"There are two subjects, indeed, which I shall claim a right to further as long as I breathe: the public education, and the sub-division of counties into wards. I consider the continuance of republican government as absolutely hanging on these two hooks."
Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 1814
Something Rotten In Denmark
The issue of climate change and the social policies to deal with it is an area where science and politics and the global distribution of wealth have come into enormous conflict. Already it seems that the 15th Annual Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Cophenhagen is struggling to generate a legal binding to extend the Kyoto Protocol.
Even basic discussion on the matter requires some knowledge of atmospheric physics, comparisons with paleoclimatological data, population and resource analysis and, in making practical decisions, economics and international relations. This review of core facts is pessimistic that the appropriate action will be taken, especially due to the politicisation of the science.
Elections Roundup: Honduras, Bolivia and Romania
Information Clearing House exclusively reports that the widely reported claim that 60% attended the coup-sponsored elections in Honduras on November 29 is actually a fraudulent claim, with the real figure under 50%. The elections were held after President Manuel Zelaya was forcibly deposed and exiled by the military, preempting a poll whether to hold a referendum to convene a constituent assembly to change the constitution.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24140.htm
The presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela have expressed their 'total' rejection of the recent general election in Honduras.
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/americas/news/article_1517795.php...
Meanwhile Eva Morales and the 'Movimiento al Socialismo' in Bolivia has been easily re-elected in Boliva with 63% of the vote. Morales was first elected President of Bolivia in 2005 with 53.7% of the popular vote and in a 2008 recall referendum 67.5% voted to keep him in power. With no organised opposition, Morales has a mandate to push through greater public ownership of natural resources, regional autonomy and indigenous rights.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/54d11fbe-e374-11de-8d36-00144feab49a.html
In Romania, a very close election has officially seen President Traian Băsescu (50.33%) of the Democratic Liberal Party re-elected over Mircea Geoană (49.66%) of the Social Democratic Party. Over 70% also voted in a referendum to introduce a unicameral parliament. Romania is in the grip of severe recession with the economy expected to contract eight percent this year.
Medecins Sans Frontiers HIV Patents
According to UNAIDS, some four million people in the developing world receive antiretroviral drugs (AVRs) and at least six million require it, but are not receiving it. HIV/AIDS funding is stagnating with the two main sources - the Global Fund and the US government's PEPFAR program - reporting a $3 billion shortfall.
Unlike the first generation of HIV/AIDS drugs, newer medicines costs up to thirty times the price of these easily regimin medications, due to medical patents that prevent the production of more generic versions. UNITAID is an international drug purchase facility which is working to create a patent pool for HIV/AIDS medicins, which would make it easier to access necessary medicines at affordable prices. By placing patents in a pool, interested generic manufacturers can use the patents to produce medicines in exchange for a royalty.
Go to http://www.msf.org.au/HIV for information on how you can write to the CEOs of pharmaceutical companies (e.g., GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co, Pfizer et) to ask them to put their drugs in the patent pool. Between now and the new year, 12,000 children will die from AIDS.
Climate Change Action for Copenhagen
Avaaz have launched a major media campaign against industry lobby groups for the Copenhagen conference featuring in the Financial Times, the New York Times, the China People's Daily, the Guardian, Associated France Presse and many more. According to Avaaz "One study estimated that climate change already kills 300,000 people every year. Despite these facts, Climate denial -- a movement funded for decades by fossil fuel companies -- is now threatening our chance for a fair, ambitious, and binding global climate treaty."
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/climate_denial_lets_fight_back
On the weekend of Saturday 12th thousands of towns and cities will light up with climate vigils with one united message -- The World Wants a Real Deal!. There are already over 1450 events in 110 countries already!
Buying for Equality 2010
Despite the economic downturn, more businesses than ever rated 100 percent on the HRC Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index — the basis for this guide — through banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, providing benefits for LGBT employees and their families and supporting LGBT equality publicly.
Consumers can support businesses that support us through everyday purchases, but can also directly thank them for their support, ask them to revise their policies or encourage them to participate in the Corporate Equality Index.
More than 300,000 people have used Buying for Equality to make informed purchases. You can do your part to support fair-minded businesses — download the guide.
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