Nine Of The World’s Biggest Corporations Just Vowed To Go Green!

<p>A bunch of the planet's biggest companies have finally promised to go green, setting a great example for others to follow</p> <span>[embedded content]</span> <hr /> <p>Last week, nine <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/shock-report-your-taxes-subsidize-dirty-oil-corporations-by-5-3-trillion/" target="_blank">corporate</a> giants set a precedent by promising to commit to 100% <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/earth-could-go-100-renewable-by-2050-says-new-reports/" target="_blank">renewable</a> energy. Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/americans-keep-their-money-away-from-sharks-of-wall-street/" target="_blank">Goldman</a> <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/financial-world-shaken-by-5-bankers-apparent-suicides/" target="_blank">Sachs</a>, <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/nike-partnered-with-a-disabled-teen-to-create-an-easy-entry-shoe-and-its-incredible/" target="_blank">Nike</a>, <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/heres-how-starbucks-is-destroying-the-rainforest-and-what-you-can-do-to-help/" target="_blank">Starbucks</a>, Salesforce, Steelcase, Voya Financial and Walmart announced at the annual Climate Week in New York that they have joined the global campaign RE100, which encourages businesses to source green energy.</p> <p>While all these corporations plan to make a full transition to using renewable electricity, timescales differ: <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/thousands-of-sweatshop-workers-in-china-go-on-strike/" target="_blank">Nike</a> has said it will do this before 2025, while Goldman <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/why-the-senate-wont-touch-jamie-dimon/" target="_blank">Sachs</a> was a little more optimistic with a 2020 date.  In total, 36 companies have now joined RE100 since its launch in 2014.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the UN has launched Carbon Neutral Now, a new <a href="http://www.climateneutralnow.org/SitePages/Home.aspx" target="_blank">initiative</a> to encourage more businesses to offset their carbon emissions. Another trend, the idea of divesting from fossil fuels, is the new big thing in celebrity circles- Leonardo DiCaprio just <a href="http://leonardodicaprio.com/ldf-joins-more-than-400-institutions-pledging-to-divest-from-fossil-fuels/" target="_blank">announced</a> he will divest his millions, but Bill Gates has yet to put his <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/dear-bill-gates-please-care-as-much-about-our-planet-as-you-do-about-immunization/" target="_blank">money</a> where his mouth is…</p> <p>Watch the video by <a href="http://momentforaction.org/" target="_blank">Momentforaction.org</a> to find out why tackling climate change is so important for our generation. This short film is endorsed by DiCaprio, whose foundation is doing crucial <a href="http://leonardodicaprio.org/projects/" target="_blank">work</a> all over the world saving wild animals and their habitats.</p> <hr /> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news Nine Of The World’s Biggest Corporations Just Vowed To Go Green!

A bunch of the planet's biggest companies have finally promised to go green, setting a great example for others to follow [embedded con...

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75 Year-Old Man Travels World In This Awesome House Truck

<p>John and his family have been nomadic for 35 years and counting</p> <span>[embedded content]</span> <hr /> <p>John is 75 years young, and a passionate traveler. In this video from Tiny House Giant Journey, John gives us a tour of his home- a spacious and cozy <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/he-wanted-his-own-place-so-he-decided-to-build-his-own-tiny-home/" target="_blank">house</a> truck that took just <strong>four weeks</strong> to build! John is something of an expert at creating alternative <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/take-a-tour-of-a-super-cool-airstream-tiny-home/" target="_blank">mobile</a> <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/this-incredible-diy-tiny-home-only-costs-1200-to-build/" target="_blank">homes</a>, though- he has built a total of 12 so far, and all that practice certainly shows.</p> <p>John’s home is built on a Mitsubishi Fuso chassis. There is a surprising amount of storage in this 14 square feet space, hidden cleverly in the walls and under the bed. John installed gutters to collect rainwater, and the truck even allows for pumping rainwater inside if needed. He has a full oven and a big fridge freezer, often considered luxuries in other tiny homes. There are solar panels on the roof, and two skylights which make the space feel bright, airy and roomy.</p> <p>John and his wife have been living this way for 35 years, deciding to educate their two children on the road. Now the kids have flown the nest, John and his wife continue with their nomadic existence.  They have already used the van to travel 133,000km around South America, and they plan to explore Russia next. John is an inspiration: despite his age and the fact he’s already made so many awesome vans, he is already thinking about the next: which he says will have an even bigger skylight for stargazing.</p> <hr /> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news 75 Year-Old Man Travels World In This Awesome House Truck

John and his family have been nomadic for 35 years and counting [embedded content] John is 75 years young, and a passionate traveler. In ...

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Banksy Dismantles His Theme Park To Provide Shelter For Refugees

<p>Compassionate artist announces Dismaland will be used to build homes for migrants in France's notorious camp, 'The Jungle'</p> <span>[embedded content]</span> <hr /> <p><a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/brilliant-comic-of-banksys-call-to-arms-against-advertisers/" target="_blank">Banksy</a> has announced that materials from Dismaland, his so-called ‘bemusement’ park, will be donated to desperate <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/nationalist-tv-crew-caught-attacking-child-refugees-tripping-man-carrying-a-child/" target="_blank">refugees</a> in Calais, France. <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/bankys-theme-park-dismaland-shows-darker-side-of-history-and-pop-culture/" target="_blank">Dismaland</a> opened in Weston Super-Mare, England in August this year, and attracted 150,000 visitors in its five-week run. The park will be dismantled today. Banksy himself didn’t take the place too seriously, saying the installation was “ambitious, but also crap.” He added: “I think there’s something very poetic and British about all that.”</p> <p>Now, the elusive street <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/banksy-just-released-this-2-minute-film-about-gaza-the-dream-holiday-destination-for-2015/" target="_blank">artist</a> and internationally renowned <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/balloon-girl-reinvented-for-banksy-video-showing-solidarity-withsyria/" target="_blank">activist</a> says his cutting-edge exhibition would be more useful if it were recycled into much-needed shelters for the estimated 5000 <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/new-airbnb-allows-citizens-to-share-their-homes-with-refugees/" target="_blank">refugees</a> living in one of Europe’s worst refugee camps: Calais, France.  The so-called ‘<a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/update-egyptian-billionaire-likely-to-purchase-two-islands-to-provide-syrian-refugees-new-home/" target="_blank">migrant</a>‘ crisis in Greece and Italy has hit headlines around the world, but one place that tends to receive less attention is the makeshift camp in Calais. For several years now, refugees primarily from Syria, Eritrea and Libya have found themselves stuck in the Northern French town, trying to get into the UK to seek asylum.</p> <p>These <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/canada-keeps-arresting-pro-refugee-campaigners-while-detaining-more-refugees-than-ever/" target="_blank">refugees</a>, who live in squalor with little or no help from the French government, risk their lives trying to jump fences or stowaway in trucks heading across the Channel to <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/despicable-british-tourists-complain-of-refugees-ruining-their-holidays-in-greece/" target="_blank">England</a>. Their numbers are growing, and many of them are children. Some have been living in ‘The Jungle’ for years, and donations of tents, blankets and medicine are urgently needed as we move into the bitterly cold winter season. The video above shows the harsh reality of life as a <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/german-woman-who-survived-ww2-explains-why-shes-helping-refugees/" target="_blank">refugee</a> in Calais: including being pepper-sprayed and beaten by police.</p> <p>The Calais Migrant Solidarity group is doing amazing work to make life a little more bearable for those living in The Jungle. Click <a href="https://calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com/contact-us-2/" target="_blank">here</a> for more details on how you can donate money, time or goods to support them.</p> <hr /> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news Banksy Dismantles His Theme Park To Provide Shelter For Refugees

