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Brazilian Gov't Agency Listed as Biggest Illegal Logger of Amazon
"Brazil’s environment minister announced yet another series of measures to halt deforestation of the Amazon this week, but their impact was weakened not only by the fact that destruction had increased sharply once again but that the government itself was among the worst culprits.
A federal agency charged with implementing agrarian reform and giving land to the poor filled the top six spots on a list of the nation’s 100 worst deforesters since 2005, according to the list, published by the environment ministry on Monday. The top 100 deforesters cut down the equivalent of 160,000 soccer fields, said Environment Minister Carlos Minc."
The Agency of Land Reform (INCRA) was fined 264 million reais (about $137 million) but denied responsibility for the deforestation.
This list was released on the same day as deforestation numbers show a 134% increase for the month of August; the monthly total increased from 568 acres in 2007 to 1,868 acres this year.
Full story at link... "Brazil’s environment minister announced yet another series of measures to halt deforestation of the Amazon this week, but their ... more -
The world's most corrupt nations
Iraq has been ranked by Transparency International(TI) as one of the world's most corrupt countries, just above Somalia as the "least clean" state.
The index is based on perceptions of public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories.
The high levels of corruption amount to a humanitarian disaster said Huguette Labelle, chair of the watchdog.
At the bottom of the transparency table, along with Somalia and Iraq, are Burma, Haiti, Afghanistan and Sudan.
While Iraq remains in the same bottom-three position in the table as last year, the level of perceived corruption in the country collated by the Berlin-based organisation has increased.
The score is based on perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by business people and country analysts.
TEN MOST CORRUPT STATES
Somalia
Burma
Iraq
Haiti
Afghanistan
Sudan
Guinea
Chad
Equatorial Guinea
DR Congo
TEN LEAST CORRUPT STATES
Denmark
Sweden
New Zealand
Singapore
Finland
Switzerland
Iceland
Netherlands
Australia
Canada Iraq has been ranked by Transparency International(TI) as one of the world's most corrupt countries, just above Somalia as the &#... more -
Gold Braid and Maritime Law
Washington DC and the Federal courts are using Maritime Law, which is statutory law, not the Common Law of our nations constitution.
We've been lied too and have been under Emergency Maritime law since 1934.
No wonder the system is broke.[more] Washington DC and the Federal courts are using Maritime Law, which is statutory law, not the Common Law of our nations constitution. ... more -
A Tangled Story of Addiction
When Cindy McCain is asked what issues she would champion as first lady, she often cites one of the most difficult periods of her life: her battle with -- and ultimate victory over -- prescription painkillers. Her struggle, she has said repeatedly, taught her valuable lessons about drug abuse that she would pass on to the nation.[more] When Cindy McCain is asked what issues she would champion as first lady, she often cites one of the most difficult periods of her life... more
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Sex, drugs, gifts uncovered in government oil probe
The report was issued by the Interior Department's inspector general after a $5.3 million investigation "uncovered recreational marijuana and cocaine use" by "a handful" of Interior Department staff, and found two federal employees "engaged in brief sexual relationships with representatives from companies doing business" with the department.[more] The report was issued by the Interior Department's inspector general after a $5.3 million investigation "uncovered recreatio... more
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Government officials exchanging oil royalties for sex and drugs
Government officials handling billions of dollars in oil royalties improperly engaged in sex with employees of energy companies they were dealing with and received numerous gifts from them, federal investigators said Wednesday.
The alleged transgressions involve 13 former and current Interior Department employees in Denver and Washington. Their alleged improprieties include rigging contracts, working part-time as private oil consultants, and having sexual relationships with -- and accepting golf and ski trips and dinners from -- oil company employees, according to three reports released Wednesday by the Interior Department's inspector general.
The investigations reveal a "culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" by a small group of individuals "wholly lacking in acceptance of or adherence to government ethical standards," wrote Inspector General Earl E. Devaney. Devaney's office spent more than two years and $5.3 million on the investigations.
The reports describe a fraternity house atmosphere inside the Denver Minerals Management Service office responsible for marketing the oil and gas that energy companies barter to the government instead of making cash royalty payments for drilling on federal lands. The government received $4.3 billion in such royalty-in-kind payments last year. The oil is then resold to energy companies or put in the nation's emergency stockpile.
Click on the link to read more. Government officials handling billions of dollars in oil royalties improperly engaged in sex with employees of energy companies they w... more -
Lobbyist Abramoff gets new four-year prison term
Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced to four years in federal prison Thursday for his corrupt lobbying activities, which led to the downfalls of a congressman and several other Washington officials.
Choking back tears, Abramoff delivered a highly emotional plea for the judge to exercise leniency, but readily admitted he had done wrong.
"I stand before you a broken man," he said during the two-hour sentencing hearing. "I am not the same man."
Abramoff has served 22 months in prison on a separate conviction involving casinos in Florida. The judge said that the new four-year term will run concurrently with the remainder of that sentence. Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced to four years in federal prison Thursday for his corrupt lobbying activities, which led... more -
The Non-Issue that Should Be an Issue
It's the spending, stupid!
