Happy Day Earth!

Like George Carlin, I find it ironic to hear pleas to save the planet. What they are really saying is save our species. St. George suggests the Earth may have created us because it wanted plastic. It sure succeeded if that's the case. But the microbes may have the last word. The idea of plastic eating microbes (well really it is a mutant bacterial enzyme, PETase) is appealing, but it seems every time we meddle it comes out bad. The story of rabbits in Australia comes to mind. George's dream of our final fate is also worth considering. None the less, I suspect we would be better off to minimize the manufacture, use, and dispersal of plastic. https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/

A leading expert on microplastics (those small bits of plastic that are seemingly everywhere) Marcus Eriksen discusses his work around the world to research plastic marine pollution. (video or text) https://www.democracynow.org/2018/4/20/earth_day_2018_ending_plastic_pol...

There is a plastics recycling crisis as China declines any more of these materials. It is a worldwide problem as this Australian report makes clear. (8 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItWt5KEfrcM

Oceans are critical for the ecosystem. The warming of the fluid atmosphere is absorbed in our fluid oceans (which currently covers about two thirds of the planet's surface). A new study shows that the Atlantic's currents have weakened due to global warming and are closer to catastrophic collapse than any time in the last 1,600 years, which could cause rapid sea level rise on the East Coast of North America. One of the study's lead authors explains.
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:21606:Global-Warming%27s-Impact-on-Ocean... (10 min or text)

Our planet is in a constant state of evolution. James Hutton helped us begin to understand the process. Darwin of course is credited with the theory of evolution, but the concept of evolution itself evolved. Mendel provides the genetic mechanism about a decade after Darwin and Wallace present their paper on natural selection.

Lewis Thomas book “Lives of the Cell” has an essay that compares Earth to a cell...with the atmosphere as the membrane, and oceans as protoplasm, and so on. The Gaia Theory carries the concept farther. The Gaia theory regards the Earth as, in essence, a single organism, and everything on the planet as a part of that organism. This does not merely mean all living things, or even all organic matter, but postulates that the planet, with its rocks, plants, animals and atmosphere, is a single, living, self-regulating system. http://www.indiana.edu/~geol105b/1425chap9.htm

This view of the Earth acting as a system has stayed with me throughout my adult life. This is why I feel strongly about our actions burning fuels and using nuclear materials for energy and war. We sit on the brink of two great possible collapses of the biosphere – climate chaos and nuclear war. The Earth's layer of life is about as thick as the layer of varnish on a globe. All the parts interact. The human species is just one (destructive) part of the system. Carlin suggests we are like a case of fleas on the planet. I think we're more like a virus, and are causing the Earth to have a fever.

It is more than CO2 and methane. We're dumping a soup of toxins into our air. It is not an answer, my friend, it is a problem blowing in the wind. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/17/more-than-95-of-worl...

Once we talked about getting off fossil fuels. As fracking (in the US) proved profitable, all such talk has vanished in the corporate media. Like a meth addict we will do what it takes to wring the last bit of profit out of an industry driving us to extinction. Quick make that last dollar! https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2018/04/gaius-publius-fracking-brought-w...

We have to switch off of coal, oil, and gas, and on to 100% wind, water, and sun energy sources. And though this drive for a conversion to clean energy started in northern Europe and northern California, it’s a call that’s gaining traction outside the obvious green enclaves. https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/04/20/100-renewable-energy-withi...

Look at the power of the industry. Consider the Kinder Morgan Pipeline and Canada's Obomber, Trudeau. He plans to use federal law to ram through a pipeline across BC. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sees the Kinder Morgan threat to abandon its pipeline project as a threat to the country's national interest and is now mobilizing local governments to maintain the project. (9 min or text) http://therealnews.com/t2/story:21600:Justin-Trudeau-Vows-to-Bail-Out-Pr...

Looks like trouble is brewing in Canada as first nations people draw the line.
http://therealnews.com/t2/component/content/article/772-richard-fidler-s...

Do you think denial would be a good strategy? TPTB do.
https://theintercept.com/2018/04/17/climate-change-denial-trump-germany/

Like it or not, deny it or not, the climate is in flux...America’s arid West invades fertile eastern US
https://climatenewsnetwork.net/24113-2/

Some communities are trying to address the problem. They are bringing suit.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/04/18/facing-fires-and-floods-col...

Despite the suits, we're not doing well recognizing nor acting to reduce climate change, but there is some good news on the nuclear war front...
Korean Peninsula in Historic Peace Talks - Thanks to Activists, Not Trump. South and North Korea are considering a peace treaty after six decades of war. Simone Chun says this is the result of years of grassroots organizing and protests. (13 min or text)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:21613:Korean-Peninsula-in-Historic-Peace...