Compassionate artist announces Dismaland will be used to build homes for migrants in France's notorious camp, 'The Jungle' [emb...

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Manufacturers Refusing To Sell Hungary Ravor Wire For Their Anti-Refugee Fences

<p><a href="http://cdn11.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/prison-fence-218456_640.jpg"><img alt="prison-fence-218456_640" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-41374" height="300" src="http://cdn11.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/prison-fence-218456_640-400x300.jpg" width="400" /></a>The Hungarian government has come under global criticism in recent months for their harsh treatment of refugees, as some of the worst scenes of mistreatment in the crisis have been reported along its borders. To prevent people from crossing their borders, the Hungarian government is attempting to build massive fences fitted with razor wire and patrolled by armed guards. In response to the actions of the Hungarian government, some businesses are refusing to do business with them under the grounds that their products would be used to hurt people.</p> <p>One company that producers razor wire actually turned down a contract with the Hungarian government that would have brought them over a half-million Euros in revenue. Talat Deger, owner of the Berlin-based company Mutanox said that he turned down the deal because he didn’t want to have his razor wire being used on Syrian refugees.</p> <p><em>“Hungary is</em> misusing <em>the</em> nato <em>wire. Mr. Orban takes it in stride that people could hurt or even die from it. (Razor) wire is designed to prevent criminal acts, like an intrusion, from taking place. Fleeing children and adults are not criminals,”</em> he said.</p> <p>Deger also said that his employees all approved of his decision to turn down the contract.</p> <p>Another company, also from Germany, that wished to remain anonymous, told <a href="http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Germans-Refuse-to-Sell-Hungary-Razor-Wire--20150916-0017.html" target="_blank">Sputnik News</a> that they also turned down the contract.</p> <p>The CEO of the company reportedly said, “<em>Children, caught in the wire, is a disgrace.”</em></p> <p>Unfortunately, there are still many other companies lining up to sell the Hungarian government their razor wire, but if this tactic becomes more widespread it could potentially block governments from obtaining the materials that they need to wage war on the general population.</p> <p>As we have been reporting in recent weeks, the refugee situation in Europe has been met with both uplifting and disappointing reactions. <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/german-woman-who-survived-ww2-explains-why-shes-helping-refugees/">Germany has been extremely open</a> and generous to the refugees while other places are more resistant. We reported earlier this week that <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/egyptian-billionaire-will-purchase-an-island-to-provide-200000-refugees-new-home/">Naguib Sawiris, an Egyptian billionaire and philanthropist</a>, has decided to “be the change” and help remedy the Syrian refugee crisis by purchasing an island in the Mediterranean to provide a new home to those displaced by the civil war.</p> <p>Many of the anti-immigration commenters who have been against allowing the refugees to move from their war-torn homes, have claimed that Syrian migrants would be a drain on the economy and would eat up the benefits and welfare that Europeans receive. However, this is not true, many of the migrants are skilled and willing workers who don’t want any handouts, they just want to work and own their own property in place that is relatively peaceful and safe to raise children.</p> <hr /> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jgvibes" target="_blank">John Vibes</a> writes for True Activist and is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war.</p> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news Manufacturers Refusing To Sell Hungary Ravor Wire For Their Anti-Refugee Fences

The Hungarian government has come under global criticism in recent months for their harsh treatment of refugees, as some of the worst scenes...

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Banksy Dismantling His “Dismaland Themepark” To Build Shelter For Refugees In France

<p><a href="http://cdn9.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/dismal-calais1.jpg"><img alt="dismal-calais1" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-41381" height="262" src="http://cdn11.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/dismal-calais1-400x262.jpg" width="400" /></a>Banksy will be taking down the materials used to build his “Dismaland Themepark” and donating them to <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/?s=refugee" target="_blank">refugee</a> shelters in France where the materials are needed.</p> <p><a href="http://dismaland.co.uk/" target="_blank">A message recently posted on the website said:</a></p> <p><em>“Coming soon … Dismaland Calais. All the timber and fixtures from Dismaland are being sent to the ‘jungle’ refugee camp near Calais to build shelters. No online tickets will be available.”</em></p> <p>As the name implies, much of the art in the park was dismal, and many of the attractions are as well. They also contain Banky’s signature activist touch, calling attention to real global issues that are often avoided by mainstream culture.</p> <p>The park was located at Weston-super-Mare, an abandoned swimming resort in south-west England.</p> <p><a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/?s=banksy" target="_blank">Banksy</a> described the park as “<em>a festival of art, amusements and entry-level anarchism”</em> and mentioned that it was not suitable for children.</p> <p>After the living art exhibit ended last week, Banksy decided to donate the materials to help out the refugees and to create a conversation about the refugee crisis.</p> <p>The refugee camp that the materials will be donated to is known as the “Jungle”, which is a massive tent city located in the Calais’ port. Many of the migrants staying there are awaiting passage to the UK.</p> <hr /> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jgvibes" target="_blank">John Vibes</a> writes for True Activist and is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war.</p> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news Banksy Dismantling His “Dismaland Themepark” To Build Shelter For Refugees In France

Banksy will be taking down the materials used to build his “Dismaland Themepark” and donating them to refugee shelters in France where the ...

