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I have been particularly fortunate in that sometimes it's been apparent my efforts have made a difference. Under the proper circumstances, the revelation of an untold truth can provide a powerful tool in the arsenal of Justice.
In 2002, Wikipedia highlights I broke the news on a Bush administration program to recruit more Americans to be 'citizen spies' than the notorious East German Stasi had. The program, Operation TIPS, was fortunately killed within the week by then House Majority Leader Dick Armey. Following this, I had the honor of having one of my articles read in its entirety on the floor of Congress, an article revealing a drift towards martial law and internment camps. The article - titled "Foundations are in place for martial law in the US" and published in Australia's Sydney Morning Herald - was written at a time when, in retrospect, many of the decisions then taken by the Administration have since been regretted, its 'torture questions' not least among them.
On a daily basis, headlines shout the many problems we face, with my seeing a key job for us all in sorting the news that's 'real' from those many items which only serve to effectively distract us from it. As ever larger numbers of us increasingly feel the weight of those many unanswered questions we have for too long carried, be assured that the necessary truths, the answers, are out there.
From my own experience, I am too well aware of the tremendous injustice that our present circumstances can hold, but simply complaining about things won't change them. We, the people, were once the rationale for the creation of that great democratic experiment called The United States of America, and there's no avoiding that what happens to our Country is indeed yet up to us.
OpEd News Member for 848 week(s) and 1 day(s)
27 Articles, 13 Quick Links, 105 Comments, 0 Diaries, 0 Polls
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13 Quicklinks
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Cowboys and Indians, Redux? NATO in the Arctic SHARE
In Sweden, a Nato exercise goes wrong, a fatal plane crash occurs, and a trail of disturbing questions leads further. For decades, international corporations have 'pressured and exploited' Indigenous Peoples when financial profits were to be had, often using the military for backing. Central and South America have sadly provided illustrations of this. But, as Global Warming causes the Arctic to open..."In this day and age, is it really possible that governments might try to run roughshod over Indigenous Peoples' rights? Is it conceivable that the use of military force could be contemplated in securing national visions of "Arctic Development'?"
Cowboys and Indians, Redux? NATO in the Arctic SHARE
In Sweden, a Nato exercise goes wrong, a fatal plane crash occurs, and a trail of disturbing questions leads further. For decades, international corporations have 'pressured and exploited' Indigenous Peoples when financial profits were to be had, often using the military for backing. Central and South America have sadly provided illustrations of this. But, as Global Warming causes the Arctic to open..."In this day and age, is it really possible that governments might try to run roughshod over Indigenous Peoples' rights? Is it conceivable that the use of military force could be contemplated in securing national visions of "Arctic Development'?"
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Living as a 'Sub-Human' in Sweden SHARE
Times change, and so do countries, with ongoing events suggesting Sweden's return to the kind of state which few even realize it once was. The late Swedish novelist Stieg Larsson has captured the planet's attention with what some term his "Nordic noir," but Larsson's concerns about Sweden's capacity for persecution, not to mention the questions surrounding its very real far right, have proved far more than fiction.
Living as a 'Sub-Human' in Sweden SHARE
Times change, and so do countries, with ongoing events suggesting Sweden's return to the kind of state which few even realize it once was. The late Swedish novelist Stieg Larsson has captured the planet's attention with what some term his "Nordic noir," but Larsson's concerns about Sweden's capacity for persecution, not to mention the questions surrounding its very real far right, have proved far more than fiction.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Fukushima Radiation: Some Difficult Truths SHARE
The ongoing Fukushima nuclear crisis has raised numerous concerns, the candor of pronouncements regarding the reality of circumstances being one of them. As many wonder what the future will hold, the events reported in this article suggest some possible conclusions, the facts being less than reassuring.