This Korean unification has Japan concerned. They are looking to China. Dr. Gerald Horne says that Trump's trade policies and disregard for Japanese interests might push Japan into closer relations with China, which would change the global balance of power.
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:21621:Leaders-of-China-and-Japan-to-Meet... (10 min or text)

The Middle East Mess

Israel is still killing peaceful protesters with no outcry in the west. Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip continue to demonstrate even though they know they put their lives at risk because life in the "cage" that is Gaza is intolerable, says Ali Abunimah of The Electronic Intifada
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:21627:Israeli-Forces-Kill-4-Palestinians...

The US can afford to ignore the death, disease, destruction, and depravity they spread with endless war cause they are making so much money. Defense company stocks, such as those of Raytheon, Northrup Grumman, and Boeing, rose to unprecedented levels since the beginning of the year because of Tomahawk strikes on Syria and massive arms sales to the Middle East and to the Pentagon. Bill Black talks about the the companies and their profits (13 min or text)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:21599:Defense-Stocks-Soar-as-Trump-Wages...

It is about money. You would have to be blind not to see. In his first year Trump approved $82 billion in arms offers, versus $76 billion in the last year of Obama, so not that much more. And Obama set a record of $102 billion during his administration. So, actually, to outdo Obama, Trump is going to have to hustle. And, of course, that is what he’s doing.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-arms-insight/arming-the-wor...
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/4/18/americas_1_weapons_salesman_trump...
(interview with author with video or text)

...and hey let's just hire mercenaries to do the bidding of the corporations. Trump is asking Middle Eastern governments to build a military force to replace US troops in northeast Syria, and notorious war profiteer Erik Prince has been asked for help. Medea Benjamin says the plan is scandalous.
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:21626:Infamous-Mercenary-Erik-Prince-Bei... (12 min or text)

Chris Hedges argues that violence isn't the answer to overthrowing the empire.
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/the-cult-of-violence-always-kills-the-...

Trusted Media?

There's been a good bit of conversation this week on c99 about trusted sources of media...rightfully so. We are being misled by the corporate media megaphones, and even once trusted journalists are seemingly being influenced (or pressured?). My thought in all this is we have to find rational voices where we can. For example, take Ron Paul (Rand's Dad). His domestic policy of everyone help themselves, government has no role, I find contrary to my socialists views. However, he is one of the few voices calling foul on the Syria bombings. So I support his foreign policy views, but not his domestic agenda. It is okay. I believe in building alliances with those who support my positions...but they don't have to support all of my positions. For example, here are two conversations about Syria that I wish were heard by more people.
Here's Ron with Former UK Ambassador to Syria Peter Ford
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbHHVdrDG_k (23 min)
and earlier in the week he spoke with Vannesa Beeley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6VzBfkQh5A (24 min)

I would also like to mention Amy G. and Glenn G. Many of you now dismiss their work. Democracy Now! is over the top on Russiagate and blindly supportive of the White Helmets...I'm with you...I get it. But they also feature people like the plastics researcher at the top of this column, and ousted elected president Dilma Rouseff and provide those stories as video, text, or audio. That is worth something.
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/4/20/dilma_rousseff_lulas_imprisonment...
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/4/20/dilma_rousseff_the_rise_of_brazils

(While we're in the Americas, Cuba has a new president. (7 min or text)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:21628:Cuba-has-a-New-President%3A-Is-he-... )

Similarly Glenn is not skeptical enough on the Assad /Syria stories in my view, but he still speaks rationally on most topics. Here he is calling out the DNC lawsuit and speaking out for Assange.
https://theintercept.com/2018/04/20/the-dncs-lawsuit-against-wikileaks-p...
https://theintercept.com/2018/04/20/how-fake-news-and-western-propaganda...
(others like Jake Johnson at Common Dreams agree with Glenn)
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/04/20/blaming-russia-and-wikileak...

I think we better evaluate story by story regardless of the journalist or the publication in which we find the story. Look at the evidence. Look at actions.

What US media are interested in doing is singling out Official Enemies and using them as a bludgeon to marginalize the already-marginalized, to sully those who make substantive critiques of US society and empire without apology. https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/04/20/public-radios-mccarthyite-...

I was trained as a scientist. I want evidence to support a hypothesis and theory. What makes thinking people skeptical about the media is the lack of and contradiction of evidence. How about the Russian double agent poisoning? Countries around the world expel Russian diplomats. The evidence strongly suggest it was a ruse -
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-04-14/independent-swiss-lab-says-bz-...
https://consortiumnews.com/2018/04/17/an-alternative-explantion-to-the-s...