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You’ll Never Believe This Dog Is The Same One Rescued Just Two Months Ago…

activism knowledge news You’ll Never Believe This Dog Is The Same One Rescued Just Two Months Ago…

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Astronaut Says NASA Could Be Announcing Alien Life on Mars This Week

<p><a href="http://cdn10.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/mars-633971_640.jpg"><img alt="mars-633971_640" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-34043" height="324" src="http://cdn10.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/mars-633971_640-400x324.jpg" width="400" /></a>According to a press release issued by <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/?s=nasa" target="_blank">NASA</a> last week, the agency is planning to announce a major breakthrough in their research of the planet <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/?s=mars" target="_blank">Mars</a>. Few details have been mentioned about their discovery thus far, but they have hyped this discovery as a solution to an age-old mystery.</p> <p><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-to-announce-mars-mystery-solved" target="_blank">The press release read in full:</a></p> <p>NASA will detail a major science finding from the agency’s ongoing exploration of Mars during a news briefing at 11:30 a.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 28 at the James Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The event will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency’s website.</p> <p>News conference participants will be:</p> <blockquote readability="26.422802850356"> <p>· Jim Green, director of planetary science at NASA Headquarters</p> <p>· Michael Meyer, lead scientist for the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters</p> <p>· Lujendra Ojha of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta</p> <p>· Mary Beth Wilhelm of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California and the Georgia Institute of Technology</p> <p>· Alfred McEwen, principal investigator for the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) at the University of Arizona in Tucson</p> <p>A brief question-and-answer session will take place during the event with reporters on site and by phone. Members of the public also can ask questions during the briefing using #AskNASA.</p> <p>To participate in the briefing by phone, reporters must email their name, media affiliation and telephone number to Steve Cole at <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" data-cfemail="ed9e99889d858883c388c38e828188ad838c9e8cc38a829b">[email protected]</a> by 9 a.m. EDT on Monday.</p> </blockquote> <p>The announcements have many researchers excited, and some are even predicting that evidence of alien life could be revealed.</p> <p>Former astronaut Mike Massimino told <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/mars-mystery-solved-nasa-announce-major-news/story?id=34077002" target="_blank">ABC news</a> that he is expecting paradigm changing news.</p> <p><em>“I suspect it’s going to be something that will increase our interest in going to Mars,</em>” he said.</p> <p><em>“That there is some sort of life form that might be discovered, and it’s also the possibility that you could support human life there,</em>” he added.</p> <p>As of right now it is too soon to speculate about what the announcement actually is, but we are hoping that it lives up to the hype.</p> <blockquote width="550" readability="6.3128491620112"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mars is a mysterious world, tune in to NASA TV on 9/28 as we announce a major science finding <a href="http://t.co/rGO75UPf4s">http://t.co/rGO75UPf4s</a> <a href="http://t.co/ZpbnroSBzh">pic.twitter.com/ZpbnroSBzh</a></p> <p>— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/647916813175681025">September 26, 2015</a></p> </blockquote> <p>For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and to view the news briefing, visit:</p> <p align="center"><strong><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv">http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv</a></strong></p> <hr /> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jgvibes" target="_blank">John Vibes</a> writes for True Activist and is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war.</p> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news Astronaut Says NASA Could Be Announcing Alien Life on Mars This Week

According to a press release issued by NASA last week, the agency is planning to announce a major breakthrough in their research of the pla...

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Man Builds Dog Train And Takes Rescued Pups On Adventures

activism knowledge news Man Builds Dog Train And Takes Rescued Pups On Adventures

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Pet Store Employee Quits After Puppy Dies In Her Arms, Speaks Out About Puppy Mills

activism knowledge news Pet Store Employee Quits After Puppy Dies In Her Arms, Speaks Out About Puppy Mills

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As Scientists Call For Action, California Leads The Way In Banning Microbeads

<p>The state draws up the toughest legislation yet to outlaw microbeads as marine scientists ask for an outright ban across the USA</p> <p><a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/as-scientists-call-for-action-california-leads-the-way-in-banning-microbeads/microbeads1/" rel="attachment wp-att-41286"><img alt="microbeads1" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-41286" height="219" src="http://cdn9.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/microbeads1-400x219.jpg" width="400" /></a>This month, a group of scientists called for an outright ban on <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/together-we-can-ban-the-bead-and-heres-why-you-should-never-eat-sushi/" target="_blank">microbeads</a>, arguing that we don’t have time to delay extreme measures until there is more proof for their negative impact on the environment. They did so as California became the latest state to ‘ban the bead’.</p> <p>The destructive nature of <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/10-life-hacks-to-help-you-cut-plastic-out-of-the-picture/" target="_blank">microbead</a>s is clear to anyone with common sense: these tiny pieces of plastic are commonly added to creams, scrubs, toothpastes and gels as a cheap and effective exfoliator. Ranging in size from 0.0004 to 1.24 millimeters, they are too small to be filtered out by water treatment plants. In the USA alone, over <strong>800 trillion</strong> microbeads are washed down the drains daily. Another 8 trillion make their way into the water system from sewage treatment plants- that’s enough of these miniscule beads to cover more than 300 tennis courts, every single day. Microbeads end up in our oceans, rivers and lakes, and because they are often confused for fish eggs or other food sources, they are rapidly killing off fish, mammals and seabirds all over the world.</p> <p>In a <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/ipdf/10.1021/acs.est.5b03909" target="_blank">paper</a> entitled ‘Scientific evidence supports a ban on <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/illinois-bans-soap-micro-beads-that-are-toxic-and-poisoning-fish/" target="_blank">microbeads</a>‘, eight experts have called on the government to outlaw them, arguing that we already have proof of how the tiny pieces of plastic are devastating marine eco-systems and that time is running out: we don’t have the means to clean them up, therefore the only solution is to stop manufacturers from using them in the first place.</p> <p>The state of California agrees, and earlier this month passed a bill which will prohibit “selling or offering for promotional purposes in this state a personal care product containing plastic microbeads that are used to exfoliate or cleanse in a rinse-off product.” The bad news is that the legislation doesn’t go into effect until Jan. 1, 2020.</p> <p>Similar microbead bans are already in place in <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/illinois-bans-soap-micro-beads-that-are-toxic-and-poisoning-fish/" target="_blank">Illinois</a>, Maine, New Jersey, Colorado, Indiana and Maryland, but some critics say that legislation (which only applies to personal care products) hasn’t gone far enough. Recent endorsement of a ban from leading marine scientists could mean a turning point in the fight against plastic <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/longest-floating-structure-in-history-sets-out-to-clean-the-ocean-in-2016/" target="_blank">pollution</a>. Because manufacturers are not not going to create a unique product for California and Illinois, it stands to reason that banning microbeads in just a couple of states might force corporations to stop using them across the board. Here’s hoping…</p> <p>You can take action by signing a petition <a href="http://www.5gyres.org/banthebead" target="_blank">here</a>, sharing this article, and (last but not least) by boycotting any product that lists polyethylene and polypropylene in the ingredients.</p> <hr /> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news As Scientists Call For Action, California Leads The Way In Banning Microbeads

The state draws up the toughest legislation yet to outlaw microbeads as marine scientists ask for an outright ban across the USA This month...

