(2018-09-04). Basra Residents Reeling From Contaminated Drinking Water. globalresearch.ca Human rights advocates and health officials estimate that 17,000 to 18,000 residents of Basra province have been poisoned by heavily polluted and salty drinking water. On Aug. 26, hundreds of residents …
(2018-09-04). Gig Companies Want to Keep More Workers as Independent Contractors. truthout.org 
| Some employers don't want to call their workers employees anymore. | At least 11 states have considered laws enabling most online platforms for goods and services to turn many workers into independent contractors. And the fight isn't over. Gig economy companies are seeking to suspend or overturn a California Supreme Court ruling that would make it much more difficult to classify employees as independent contractors. | Deeming workers independent contractors allows gig economy companies to avoid paying payroll taxes and health benefits and means they don't have to comply with certain labor laws. Independent contractors are not protected by state…
(2018-09-04). Poor People's Town Hall: Watsonville. indybay.org Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust | 85 Nielson St., Watsonville, California 95076…
(2018-09-03). Watch Your Wallets — The Next Crash Is Coming. alternet.org 
Trump and his Republican enablers are now reversing regulations put in place to stop Wall Street's excessively risky lending. | September 15 will mark the tenth anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers and near meltdown of Wall Street, followed by the Great Recession. Since hitting bottom in 2009, the economy has grown steadily, the stock market has soared, and corporate profits have ballooned. But most Americans are still living in the shadow of the Great Recession. More have jobs, to be sure. But they haven't seen any rise in their wages, adjusted for inflation. Many are worse off due to the escalating costs of housing, healthcare, and education. And the value of whatever assets they own is less than in 2007. Last year, about 40 percent of American families struggled to meet at least one basic need — food, health care, housing or. . .
(2018-09-03). Nashville's shuttering of women's health clinic leaves only one abortion facility in the city. wsws.org Despite the billions invested in healthcare, and dozens of Nashville area hospitals, poor and working class women are limited to one small clinic for elective abortions.
(2018-09-01). Tom Carper Backs Re-Importing Drugs From Canada, After Voting Against It Repeatedly. theintercept.com Delaware Sen. Tom Carper portrayed himself as a health care populist at the Democratic primary debate this week, championing his role in writing and defending the Affordable Care Act and declaring, "We oughta re-import drugs from Canada." | The policy announcement came as the senior senator has sought to recast himself before the September 6 primary. The Carper campaign television advertisement currently blanketing the state proclaims that he "fights back" against Republican threats to the Affordable Care Act. | Carper, who has served for 41 years in elected office in Delaware, is facing a progressive challenge from Kerri Evelyn Harris, a community activist and Air Force veteran vying to be the state's Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. | But the Delaware senator's new approach might be puzzling for some observers. Carper has generally adopted a moderate, business-friendly approach to health care.
(2018-09-01). Royal College of Nursing union chief resigns amid mounting anger over NHS pay deal. wsws.org National Health Service workers have spoken to NHS FightBack reporting teams about the pay deal, with many angered at the unions for accepting it.
(2018-08-30). Venezuela Denounces Regional Anti-Migrant 'Xenophobia' as Brazil Militarises Border. venezuelanalysis.com The Maduro administration contrasted the recent attacks against Venezuelan migrants to its own open door policy which has seen foreigners benefit from free health, housing, education, and food programs.
(2018-08-30). US teens swap books for social media, reading drops from 60 to 16 percent in half a century – study. rt.com 
Researchers are sounding the alarm over US teenagers' mental health and abilities, as a new study finds they've almost completely dropped books for social media. In the 1970s, 60 percent read books and in 2016 – just 16 percent.
(2018-08-29). 'Skyrocketing' US STDs: Cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea & syphilis reach record levels. rt.com 
Health officials have issued stark warnings as data reveals that sexually transmitted infections are soaring in the US. A report has found that cases of syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea have spiked for the fourth year in a row.
(2018-08-29). Smoking hot: E-cig explodes in man's pants (VIDEO). rt.com 
The health risks of vaping are up for debate but at least one California e-cigarette owner might think twice about puffing on one in the future after his device suddenly exploded inside his pocket.
(2018-08-27). At least Trump is not a 'zombie' telling 'beautiful lies' — Tech investor Peter Thiel. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump may be a "rude, mean person" but he is a "very healthy corrective" to a culture of political correctness and ideological platitudes, former Silicon Valley magnate Peter Thiel has said.