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"has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, structure, functions and its processes in evolution. (This right) is independent of the obligation on natural and juridical persons or the State to indemnify the people that depend on the natural systems."
This redefinition affirms that nature must receive equal parity by law and not just be a resource for exploitation. Yet these Rights of Nature contain flaws because President Rafael Correa refused to let communities protect their own ecosystems. As a result, corporate predators can exploit the loophole and are expert at taking advantage. The new Mining Law already permits large-scale, open pit metal mining in the Andean highlands and Amazon rainforest.
Nonetheless, Ecuador's Rights of Nature hold hope that other nations may adopt them and start a process to more fully protect the environment.
(19) Bank Bailout Recipients Spent to Defeat Labor
After receiving $25 billion in federal bailout funds, Bank of America organized opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) - legislation to guarantee workers the right to bargain more fairly and collectively with management than since passage of the landmark 1935 National Labor Relations (Wagner) Act.
Business is firmly opposed. On March 10, S. 560: Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 was introduced in the Senate. It was referred to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee where it's pending. Given the Obama administration's opposition, its passage looks doubtful.
(20) Secret Control of the Presidential Debates
Since 1987, the Republican and Democrat-controlled Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) has run the process, dictates terms, and excludes unwanted participants. During the 2008 presidential cycle, the Obama and McCain teams secretly cut a deal on who could participate, permissible topics, and the debate format structure.
Since independent candidate Ross Perot participated in 1992, the exercise has been pre-scripted theater without disturbing questions, shielding major party candidates from unwanted criticism, and excluding independent ones, like Ralph Nader, from participating. Before he died, Walter Cronkite called the CPD an "unconscionable fraud."
(20) Recession Causes States to Cut Welfare
Faced with huge budget shortfalls and little help from Washington, states have been forced to make major expenditure cuts, many affecting vital social services, including health care, education, and welfare.
Yet cutting Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) began prior to the present crisis so funds could be redirected to other priorities. Nationally, welfare rolls dropped over 40% between 2001 and June 2008, and in some states, like Georgia, up to 90%.
By allotting states fixed block grant amounts regardless of need and setting a five year limit for recipients, the 1997 law was deeply flawed as a way to free states and Washington from their obligation to provide welfare to the needy. As a result, America's social safety net is fast disappearing.
(22) Obama's Trilateral Commission Team
In 1973, David Rockefeller founded the Trilateral Commission (TC) to counter a threat of too much democracy. Jimmy Carter was a charter member. Current and past ones include nearly all presidential candidates of both parties; leading senators and congressmen; key members of the media; top intelligence officials; key government agency ones from Treasury, Defense, State, Commerce, and the Judiciary; numerous top business executives, and others from academia, labor, and various NGOs.
Eleven TC members are in the Obama administration, including Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, UN Ambassador Susan Rice, National Security Advisor Gen. James Jones, National Intelligence Director Adm. Dennis Blair, Paul Volker, and five top State Department officials, including Richard Holbrooke and Dennis Ross.
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