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Canada Keeps Arresting Pro-Refugee Campaigners (While Detaining More Refugees Than Ever)

<p>Wearing a T-shirt showing solidarity with Syrian refugees can get you in trouble under Stephen Harper's government, whose record for indefinitely detaining migrants is terrifyingly inhumane</p> <span>[embedded content]</span> <hr /> <p>On September 3rd, just one day after the tragic image of little <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/this-child-could-be-your-son-where-is-the-love-and-compassion-in-the-debate-about-europes-refugee-crisis/" target="_blank">Aylan</a> went viral around the world, activist Sean Devlin was arrested at Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s election campaign event in British Colombia. He was wearing a shirt that said ‘<span>Aylan</span> should be here’, in reference to the drowned Syrian toddler who sparked a fierce debate about the <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/despicable-british-tourists-complain-of-refugees-ruining-their-holidays-in-greece/" target="_blank">immigration</a> policies of developed countries.</p> <p>Canada has seen a 30% decrease in <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/refugee-who-was-tripped-by-camerawoman-is-given-a-job-as-a-soccer-coach-in-madrid/" target="_blank">refugee</a> acceptances since 2006 under Stephen Harper’s government. “They’re spending tax dollars on second homes for Senators while telling families fleeing war that we can’t afford to welcome them”, Devlin said after being released. “These policies are inhumane and directly force families into life threatening situations.”</p> <p>Sean Devlin was part of a team that helped produce videos for <a href="http://www.neverhome.ca/" target="_blank">NeverHome.ca</a> – a new multimedia project that sheds light on the drastically changed landscape for <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/for-their-wedding-this-turkish-couple-invited-4000-refugees-to-celebrate-with-them/" target="_blank">immigrants</a> under the Harper government. He is also associated with Canadian movement ‘Shit Harper Did’ or <a href="http://www.shd.ca/" target="_blank">SHD</a>, which aims to outline the huge number of social and environmental abuses by the Canadian President.</p> <p><a href="http://cdn11.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Kamloops_Alan1.jpg"><img alt="Kamloops_Alan" class="aligncenter wp-image-40871" height="478" src="http://cdn11.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Kamloops_Alan1.jpg" width="750" /></a></p> <p>On the 14th of this month, another protester called Lucy Burgess was thrown out of a campaign event for the same ‘crime’: wearing a T-shirt in support of <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/syrian-president-says-us-and-europe-created-refugee-crisis-by-supporting-terrorism/" target="_blank">refugee</a> rights.</p> <p>The Canadian government jailed 87,317 migrants between 2006 and 2014. These shocking statistics include up to 807 children per year. Migrants are the only population in Canada who can be jailed on administrative grounds without ever being charged with a specific criminal offense. Many migrants face indefinite detention, with no trial and no charges, and some migrants now face mandatory detention. In 2013 alone, migrant detainees spent a collective total of 503 years behind bars.</p> <p>In 2014, the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention strongly chastised the Canadian <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/when-iceland-capped-its-syrian-refugees-at-50-10000-icelanders-responded-by-offering-up-their-homes/" target="_blank">immigration</a> detention system. The University of Toronto’s International Human Rights Program released a study in 2015 finding that Canada’s rising detention of non-criminal foreigners in maximum-security prisons amounts to arbitrary, cruel and inhumane treatment that violates international obligations.</p> <p><a href="http://cdn11.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/alpha.jpg"><img alt="alpha" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-40475" height="538" src="http://cdn11.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/alpha.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <p>Immigration detention is one of the fastest growing forms of incarceration in Canada. Over the past 10 years, the government has detained an average of 11,000 <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/is-this-the-face-of-terrorism-syrian-refugee-cradles-kitten-stowaway-on-successful-journey-to-greece/" target="_blank">migrants</a> per year, including up to 807 children detained each year. In some cases, young Canadian children such as Alpha Anawa have been born in Canada Border Services Agency custody, spending their entire lives behind bars.</p> <p>Learn more by watching the shocking video, and please consider sharing this article if you feel strongly about it. Those of you in Canada can join in the month of actions in support of refugee rights by clicking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1703064886579884/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <hr /> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news Canada Keeps Arresting Pro-Refugee Campaigners (While Detaining More Refugees Than Ever)

Wearing a T-shirt showing solidarity with Syrian refugees can get you in trouble under Stephen Harper's government, whose record for ind...

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Norway Pays Brazil $1bn For Slowing Amazon Deforestation