When was the last time you heard Senator Obama or Senator McCain give a speech on the bloated public sector? Did Senator Clinton, in her recently concluded presidential bid, ever scold voters who constantly want the government to "give" them more and more services?
These are rhetorical questions. Today our ruling parties tacitly agree that no government department can be eliminated, that major spending reductions are forbidden and that the spending spree must continue.
(End of excerpt)
Full article at link by Gregory Bresiger// Ludwig von Mises Institute (mises.org) It's the spending, stupid! ... more -
Oakland Motorcycle Cops Stir Controversy with Loud Pipes
Monday June 16, 2008:
Civilians are usually the ones getting attention for loud motorcycle exhausts, but this time the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Oakland Police Department-- AKA "Rolling Thunder"-- has re-installed noisy aftermarket pipes onto their fleet of Harley-Davidsons. According to the article, safety concerns spread among the department three months ago when an officer riding with stock pipes was struck by a motorist who claims he didn't hear him coming. The new pipes produce an average of 93 decibels.
MIC spokesman Mike Mount is quoted as saying, "We encourage all motorcycle riders to keep the original low sound levels that meet the ... federal sound limit of 80 decibels." He adds that "It would seem counterintuitive that a law enforcement agency would go against federal standards." Especially considering that recent laws have been clamping down on loud bike exhausts, the Oakland PD's attitude seems to suggest that they are above law, or perhaps that they know something that non law-enforcement types don't. Monday June 16, 2008: ... more -
This is not a pipe dream
Subcomandante Marcos comes to the United States with the plans for a trickle-up democratic reform to empower the downtrodden.
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Cops & Customs Agents Caught Drug Smuggling
By Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet
(Excerpt from main article)
Following last September's crash of a Gulfstream jet used by the CIA for torture flights that contained 4 tonnes of cocaine, more customs officials and cops have been caught in drug smuggling and drug dealing rackets.
Customs supervisor Walter Golembiowski and officer John Ajello face narcotics, bribery and conspiracy charges after they were arrested for helping smuggle drugs and contraband through New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
"The investigation has led to the indictment and prosecution of more than 20 people — “from distributors to overseas sources of supply” — and the seizure of more than 600 pounds of imported hashish and other drugs from the United States and France," according to a CNN report.
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Full story at link. By Paul Joseph Watson Prison Planet (Excerpt from main article) ... more -
More graft in Bush administration - Indian museum director spent lavishly on trave...
The founding director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian spent more than $250,000 in institution funds over the past four years on first-class transportation and plush lodging in hotels around the world, including more than a dozen trips to Paris.
Video
Smithsonian Funds Expensive Retirement Video
By James V. Grimaldi and Jacqueline Trescott
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, December 28, 2007; Page A01
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via TouchArt.net and OneEarthBlog.blogspot.com
Another Bush crony ripping off Indians. The founding director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian spent more than $250,000 in institution funds o... more -
Portrait of Rick West cost Indian museum $48,500 - washingtonpost.com
Senators, trustees question spending by former Director.
W. Richard West Jr. commissioned this portrait by Burt Silverman that now hangs in the patrons' lounge. (By Burt Silverman).
W. Richard West Jr., the founding director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, spent $48,500 in museum funds to commission a portrait of himself.
This Story
The portrait of West by New York artist Burton Silverman hangs in the patrons' lounge on the fourth floor of the flagship museum, which is dedicated to the arts and culture of American Indians. Silverman said West picked him after he saw a portrait Silverman had done of former Smithsonian secretary Robert McCormick Adams. The Adams portrait, completed about a decade earlier, was smaller and cost about half as much.
Silverman, of Polish descent, was chosen, said Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas, after "they couldn't find a Native artist who did formal portrait sittings like this."
By James V. Grimaldi
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 4, 2008; Page C01
via TouchArt.net and oneearthblog.blogspot.com.
"Dick West should have called me or any of a dozen Indian art curators nationwide who would have given him a long list of renowned American Indian, Canadian First Nation and Alaskan Native artists to chose who would have painted a much better portrait for a much more reasonable price. He could have spent the extra $40,000 to buy several paintings of other Indian artists to get more contemporary art in the collection of the NMAI - National Museum of the American Indian. Several Native communities could have benefited from the excessive amount of money spent for Dick West's vanity. Several Indian artists could have been validated by the museum and be inspirations for the young people on their reservations." Charleen Touchette, author NDN ART (Fresco. 2003) Distributed by the University of New Mexico Press.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/0974102326/sr=8...
Instead the former director West, made another decision that reveals he doesn't care about Indians.
