Our climate projections for 2500 show an Earth that is alien to humans

Christopher Lyon, McGill University; Alex Dunhill, University of Leeds; Andrew P. Beckerman, University of Sheffield; Ariane Burke, Université de Montréal; Bethany Allen, University of Leeds; Chris Smith, University of Leeds; Daniel J. Hill, University of Leeds; Erin Saupe, University of … Continue reading Our climate projections for 2500 show an Earth that is alien to humans

The Viagra of Mullahs, Rabbis & Pastors – Armageddon

  The battle of Armageddon   The nineteenth century reformer, Jamal ad-Din Afghani (1838-1897), wrote, “Every Muslim is sick, and his only remedy is the Quran.” But to some writers in the west, notably the Irish politician, historian and academic Conor Cruise O’Brien (1917-2008), “the sickness gets worse the more the remedy is taken…Muslim society looks profoundly repulsive…It looks repulsive because it is repulsive…A Westerner who claims to admire Muslim society, while still adhering to Western values, is either a hypocrite or an ignoramus or a bit of both.” On his death he was acclaimed by The Guardian as “probably … Continue reading The Viagra of Mullahs, Rabbis & Pastors – Armageddon

US hands Palestine a loaded deck

            To understand how self-defeating the US latest “peace process” drive has been, one only needs to consider some of the characters involved in this political theater. Martin Indyk in particular stands out as a testament to how inherently futile the exercise is. Indyk, a former US ambassador to Israel, was selected by Secretary of State John Kerry for the role of special envoy for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Under normal circumstances, Kerry’s selection might have appeared rational. Former ambassadors often possess the necessary expertise to navigate challenging political landscapes in countries where … Continue reading US hands Palestine a loaded deck

Christian Taliban in The United States Military

“Christian Taliban” vs. Constitution at Air Force Academy “Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.” Teddy Roosevelt What is the fundamentalist Christian version of the American Taliban up to in these heady days nearing November’s mid-term elections? The answer is a lot, an awful lot (with an emphasis on the word “awful”). The lying, deceitful nature of fundamentalist Christian supremacy truly knows no bounds. This constitutionally derelict cabal isn’t even remotely content with having a massive media empire, a monolithic fundraising base, swelling and dominant hegemony within the ranks of the U.S. Armed Forces, and supreme political sway within civilian … Continue reading Christian Taliban in The United States Military

Christian Right Destroys America From Within?

The Christian Right’s “Religious Freedom” Wants to Elevate Beliefs Above Human Rights – and It’s Working By Valerie Tarico, AlterNet  Secular Americans and many liberal people of faith have been horrified by the Right’s most recent ploy: “religious freedom” claims that would give conservative business owners license to discriminate. Until Arizona made the national spotlight, the need for lunch counter sit-ins had seemed like a thing of the past. But in reality, advocates for religious privilege have been circling toward this point for some time. As a legal and political tactic, Tea Party politicians and conservative church leaders have high hopes for their “religious freedom” push. What … Continue reading Christian Right Destroys America From Within?

Israel stokes holy row over mosque and makes Southern Baptists happier!

By Ramzy Baroud  Something sinister is brewing around and below Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem – it has all the hallmarks of a familiar Israeli campaign to strip the mosque of its Muslim-Arab identity. This time around, however, the stakes are much higher.  The status of al-Aqsa is unparalleled within the context of Muslim heritage in Palestine. It is also the third holiest Muslim shrine anywhere. Equally as important, it is a symbol of faith, resistance and defiance. Its story of struggle and perseverance goes hand in hand with the modern Palestinian struggle for rights, freedom and identity.  In a … Continue reading Israel stokes holy row over mosque and makes Southern Baptists happier!

Ukraine: The clash of partnerships

John Feffer  The Cold War is history. For those growing up today, the Cold War is as distant in time as World War II was for those came of age in the 1970s. In both cases, empires collapsed and maps were redrawn. Repugnant ideologies were laid bare and then laid to rest, though patches of nostalgia persist.  Surely the Cold War has been consigned to the textbooks as irrevocably as the Battle of the Bulge. The Berlin Wall is in pieces. The US president speaks of the abolition of nuclear weapons. The “common European home” from the Atlantic to the … Continue reading Ukraine: The clash of partnerships

US adopts Israeli demand on Iran’s missiles

By Gareth Porter  WASHINGTON – The Barack Obama administration’s insistence that Iran discuss its ballistic missile program in the negotiations for a comprehensive nuclear agreement brings its position into line with that of Israel and senators who introduced legislation drafted by the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC aimed at torpedoing the negotiations.  But the history of the issue suggests that the Obama administration knows that Iran will not accept the demand and that it is not necessary to a final agreement guaranteeing that Iran’s nuclear program is not used for a weapon.  White House spokesman Jay Carney highlighted the new US demand … Continue reading US adopts Israeli demand on Iran’s missiles