<p>The incentive is part of an initiative called the Amazon Fund, which encourages developing countries to protect the environment</p> <p><a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/norway-pays-brazil-1bn-for-slowing-amazon-deforestation/ericpheterson1/" rel="attachment wp-att-41148"><img alt="ericpheterson1" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-41148" height="219" src="http://cdn9.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ericpheterson1-400x219.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/police-in-norway-havent-killed-anyone-in-nearly-a-decade/" target="_blank">Norway</a> will soon pay <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/architects-plan-to-turn-brazils-empty-stadiums-into-housing-for-homeless/" target="_blank">Brazil</a> the final installment of a $1bn payment for slowing the rate at which the Amazon rainforest is cut down, giving a massive incentive to the country’s government to protect the ‘lungs of the world’.</p> <p>As part of an agreement called The Amazon Fund, the Scandinavian country promised to pay Brazil $1bn between 2008 and 2015, in exchange for its commitment to slow down <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/heres-how-starbucks-is-destroying-the-rainforest-and-what-you-can-do-to-help/" target="_blank">deforestation</a>. The Amazon Fund is administered by the <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/250000-people-forcibly-removed-from-their-homes-for-world-cup-in-brazil/" target="_blank">Brazilian</a> Development Bank BNDES, which uses the money to pay for sustainable and innovative ways to develop the <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/gab_gallery/uncontacted-amazon-tribe-first-ever-aerial-footage/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> region.</p> <p>The UN Secretary General said that the <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/brazil-government-says-amazon-is-improving-vastly-but-independent-researchers-disagree/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> fund was “an outstanding example of the kind of international collaboration we need to ensure the future sustainability of the planet”.</p> <p><a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/how-these-brazilian-students-learn-english-is-amazing/" target="_blank">Brazil</a> vowed to cut the rate of deforestation by 75 percent over the past seven years, and has achieved its goal. Between 1996 and 2005, <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/brazilian-artist-is-transforming-womens-scars-from-abuse-into-art-for-free/" target="_blank">Brazil</a> cut down 20,500 km squared, an area the size of Clark County in Nevada, or the entire state of Israel. By the year from August 2013 to July 2014, that had fallen to 4,800km squared. In 2012 the rate of deforestation fell to its lowest in 24 years.</p> <p>But activists say the rate of <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/watch-over-500000-ants-joined-in-protest-against-deforestation/" target="_blank">deforestation</a> is not slowing down enough, and that Brazil- whose policy of <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/the-world-must-know-what-is-happening-here-the-story-behind-those-shocking-viral-images/" target="_blank">evicting</a> native <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/indigenous-protesters-occupy-oil-field-in-the-amazon-and-threaten-to-shut-it-down-if-they-are-ignored/" target="_blank">people</a> from their ancestral land has proven very <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/the-militarization-of-conservation-and-the-dark-side-of-the-wwf-exposed/" target="_blank">controversial</a>– should be doing much more to prevent the loss of diverse habitats. In July 2014, <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/brazilian-wasp-venom-found-to-kill-cancer-cells-without-harming-healthy-cells/" target="_blank">Brazilian</a> President Dilma Rousseff made it easier for logging companies to clear the rainforest, resulting in a <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/worlds-oldest-tree-accidentally-cut-down-by-loggers-in-amazon/" target="_blank">deforestation</a> spike: 402km squared was cleared in September last year alone.</p> <p>Norway has put an impressive $670 million into the Amazon Fund so far and is one of the most charitable nations on the planet, with over 1% of its GDP spent on international aid. The country also has a deal with Indonesia, offering it the same $180m installments in exchange for a vow from the country to protect its tropical <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/mind-blowing-what-the-people-of-the-amazon-know-that-you-dont/" target="_blank">rainforests</a>. However, it warned the Indonesian government earlier this year that its progress in reforming its forestry sector will <em>not</em> be sufficient to meet its pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 26% in 2020.</p> <p>Norwegian environment minister Baard Vegar Solhjell announced on Monday that the government would make the $100m payment to Brazil before the global <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/this-15-year-old-is-leading-a-global-revolution-for-climate-change/" target="_blank">climate</a> summit in December, praising the country’s conservation work: “These efforts have tremendous positive effects for biodiversity, the livelihoods of local communities and indigenous peoples, and local and global rainfall patterns,” he <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/us-norway-brazil-aid-idUSBRE8B50WA20121206" target="_blank">sai</a>d. “The importance of what Brazil has achieved on deforestation over the last few years can hardly be overestimated.”</p> <p>Do you agree? Let us know your thoughts below.</p> <hr /> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news Norway Pays Brazil $1bn For Slowing Amazon Deforestation

The incentive is part of an initiative called the Amazon Fund, which encourages developing countries to protect the environment Norway wil...

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Finally, Court Rules Whales To Be Protected From Navy Sonar!

<p>It's fantastic news for these majestic creatures, whose mysterious mass deaths have caused many to lay the blame on the US Navy</p> <p><a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/finally-court-rules-whales-to-be-protected-from-navy-sonar/whales2a/" rel="attachment wp-att-41137"><img alt="whales2a" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-41137" height="219" src="http://cdn11.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/whales2a-400x219.jpg" width="400" /></a>Earthjustice, Greenpeace and the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have won a battle to challenge the US Navy’s training and testing activities off the coasts of <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/hawaii-plans-to-transform-its-old-buses-into-homeless-shelters-with-showers/" target="_blank">Hawaii</a> and Southern <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/california-has-only-one-year-of-water-left/" target="_blank">California</a>, including its highly controversial use of sonar.</p> <p>Military sonar causes chaos to marine animals’ migration patterns, breeding and feeding ground, and their ability to communicate and hear. We’ve all read stories of dead <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/gab_gallery/two-humpback-whales-attempt-to-save-grey-whale-calf-from-a-pod-of-killer-whales/" target="_blank">whales</a> washing up on the beach, and the navy has now <a href="http://news.sciencemag.org/2002/01/navy-admits-sonar-killed-whales" target="_blank">admitted</a> that its use of  sonar testing activities is helping to kill off these beautiful <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/australia-wins-whaling-case-against-japan/" target="_blank">creatures</a>. As Tim Donaghy, a senior research specialist with Greenpeace <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/14/stranded-whales-ocean-navy-sonars" target="_blank">told</a> the Guardian in June last year,  “a deaf whale is a dead whale.” Take into account that many injured and dead <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/how-whales-change-climate/" target="_blank">whales</a> and <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/india-declares-dolphins-non-human-persons-dolphin-shows-banned/" target="_blank">dolphins</a> do not end up stranded on a beach, and it’s easy to see how difficult it is to accurately assess how many marine animals are affected by sonar use in our oceans.</p> <p>In March, a US district court in <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/hawaii-just-banned-plastic-bags-at-grocery-checkouts/" target="_blank">Hawaii</a> found that the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) improperly gave approval to the navy’s use of sonar in the Pacific, a cause for celebration for environmental groups. This month, a federal court went one step further by ruling that when the US Navy’s current contract expires in 2018, certain regulations to its activities will apply:</p> <ul> <li>The deal will prohibit the navy “from using mid-frequency active sonar for training and testing activities in important habitat for beaked whales between Santa Catalina Island and San Nicolas Island” and</li> <li>“from using mid-frequency active sonar for training and testing activities in important habitat for blue whales feeding near San Diego”.</li> <li>It also requires that “surface vessels must use ‘extreme caution’ and travel at a safe speed to minimize the risk of ship strikes in blue whale feeding habitat and migratory corridors for blue, fin, and gray whales.”</li> <li>Special prohibitions already in place in <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/hawaiian-natives-fight-to-keep-telescope-off-sacred-mountain/" target="_blank">Hawaii</a> restrict speed in order to protect humpback whales.</li> </ul> <p>Please share this good news with your friends!</p> <hr /> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news Finally, Court Rules Whales To Be Protected From Navy Sonar!

It's fantastic news for these majestic creatures, whose mysterious mass deaths have caused many to lay the blame on the US Navy Earthju...