Don't miss checking out Dick West's other adventures in ripping off Indians, the federal government and the American people at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20... Senators, trustees question spending by former Director. ... more -
We've Gotta Save Our Water
10 Years ago I canvased the Twin City area pertaining to the Clean Water Act and the effects of chemical run-off coming from hog and cattle lots. Now the same pollution is being linked to human waste and pharmaceutical residue. This information needs to get out and we all need to contact our representatives and tell them to clean up their act and our water. For god sakes, must humanity ruin everything we need to survive? Will we not learn until we're dead? 10 Years ago I canvased the Twin City area pertaining to the Clean Water Act and the effects of chemical run-off coming from hog and c... more
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Made in USA
Freedom - Aren't you losing it America? Summer 2003. New York City. Thompkins Square Park.
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Religions and Multinational Corporations - Two headed monster - Same Beast!!
To access the video, scroll down on the page and click on the link for "Corporations" clip is 2 minutes and 9 seconds. (Couldn't figure out how to embed the video sorry.)
Watch this video from Ramtha the Enlightened one, a spirit being channeled by JZ Knight. This clip is from a video called "Where Angels Fear To Tread". The video is available on Ramtha's website for $10. It is extremely well done and produced and directed by one of the directors of the hit movie "What The Bleep Do We Know" Mark Vicente.
"What is government but the incorporated fending for their own. We need to empower the individual; we need an army of remarkable individuals in this war on ignorance, poverty, and despair. One human being at a time we are embarking on a wondrous journey of self discovery and empowerment. We all have the power to change reality; we need you, the world is waiting."
Jubal aka (Jon Jaramillo) To access the video, scroll down on the page and click on the link for "Corporations" clip is 2 minutes and 9 seconds. (Coul... more -
Victim: Gang-Rape Cover-Up by U.S., Halliburton/KBR
KBR Told Victim She Could Lose Her Job If She Sought Help After Being Raped, She Says What the hell is going on over there?
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Treasonous Conspiracy?
"Like most conservative organizations, the Federalist Society is very selective in the sorts of liberty it embraces. If the interests of either Big Business or Big Religion are involved why then the Federalist Society is on their side. However if interests are those of a less powerful minority then they are on your own. They should seek help from the ACLU and pray that their legal cases do not come before a judge associated with the Federalist Society."
Quoted from Article "Like most conservative organizations, the Federalist Society is very selective in the sorts of liberty it embraces. If the inter... more -
Government Confiscates Ron Paul Dollars
On Wednesday, November 14, 2007, federal agents raided the Indianapolis headquarters of a company called NORFED, the National Organization for the Repeal of the Federal Reserve Act and Internal Revenue Code, and seized its holdings of gold, silver, and copper, much of it in the form of coins bearing the likeness of US Congressman Dr. Ron Paul of Texas, a candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. On Wednesday, November 14, 2007, federal agents raided the Indianapolis headquarters of a company called NORFED, the National Organiza... more
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BEST OF OBAMA's Transparent Gov Bills = Please Copy + Pass Out As You Canvass
""Obama on Ethics and Lobbying Reform""
http://obama.senate.gov/issues/ethics_and_lobbying_refo...
Throughout his political career, Barack Obama has fought for open and honest government. As an Illinois State Senator, he helped pass the states first major ethics reform bill in 25 years. And as a U.S. Senator, he has spearheaded the effort to clean up Washington in the wake of numerous scandals.
In the first two weeks of the 110th Congress, Senator Obama helped lead the Senate to pass the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act, a comprehensive ethics and lobbying reform bill, by a 96-2 vote. This landmark bill was signed into law by the President in September 2007.
PART OF ARTICLE INCLUDED
""Alone among the U.S. Presidential candidates"", Barack Obama is confronting the question of how to produce more accountable and effective politics in our democracy.
His just-released Tech Plan (Download Obama Tech Plan) uniquely understands that the time, expertise and enthusiasm that ordinary people invest in making Wikipedia better, for example, can be transformed into practices to make government work better and more accountably. So he doesn't just call for making information more transparent to citizens; he wants to hear what we have to say and enable us to participate. The Plan calls for citizen engagement in the work of federal agencies and demonstrates respect for the intelligence and expertise of the American people. He calls for opening up the closed practices of government and using new technology to enable genuine citizen participation and engagement in our democracy. This is a major and unprecedented step.
No other candidate gets it. They pay lip service to transparency. He proposes making government data available online as well as ensuring that agencies do their work in public. They talk about citizen congresses that would deliberate in quaint town hall meetings having nothing to do with real world politics or power.
He proposes engaging citizens in the actual and ongoing work and decision-making of government -- not Americans talking to elected officials but Americans genuinely participating. They talk about technology and innovation. He offers a comprehensive broadband strategy, commitment to media diversity, and a proposal to improve patent quality, including the practice of rigorous, public peer review like Peer-to-Patent. They talk about strong IP. He balances his support of strong IP with recognition of the need to promote collaboration and innovation.
I am excited about Obamas Tech Plan. In fact, it should be called the Democracy Plan. He alone does what a President should do, namely articulate a vision for democracy in the digital age.
CLICK LINK TO SEE WHAT He wants to DO: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/daniellec... ""Obama on Ethics and Lobbying Reform"" http://obama.senate.gov/issues/ethics_and_lobbying_reform/ ... more
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Government Corruption
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Government Corruption