How about the chemical attacks in Syria? The evidence is growing that there was no chemical attack.
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/syria-chemical-attack-gas-douma-rob...
A correspondent from the Russia 24 TV channel claims to have found a Syrian boy seen in the White Helmets' footage, said to show the aftermath of an alleged chemical attack. Their story is interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPFaEG9vJT4 (4 min)

Glen Ford wasn't persuaded...
https://blackagendareport.com/white-lies-and-black-disbelief-fading-empire

So we bomb on the basis of lies, and then lie about how good our bombs are (you know trying to boost sales) http://www.moonofalabama.org/2018/04/syria-pentagon-hides-attack-failure...
http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12171611@egNews

Jimmy Dore and Judah Friedlander discuss how they use lies to lead us to war...again and again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FE8-HkXlOs

We know they are liars. Did you hear Ed Schulz describe how he was canned from MSNBC for covering Bernie? Jimmy, Ron, and Stef explain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18YMTWFpKmo (24 min)

Jimmy analysis of Jeffery Sachs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Sachs comments on MSNBC and their reactions...a voice of sanity on Morning Joeball?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O2TRzA2ezk (19 min)
Joe S. suggest Jeffery is atoning for his neoliberalism... but I'll take more comments like these on the MSM any day.

This week Jeremy Corbyn provides an excellent example of how media works. The leader of Britain's Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn said the US-UK-France missile strike on Syria was "legally questionable," and its rationale could be used to justify bombing Saudi Arabia over its devastating war on Yemen. (4 min or text)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:21617:Corbyn%3A-Does-Strike-on-Syria-Jus...
Now if you can stomach it, watch how the BBC attacks him in this 17 min interview...talk about spin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmjaT_T_Bzs

Jeremy is correct not only is Yemen a crime, so is Gaza. It is an IFUKUS coalition.
http://therealnews.com/t2/component/content/article/170-more-blog-posts-...

It isn't just foreign policy that is misreported or ignored domestic issues are dismissed as well...
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/04/20/recognizing-working-class-p...
The easiest way to control the story is not to tell anyone about it. Did you know Clinton could be prosecuted? https://www.truthdig.com/articles/will-media-suppress-criminal-referrals...

And finally winding up today's media discussion is this excellent conversation about the fate of independent media between Chris Hedges and journalism prof Mark Miller (28 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec9uRsku4oA

If there is hope it is with the young people...
Education

Joe featured this insightful piece in the EB this week. It is worth the read. Schools are the way we indoctrinate children and shape our society. I've been in the school reform movement for decades, and I recall the head of the Eagle Forum stating education reform was social engineering. Are not all schools agents of social engineering? The question is really how do we want to socially engineer our young people? What do we want them to be?
https://www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives/blog/the-corporate-plan-to-gr...
I've always fought for more democracy in schools for students, teachers, and parents to create learning environments that compliment their unique communities. If young people mature in a democratic environment I think they would be better, more responsible citizens. In nearby Trion, GA, they are discussing moving the police station into the school, or placing officers at the entrance and exit. I guess they want to train the next generation of inmates. We just don't think very far ahead. Is it the human condition that we can't see ahead nor behind?

Teacher strikes continue to spread: from West Virginia, to Kentucky, to Arizona, to Oklahoma, and now to Colorado. However, they are not just about pay - they are a result of systematic tax cuts designed to decimate public education, says Negin Owliaei of the Institute for Policy Studies (8 min or text)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:21620:Teacher-Strikes-Continue-to-Spread...
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/04/11/600832090/walkouts-and-teache...

And so we evolve to the conclusion of this column...

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." Charles Darwin

“The survival value of human intelligence has yet to be satisfactorily demonstrated."
Jeremy Stone (1935 – 2017) was president of the Federation of American Scientists from 1970 to 2000, where he led that organization's advocacy initiatives in arms control, human rights, and foreign policy

The idea of long-term civilization is probably a dream.
https://climatenewsnetwork.net/long-lived-civilisation-may-be-a-dream/

“[The study] shows without any significant doubt that we are now entering the sixth great mass extinction event,” https://news.stanford.edu/2015/06/19/mass-extinction-ehrlich-061915/

... a sixth mass extinction in Earth’s history is under way and is more severe than previously feared, according to research.... They blame human overpopulation and over-consumption for the crisis and warn that it threatens the survival of human civilization, with just a short window of time in which to act. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/10/earths-sixth-mass-ex...

There's a story (perhaps an urban myth?) that tells of a lecture by Edward Teller, who was learning about fusion and the nature of stars. He explained that our main sequence star was turning hydrogen into helium and eventually would run out of fuel causing the sun to collapse and explode into a red giant engulfing the Earth in about 3 billion years. A scientist in the back of the room quickly rose and asked, “Did you say 3 million or 3 billion?”. Teller responded, “3 billion with a B.” The questioning scientist said “Whew, you had me worried.”

Millions or billions of years, the planet's fate is as certain as ours. We are a self important egocentric species. It is about us...viral strands on a speck in space. Most species that ever lived have gone extinct. Just as death is our individual fate, extinction is our collective fate. The trick is enjoying life while we have it and appreciating the natural systems around us before their degradation or inevitable change. I hope both you and the Earth have a good day. I look forward to your stories and comments below.