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Women Of The First Nations Shut Down Tar Sands Pipeline Hearing

<p><a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/women-of-the-first-nations-shut-down-tar-sands-pipeline-hearing/native-protest-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-41125"><img alt="native protest" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-41125" height="300" src="http://cdn9.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/native-protest-400x300.jpg" width="400" /></a>This week, women representing the First Nations shut down a pipeline meeting in Montreal. The meeting was on the controversial TransCanada Pipeline which could potentially displace tens of thousands of people and create untold environmental pollution. Native communities will be some of the most hard hit by the <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/?s=pipeline" target="_blank">pipeline</a>, as the oil companies are planning on building directly through their ancestral homelands, the land that was promised to them through very early government treaties.</p> <p>Amanda Lickers of the Seneca-Haudenosaunee community was one of the women who joined the protest. She told reporters on the scene that she was determined to protect her homeland and the environment surrounding it.</p> <p><em>“What we want TransCanada to understand is that no means no. This is Kanien’ke, this is Mohawk Land, and we are tired of occupation, we are tired of environmental disaster. This is our land and we are going to protect it,</em>” she said.</p> <p>During the protest, four <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/?s=native" target="_blank">native</a> women held a banner that said <em>“No consent, no pipelines”</em> as the meeting was being canceled.</p> <blockquote lang="en" readability="3.1420118343195" xml:lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nopipelinesnoconsent?src=">#nopipelinesnoconsent</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/energyeast?src=">#energyeast</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pipeline?src=">#pipeline</a> consultantion disrupted <a href="https://twitter.com/defendourlands">@defendourlands</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/unistoten?src=">#unistoten</a> <a href="http://t.co/AhVutlGghY">pic.twitter.com/AhVutlGghY</a></p> <p>— stimulator (@stimulator) <a href="https://twitter.com/stimulator/status/646828089532620801">September 23, 2015</a></p> </blockquote> <p><br /> <em>“The NEB doesn’t even make the call. All they do is put a recommendation to the federal government. We wanted to push home that this is a process of futility, and if we are going to stop pipelines, we need to move forward with direct action. We have a responsibility to future generations to assert our sovereignty,”</em> <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/09/24/no-consent-first-nations-women-shut-down-tar-sands-pipeline-hearing" target="_blank">Lickers told Common Dreams.</a></p> <p>The police were called to the protest, but luckily no arrests were made.</p> <p>Earlier this year, <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/sioux-tribal-president-declares-keystone-xl-pipeline-an-act-of-war/" target="_blank">in Rosebud South Dakota</a>, the Rosebud Sioux Tribal President made an official announcement, stating that the Rosebud Sioux Tribe considers the laying of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline through their lands to be an “act of war.”</p> <p>One of the most effective propaganda campaigns that the government has going for them is the idea that it is somehow their job to protect the environment.</p> <p>This is said to be accomplished by punishing those who damage the environment. However, situations like this give a much clearer view of reality.</p> <p>In this case and in most others, individual private property holders are actually personally invested in the land, thus they have a greater incentive to actually take care of the property and be conscious of the environment.</p> <p>With the Tar Sands pipeline, we see how the government is actually taking property away from people who would treat it well and then selling it to people who will undoubtedly disrespect it.</p> <p>Without the strong arm of the government to expropriate the property, the companies that are building this pipeline would be forced to directly negotiate with these property holders themselves or offer them fair deals in return for their property.</p> <p>Beings that most of these people have so much personal history invested in this land, the majority of them would refuse to negotiate, making the construction of this pipeline completely impossible.</p> <p>Sadly, politicians have no problem negotiating with other people’s property, so they can be lobbied to use the guns of government to expropriate land on behalf of a third party, making projects that no one wants in their “own back yard” a reality.</p> <hr /> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jgvibes" target="_blank">John Vibes</a> writes for True Activist and is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war.</p> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news Women Of The First Nations Shut Down Tar Sands Pipeline Hearing

This week, women representing the First Nations shut down a pipeline meeting in Montreal. The meeting was on the controversial TransCanada P...

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The PR Pope Was Picked To Save The Vatican…Not The World

<div><a href="http://cdn10.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Pope_Francis_at_Varginha_2.jpg"><img alt="Photo: Wikimedia Commons" class="size-full wp-image-25498" height="568" src="http://cdn10.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Pope_Francis_at_Varginha_2.jpg" width="800" /></a> <p>Photo: Wikimedia Commons</p> </div> <p>The hype surrounding the recent visit of <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/?s=pope" target="_blank">Pope Francis</a> to the United States has been unrelenting, especially when compared to the excitement that previous popes were able to generate on their travels.</p> <p>For many decades, the catholic church has been struggling with a tarnished image, due to their draconian policies, outdated rules and the widening child molestation scandals involving large numbers of catholic priests. The Vatican lost even more credibility after the selection of the previous pope, who looked like a vampire and was literally a card holding member of Hitler’s youth organization when he was young.</p> <p>These and many other factors have led to a rapid decline in membership for the catholic church in recent years. So when it was time to pick a new pope, a more media-friendly pope was considered, one that would help the church to sway the newer and younger generation back into their favor. Of course, nothing has really changed about the catholic church or the Vatican over the past few years, aside from the fact that they have been using more cheery and populous driven rhetoric to promote their organization.</p> <p><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/transcript-pope-franciss-speech-to-congress/2015/09/24/6d7d7ac8-62bf-11e5-8e9e-dce8a2a2a679_story.html" target="_blank">During his highly publicized speech to congress this week</a>, the pope continued to support their policies while paying lip service to helping the poor and stopping the violence in the world. However, the Vatican is one of the richest organization on the face of the earth, and could surely eradicate poverty if they actually chose to. Instead, the pope is spending his time giving praise to the politicians who are causing the problems, while taking photo opportunities with a few <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/?s=homeless" target="_blank">homeless</a> people.</p> <p>It is important to remember that the public figures who run the world’s ancient political and religious institutions are put there to uphold and justify the violence that these institutions have been perpetuating for centuries. Although they may speak to the people in a way that people understand and identify with, they are not actually bringing any question to the systematic issues that are responsible for the world’s violence and <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/?s=poverty" target="_blank">poverty.</a></p> <p>It is a good sign that the general population is now gravitating towards more peaceful rhetoric from political leaders, but for us to truly be free we need to stop fooling ourselves into believing that someone is going to come along and free us by using the systems that have enslaved us to begin with.</p> <hr /> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jgvibes" target="_blank">John Vibes</a> writes for True Activist and is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war.</p> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news The PR Pope Was Picked To Save The Vatican…Not The World

Photo: Wikimedia Commons The hype surrounding the recent visit of Pope Francis to the United States has been unrelenting, especially whe...

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Estonian Students Built Giant Megaphones To Hear The Forest… And They’re Awesome!

activism knowledge news Estonian Students Built Giant Megaphones To Hear The Forest… And They’re Awesome!