Fukushima Radiation: Some Difficult Truths SHARE
The ongoing Fukushima nuclear crisis has raised numerous concerns, the candor of pronouncements regarding the reality of circumstances being one of them. As many wonder what the future will hold, the events reported in this article suggest some possible conclusions, the facts being less than reassuring.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Japan's Nuclear Nightmare: The Price of Technological Optimism, By Ritt Goldstein SHARE
It was June, the height of BP's Gulf destruction, when I wrote an article warning that BP's reassurances were little different from the nuclear industry's, with both equally empty. We are all human, and that means we inevitably make mistakes, with The Gulf and Japan illustrating what happens when we allow ourselves to believe Big Businesses' empty reassurances of 'technological infallibility'.
Japan's Nuclear Nightmare: The Price of Technological Optimism, By Ritt Goldstein SHARE
It was June, the height of BP's Gulf destruction, when I wrote an article warning that BP's reassurances were little different from the nuclear industry's, with both equally empty. We are all human, and that means we inevitably make mistakes, with The Gulf and Japan illustrating what happens when we allow ourselves to believe Big Businesses' empty reassurances of 'technological infallibility'.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Sweden has its own sickness - Asia Times SHARE
Sickness is a problem which can afflict the body of an individual, a person's mind, or even the very nature of a society. Sweden's recent suicide bombing, the election of a far right party to its Parliament - both suggest problems. The picture this article paints, a picture of the 'human impact' of recently revealed corruption, emphasizes the presence of a societal malady still further, but a malady which some seek to cure.
Sweden has its own sickness - Asia Times SHARE
Sickness is a problem which can afflict the body of an individual, a person's mind, or even the very nature of a society. Sweden's recent suicide bombing, the election of a far right party to its Parliament - both suggest problems. The picture this article paints, a picture of the 'human impact' of recently revealed corruption, emphasizes the presence of a societal malady still further, but a malady which some seek to cure.
Friday, December 17, 2010
'Sweden's post-blast air thick with tension', Asia Times SHARE
In September, a far right party with a neo-Nazi past entered Sweden's parliament, and last week the country had its first suicide bombing. With such extremism surfacing, one can literally feel 'a tension' in daily life, people trying to sort out the haunting question of 'where do we go from here'.
'Sweden's post-blast air thick with tension', Asia Times SHARE
In September, a far right party with a neo-Nazi past entered Sweden's parliament, and last week the country had its first suicide bombing. With such extremism surfacing, one can literally feel 'a tension' in daily life, people trying to sort out the haunting question of 'where do we go from here'.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Rise of far right an ominous echo...Asia Times Online SHARE
Not since the 1930s has the Far-Right achieved the success it currently enjoys, failures of economic and political policy feeding its rise now as they did then. As to what this means, where we go from here - that's what the keenly insightful interviews in the article address.
Rise of far right an ominous echo...Asia Times Online SHARE
Not since the 1930s has the Far-Right achieved the success it currently enjoys, failures of economic and political policy feeding its rise now as they did then. As to what this means, where we go from here - that's what the keenly insightful interviews in the article address.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
'Why Sweden's far-right, anti-immigrant party made powerful gains‎' --- Christian Science Monitor SHARE
Fascism rose with the 1930's 'Great Depression', and as the 'Great Recession's' economic hard times strike increasingly large segments of Europe, popular far right movements are again gaining increasing power. Notably, the article ends with the quote: "Citing the fading memories of WWII and the 1930s, political scientist Sundström emphasized that if the far right could rise in Sweden, 'it can happen anywhere.'"
'Why Sweden's far-right, anti-immigrant party made powerful gains‎' --- Christian Science Monitor SHARE
Fascism rose with the 1930's 'Great Depression', and as the 'Great Recession's' economic hard times strike increasingly large segments of Europe, popular far right movements are again gaining increasing power. Notably, the article ends with the quote: "Citing the fading memories of WWII and the 1930s, political scientist Sundström emphasized that if the far right could rise in Sweden, 'it can happen anywhere.'"
