictive abortion ban:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/us/politics/in-partisan-vote-house-acts-to-limit-abortions.html
Foreign Affairs:
As Turkey expands violent reaction to unrest…:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/17/world/europe/turkey.html?pagewanted=all
Turkish liberals begin abandoning Erdogan:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/world/europe/turkish-liberals-turn-their-backs-on-erdogan.html?pagewanted=all
In Egypt, further moves toward Islamism:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/17/world/middleeast/new-governor-shock-to-some-inside-egypt.html?_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/world/middleeast/islamists-press-blasphemy-cases-in-a-new-egypt.html?pagewanted=all
In Russia, reduction in oil wealth leads to potential return of instability:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/world/europe/oil-wealth-reduced-russia-needs-to-lure-foreign-capital.html?pagewanted=all
Falklands redux?:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/world/americas/dispute-over-falklands-intensifies.html
—
Finally, I felt the following short piece was worth including in its entirety. (It is from The New York Review of Books, and is unavailable online without a subscription):
Animal Farm: What Orwell Really Meant
Following is an excerpt from a letter from George Orwell to Dwight Macdonald, written in December 1946, soon after the publication of Animal Farm in the U.S. According to the editor of the letters, Peter Davison, Macdonald wrote Orwell that:
“anti-Stalinist intellectuals of his acquaintance claimed that the parable of Animal Farm meant that revolution always ended badly for the underdog, ‘hence to hell with it and hail the status quo.’ He himself read the book as applying solely to Russia and not making any larger statement about the philosophy of revolution. ‘I’ve been impressed with how many leftists I know make this criticism quite independently of each other – impressed because it didn’t occur to me when reading the book and still doesn’t seem correct to me. Which view would you say comes closer to your own intentions?'”
Orwell’s reply will appear in George Orwell: Life in Letters, to be published by Liveright in August:
“Re your query about Animal Farm. Of course I intended it primarily as a satire on the Russian revolution. But I did mean it to have a wider application in so much that I meant that that kind of revolution (violent conspiratorial revolution, led by unconsciously power-hungry people) can only lead to a change of masters. I meant the moral to be that revolutions only effect a radical improvement when the masses are alert and know how to chuck out their leaders as soon as the latter have done their job. The turning point of the story was supposed to be when the pigs kept the milk and apples for themselves. If the other animals had had the sense to put their foot down then, it would have been all right. If people think I am defending the status quo, that is, I think, because they have grown pessimistic and assume that there is no alternative except dictatorship or laissez-faire capitalism. In the
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