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Syrian Refugee Arrested Attempting To Cross Texas Border After US Promised To Allow 10,000 Migrants

<p><a href="http://cdn10.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/800px-US-Mexico_border_fence.jpg"><img alt="800px-US-Mexico_border_fence" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-41089" height="600" src="http://cdn10.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/800px-US-Mexico_border_fence.jpg" width="800" /></a></p> <p>Last week, President Barack Obama announced that the US would be taking in <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/10/politics/u-s-take-10000-syrian-refugees/">up to 10,000</a> Syrian refugees over the course of the next year. However, it seems that the policy may be very tightly regimented, as Syrian refugees are already getting arrested while attempting to cross into the US.</p> <p>Earlier this week, 27-year-old <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/immigration-border-crisis/syrian-arrested-texas-border-charged-misusing-u-s-passport-n431421?cid=sm_tw">Syrian refugee Walaa Alrehawi was arrested</a> after border control agents became suspicious and checked the passport that she was using. The passport actually belonged to her sister and she was using to it travel from Lebanon to Germany and then finally to Mexico.</p> <p>Both Walaa and her sister charged on Friday with “willfully” using a U.S. passport intended for somebody else. However, in the midst of escaping a war zone, it is likely impossible to get the right paperwork to get a passport in time, and Walaa was obviously just doing the best she could with a bad situation. Now it is likely that she will end up in a prison or a FEMA camp for an extended period of time, simply because her circumstances made it impossible for her to get a passport.</p> <p>As we have been reporting in recent weeks, the refugee situation in Europe has been met with both uplifting and disappointing reactions. <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/german-woman-who-survived-ww2-explains-why-shes-helping-refugees/">Germany has been extremely open</a> and generous to the refugees while other places are more resistant. We reported earlier this week that <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/egyptian-billionaire-will-purchase-an-island-to-provide-200000-refugees-new-home/">Naguib Sawiris, an Egyptian billionaire and philanthropist</a>, has decided to “be the change” and help remedy the Syrian refugee crisis by purchasing an island in the Mediterranean to provide a new home to those displaced by the civil war.</p> <p><a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/syrian-president-says-us-and-europe-created-refugee-crisis-by-supporting-terrorism/">In an interview last week</a>, Syrian President Bashar Assad pointed out that the US and Europe are largely to blame for the <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/?s=refugee">refugee crisis</a> that has intensified in recent weeks.</p> <p>As Assad noted, the United States government and NATO have funded and trained the Syrian rebels who ended up becoming ISIS. The rebels have been attempting to take over the Syrian dictatorship, not to set the people of <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/?s=syria">Syria</a> free, but to install their own dictatorship.</p> <p>Many of the anti-immigration commenters who have been against allowing the refugees to move from their war-torn homes, have claimed that Syrian migrants would be a drain on the economy and would eat up the benefits and welfare that Europeans receive. However, this is not true, many of the migrants are skilled and willing workers who don’t want any handouts, they just want to work and own their own property in place that is relatively peaceful and safe to raise children.</p> <hr /> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jgvibes" target="_blank">John Vibes</a> writes for True Activist and is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war.</p> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news Syrian Refugee Arrested Attempting To Cross Texas Border After US Promised To Allow 10,000 Migrants

Last week, President Barack Obama announced that the US would be taking in up to 10,000 Syrian refugees over the course of the next year. ...

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Monsanto’s Cancer Causing Herbicide Doesn’t Even Work, Actually Makes Weeds Stronger

<p><a href="http://cdn9.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/grass-76069_640.jpg"><img alt="grass-76069_640" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-41085" height="387" src="http://cdn9.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/grass-76069_640.jpg" width="640" /></a></p> <p>As we have covered <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/page/6/?s=roundup" target="_blank">extensively in recent months</a>, Monsanto’s herbicide Glysophate, the primary ingredient in their top-selling product “RoundUp” has been proven to cause cancer. Now, according to new reports, the chemical <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/22/us-agriculture-glyphosate-idUSKCN0RM2ER20150922" target="_blank">doesn’t even work</a> and is creating a new resistance in weeds that make them more resiliant and more difficult to get rid of.</p> <p>Nebraska <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/?s=farmer" target="_blank">farmer</a> Mike Pietzyk recently discussed how the weeds are becoming resistant to RoundUp in a recent interview with <a href="http://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i37/Rocky-Road-Roundup.html" target="_blank">Chemicals And Engineers News.</a></p> <p><em>“The days of going out and spraying RoundUp twice a year—those are long gone,</em>” he said, adding that he was forced to use a cocktail of different chemicals, some of which are even more dangerous than RoundUp. Pietzyk and other farmers are now seeking new solutions to avoid the harsh pesticides used in conventional farming.</p> <p><em>“People in urban areas and towns need to understand—we live here, we drink the water under the ground out here,” he says. “We want to be good stewards of what we’ve been entrusted with,”</em> he said.</p> <p>According to U.S. weed scientist Dallas Peterson, one type of weed, in particular, called Palmer amaranth, has become especially resistant to pesticides and is overgrowing farms across the country.</p> <p>Complaints of herbicide-resistant weeds have become so common that the House Agriculture Committee has scheduled a meeting on December 4th to specifically address the situation.</p> <p>Roundup, formulated to be used on <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/?s=monsanto" target="_blank">GMO</a> or “Roundup Ready” crops engineered to be resistant to it, is the most widely used herbicide in the world. It was originally introduced in the 1970s to control weeds and then took off when the planting of GMO crops skyrocketed in the past 15 years.</p> <p><a href="http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=2012&map=GLYPHOSATE&hilo=H">According to a U.S. Geological Survey</a> (USGS), glyphosate use in the U.S. increased from about 20 million pounds in 1992 to 110 million pounds in 2002 to more than 280 million pounds in 2012.</p> <p>In a <a href="http://theantimedia.org/roundup-probably-causes-cancer-in-humans/">statement</a> released earlier this year, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) announced that glyphosate, the main ingredient in RoundUp, is “probably carcinogenic.”</p> <hr /> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jgvibes" target="_blank">John Vibes</a> writes for True Activist and is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war.</p> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news Monsanto’s Cancer Causing Herbicide Doesn’t Even Work, Actually Makes Weeds Stronger

As we have covered extensively in recent months , Monsanto’s herbicide Glysophate, the primary ingredient in their top-selling product “Rou...