Monday, July 5, 2010
Police abuse: Will a 'torture' verdict be the beginning of the end? by Ritt Goldstein SHARE
Similar to the crime of rape, that of police abuse is substantively underreported. Today, the 'torture' conviction of former Chicago police lieutenant Jon Burge is rightly hailed. But in a scathing indictment of the 'empty promise' present police accountability measures have too long held, news reports of the "decades-long cover-up" surrounding Burge speak to abuse's sad reality, with a video link in the text a 'must watch'.
Police abuse: Will a 'torture' verdict be the beginning of the end? by Ritt Goldstein SHARE
Similar to the crime of rape, that of police abuse is substantively underreported. Today, the 'torture' conviction of former Chicago police lieutenant Jon Burge is rightly hailed. But in a scathing indictment of the 'empty promise' present police accountability measures have too long held, news reports of the "decades-long cover-up" surrounding Burge speak to abuse's sad reality, with a video link in the text a 'must watch'.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
'Is China spying on Uighurs abroad?', by Ritt Goldstein SHARE
As China seeks to neutralize what it considers a 'Uighur threat', facts suggest Chinese surveillance of this Turkic speaking minority doesn't end at China's borders. A recent arrest by Sweden's Security Police (Säpo) highlights ongoing concerns.
'Is China spying on Uighurs abroad?', by Ritt Goldstein SHARE
As China seeks to neutralize what it considers a 'Uighur threat', facts suggest Chinese surveillance of this Turkic speaking minority doesn't end at China's borders. A recent arrest by Sweden's Security Police (Säpo) highlights ongoing concerns.
Monday, July 20, 2009
'Is China spying on Uighurs abroad?', by Ritt Goldstein SHARE
Uighur exiles and independent authorities believe China's surveillance of Uighurs doesn't stop at its borders. Alleged threats have prompted the cooperation of some, and - marking a departure from what appears a longstanding 'cat and mouse' game - an alleged spy has been arrested in Sweden.
'Is China spying on Uighurs abroad?', by Ritt Goldstein SHARE
Uighur exiles and independent authorities believe China's surveillance of Uighurs doesn't stop at its borders. Alleged threats have prompted the cooperation of some, and - marking a departure from what appears a longstanding 'cat and mouse' game - an alleged spy has been arrested in Sweden.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Banking, the Swedish model SHARE
Sustainable banking is growing, this article highlighting why. While megabanks collected 'toxic assets', sustainable banks thrived by investing in local economies and sustainable growth. As to how our megabanks were able to bring us to the 'financial crisis'...
On June 1st The New York Times quoted Congressman Collin C. Peterson (D-Minn) as observing of megabanking's Washington influence, "the banks run the place".
Banking, the Swedish model SHARE
Sustainable banking is growing, this article highlighting why. While megabanks collected 'toxic assets', sustainable banks thrived by investing in local economies and sustainable growth. As to how our megabanks were able to bring us to the 'financial crisis'...
On June 1st The New York Times quoted Congressman Collin C. Peterson (D-Minn) as observing of megabanking's Washington influence, "the banks run the place".
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Thursday, May 14, 2009
Diplomatic memos reveal Chinese effort to block Guantánamo prisoner's asylum bid SHARE
Declassified 'memoranda' reveal diplomatic intrigue surrounds Guantanamo's Uighurs. Once secret memos depict behind the scenes Chinese 'pressure' to derail Uighur resettlement. Resettlement of those cleared of wrongdoing is widely viewed as essential to Guantanamo's closure, but China blocks the way, ie, Canada's largest media group headlined "Don't accept Uyghurs, China tells Canada", with Sweden's experience similar.
Diplomatic memos reveal Chinese effort to block Guantánamo prisoner's asylum bid SHARE
Declassified 'memoranda' reveal diplomatic intrigue surrounds Guantanamo's Uighurs. Once secret memos depict behind the scenes Chinese 'pressure' to derail Uighur resettlement. Resettlement of those cleared of wrongdoing is widely viewed as essential to Guantanamo's closure, but China blocks the way, ie, Canada's largest media group headlined "Don't accept Uyghurs, China tells Canada", with Sweden's experience similar.