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12-Year-Old British Gypsy Has A Higher IQ Than Stephen Hawking And Albert Einstein

activism knowledge news 12-Year-Old British Gypsy Has A Higher IQ Than Stephen Hawking And Albert Einstein

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Taking Selfies Officially More Dangerous than Using Cannabis

<p><a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/taking-selfies-officially-more-dangerous-than-using-cannabis/selfies-more-dangerous-cannabis/" rel="attachment wp-att-41058"><img alt="selfies-more-dangerous-cannabis" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-41058" height="365" src="http://cdn10.trueactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/selfies-more-dangerous-cannabis.jpg" width="708" /></a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>By: <a href="http://theantimedia.org/team/carey/" target="_blank">Carey Wedler</a>,</strong></p> <p>As the “selfie” has pushed its way to the forefront of popular culture — even <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/tech/selfie-tweep-and-hashtag-added-to-86215489849.html" target="_blank">earning recognition as an official word</a> in the English language — it is still viewed with skepticism and is often considered dangerous for the societal egocentrism and superficiality it has come to represent. One <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/close-encounters/201501/are-selfies-sign-narcissism-and-psychopathy" target="_blank">study</a> even found selfies are associated with higher rates of narcissism, psychopathy, and self-objectification. A new <a href="http://mashable.com/2015/09/21/selfie-deaths/#tZZcFO8OukqI" target="_blank">examination</a>suggests they are dangerous in another regard: <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/scientists-link-selfies-to-narcissism-addiction-mental-illness/">selfies</a> are more lethal than cannabis.</p> <p><strong>Read More: <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/scientists-link-selfies-to-narcissism-addiction-mental-illness/">Scientists Link Selfies To Narcissism, Addiction & Mental Illness</a></strong></p> <p>Mashable’s original death-by-selfie <a href="http://mashable.com/2015/09/21/selfie-deaths/#tZZcFO8OukqI" target="_blank">analysis</a> actually compared the number of people who died while taking selfies in 2015 to the number of people killed by sharks in that same period. The simple comparison found more people accidentally died while attempting to snap pictures of themselves than were killed by the notoriously dangerous fish. Mashable reported that selfies killed twelve people while sharks killed eight, though Conde Nast Traveler <a href="http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2015-09-15/selfies-vs-shark-attacks-which-is-more-deadly-for-travelers" target="_blank">notes</a> the figure for selfies could be higher as there is not yet a reliable way to track this cause of death.</p> <p>As the Chicago Tribune <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-selfies-shark-attacks-deaths-debunked-20150923-story.html" target="_blank">pointed out</a>, however, comparing selfies to shark attacks may be an invalid parallel: “<em>A shark attack is a direct mechanism of death — a thing that produces actual, physical harm. A selfie, on the other hand, is what health statisticians might classify as an ‘underlying mechanism’ or an ‘intermediate mechanism,’ depending on the exact circumstances: a thing that’s involved in, and maybe precipitates, an accident, but doesn’t actually cause any physical harm</em>.”</p> <p>Selfies may not inherently cause harm, but neither do a wide variety of other actions. The Tribune notes that walking down a flight of stairs (one could fall down) or swimming in the ocean (one could drown or be killed by a shark) are actions that<em>could</em> be associated with death but are not intrinsically dangerous. Another example of an inherently non-lethal action is using cannabis. Neither selfies nor weed are innate killers, but one is far more associated with death than the other.</p> <p>Last week, one man <em>did</em> die from cannabis after he was pursued by police for stealing a car. He was so terrified of being charged with drug violations that he <a href="http://theantimedia.org/cannabis-finally-killed-someone-but-not-how-you-think/" target="_blank">swallowed his plastic bag containing cannabis</a> and subsequently choked to death. This is a rare case of death by cannabis (though it is arguable that had the man ingested only the cannabis and not the bag, he would not have died in the first place). As Joe Rogan said in the documentary, <em>Culture High</em>, “<em>The only way marijuana can kill you is if you take 25 pounds of it and you throw it out of a CIA drug plane and it hits you in the f*cking head. That’s how you die from marijuana.”</em></p> <p><strong>IN-DEPTH: <a href="http://theantimedia.org/end-the-war-on-drugs/" target="_blank">8 Reasons Why Ending The War On Drugs Would Make The World A Safer Place</a></strong></p> <p>In contrast, one Japanese tourist succumbed to <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34287655">death-by-selfie this week</a>at the Taj Mahal, falling to his death while attempting to snap a shot of himself from a high angle. This type of death is increasing around the world. “<em>Deaths from bridge falls, hand grenade explosions, shots to the head,</em> <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33640070" target="_blank"><em>bison gorings</em></a> <em>— it’s been enough that the European Union, in June, actually proposed the criminalization of certain types of selfies: namely, those containing landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or Rome’s Trevi Fountain</em>,” Conde Nast Traveler explains.</p> <p>Earlier this month, Reuters <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/03/us-life-selfies-idUSKCN0R305L20150903" target="_blank">reported</a> on “<em>dozens of grisly selfie-related deaths and injuries</em>” in Russia this year — illustrating the likelihood that the number of selfie deaths for 2015 is higher than Mashable’s total of twelve. The string of deaths in Russia prompted the Russian Interior Ministry to launch a public awareness campaign about the dangers of selfies. “<em>A cool selfie could cost you your life,</em>” reads one poster.</p> <p>Indian officials recently <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/03/us-life-selfies-idUSKCN0R305L20150903" target="_blank">imposed</a> a “no selfie zone” at the annual Hindu Kumbh Mela festival over fears they could cause a stampede. Americans, too, have died taking selfies. As Reuters <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/03/us-life-selfies-idUSKCN0R305L20150903" target="_blank">detailed</a>, in Texas, “<em>…a 19-year-old father of two died after shooting himself in the neck during a selfie. In Yellowstone National Park exasperated officials issued warnings after five separate selfie takers were gored this summer while standing too near bison.</em>” <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/sep/22/live-grenades-bull-chases-clifftops-selfies-death-toll" target="_blank">People have also indirectly died</a> from selfies by falling off cliffs and attempting to pose with bears. One man was recently bitten — though not killed — by a rattlesnake while <a href="http://ktla.com/2015/08/27/lake-elsinore-man-bitten-while-taking-selfie-with-rattlesnake-mother-says/" target="_blank">attempting to take pictures with it</a>.</p> <p><a href="http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/selfie-statistics-2014/497309" target="_blank">Millions of selfies are taken every week</a>, meaning these featured instances are anecdotal as relatively very few selfie attempts actually result in death. However, the same could be said of “attempts” to get high on cannabis, a plant that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/03/marijuana-overdose_n_4538580.html" target="_blank"><em>never</em> kills people</a> and is <em>also</em> increasingly <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/health-benefits-of-medical-marijuana-2014-4" target="_blank">associated with medical benefits</a> — proving itself more advantageous to society than carefully staged and potentially life-threatening vanity shots.</p> <hr /> <p>_{<i>-- Delivered by <a href="http://feed43.com/">Feed43</a> service</i>}</p>

activism knowledge news Taking Selfies Officially More Dangerous than Using Cannabis

By: Carey Wedler , As the “selfie” has pushed its way to the forefront of popular culture — even  earning recognition as an official word...

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