(2019-08-03). Ex-health insurance exec: Industry is using decades-old scare tactics to fight Medicare for All. nationofchange.org The Democratic presidential candidates remain deeply divided on how to expand healthcare to the tens of millions of Americans who are uninsured or underinsured. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have both pushed for abolishing private health insurance and establishing a Medicare for All system. Their rivals have pushed a number of different, more incremental approaches. During the first night of the latest debates, Sanders pointed out that the country has taken sweeping action before to expand health coverage to millions of Americans, referring to the 50th anniversary of the creation of Medicare and…
(2019-08-03). Bioweapons: Lyme Disease, Weaponized Ticks. globalresearch.ca Bioweapons, specifically Lyme Disease and bioweaponized ticks, were in the news recently when US Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) introduced Amendment 116-19 which was subsequently passed by the US House of Congress on July 11th, 2019. The US House ordered an …
(2019-08-02). Ex-Health Insurance Exec: Industry Is Using Decades-Old Scare Tactics to Fight Medicare for All. democracynow.org 
The Democratic presidential candidates remain deeply divided on how to expand healthcare to the tens of millions of Americans who are uninsured or underinsured. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have both pushed for abolishing private health insurance and establishing a Medicare for All system. Their rivals have pushed a number of different, more incremental approaches. During the first night of the latest debates, Sanders pointed out that the country has taken sweeping action before to expand health coverage to millions of Americans, referring to the 50th anniversary of the creation of Medicare and Me…
(2019-08-02). What Bernie Sanders Gets Wrong About Healthcare. counterpunch.org Ever since Bernie Sanders became a nationally known figure during the 2016 Democratic primary race, his proposal to bring European-style publicly-provided universal healthcare to the US has become firmly entrenched in the country's political mainstream. Sometimes called "single-payer healthcare," the idea is to take private healthcare companies out of the equation and have the government More
(2019-08-02). The Environmental Crimes of the Trump Administration. counterpunch.org 
The word environment usually refers to what is around us: air, water, house, trees, grass, town. However, with the broadening of human understanding about the effects of pollution and industry on human health and wildlife, environment received the philosophical and legal definition of human responsibility of protecting both human health and the health of the More
(2019-08-02). CNN's Attempted Hit Job on Sanders and Warren. counterpunch.org 
I was unable to watch all the CNN Democratic presidential candidates' debate last Tuesday night, but every time I looked in it was stuck on one of the three following themes: #1. Conservative CNN "moderators" and absurdly marginal corporate Democrat pseudo-candidates like John Hickenlooper and John Delaney attacking the mildly social-democratish neo-New Deal progressive Bernie More
(2019-08-02). 2nd Dem Debate Pt 2: To Impeach, or Not to Impeach? That Is the Question. (4/4). therealnews.com 
While Democrats struggle with the question of impeachment, the healthcare debate is getting mired in minutiae and some voters are calling for a working class party. With Kimberly Moffitt, Jacqueline Luqman, and Marc Steiner as host…
(2019-08-02). Over 100 Killed in Another Mediterannean Shipwreck as Europe Watches. therealnews.com 
Frédéric Penard discusses the efforts of small NGOs to rescue refugees crossing the Mediterranean, against the efforts of European governments to block the entry of people fleeing war and famine…
(2019-08-02). Two Nights of Debates, Zero Questions About Abortion. truthout.org | | Debate moderators failed to ask a single question about reproductive rights, including abortion, during the second round of Democratic presidential debates. The oversight concerned advocates, who say the issue is especially critical in the current political environment. | "Voters need to know what candidates will do to protect their reproductive health care — yet tonight all they got was deafening silence," said Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, in a statement. "W…
(2019-08-02). Security Council gravely concerned by Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, demands immediate end to violence hampering response. un.org The UN Security Council on Friday expressed grave concern about the current Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and stressed the urgency of broad cooperation in the response, as "the disease could spread rapidly, including to neighbouring countries, possibly having serious humanitarian consequences and impacting regional stability."
(2019-08-02). State Legislature in the 'Koch Belt' Denies Wisconsin Healthcare and Return of Taxpayer Dollars from DC. counterpunch.org "Please Sir, I want some more," Oliver Twist meekly asks the ogre overseer of the orphanage set in Charles Dickens' famous novel of greed gone wild in Victorian England. Oliver's request was rejoined by an indignant, "Whaaaat!" And, so this tale of austerity continues to be reprised under GOP rule as healthcare is withheld from More
(2019-08-02). Glyphosate Should be Phased Out Worldwide. Devastating Health Impacts. globalresearch.ca The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), the only global organisation representing obstetricians and gynaecologists, wants glyphosate phased out worldwide. | A statement published by the Federation's Reproductive and Developmental Environmental Health Committee says: | "Over the past fifteen years, an …
(2019-08-02). Employment Is High — But Job Growth Is Slowing Down. truthout.org | | The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the economy added 164,000 jobs in July, with the employment-to-population ratio (EPOP) inching up to 60.7 percent, a new high for the recovery. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent. There were downward revisions of 41,000 to the prior two months' data, bringing the average rate of job growth for the last three months to 140,000. | The big job gainers in July were professional and technical services, which added 30,800 jobs, and health care, which added 3…
(2019-08-02). Dr. Raouf Halaby: "All the Gulf Arabs Are Sleeping in The Same Bed with Israel" counterpunch.org Mohsen Abdelmoumen: How do you analyze the unconditional support of the United States for Israel's criminal Zionist entity? Dr. Raouf Halaby: Unfortunately, American politics has been plagued with bribery in the form of political campaign contributions. Money buys power, access to media, and the ownership of media centers. Whether newspapers or TV, access to and ownership of these More
(2019-08-02). European Regulators Praised for Declaring There Is 'No Safe Exposure Level' for Pesticide Tied to Brain Damage in Children. commondreams.org Just two weeks after the Trump administration outraged scientists, environmentalists and public health advocates with its decision to not ban chlorpyrifos, European regulators announced Friday that the pesticide, which is linked to brain damage in children, "does not meet the criteria required by legislation for the renewal of its approval in the European Union." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2019-08-02). Venezuela: Chavista militants killed as rural violence continues. greenleft.org.au 
Six activists from the grassroots Revolutionary Bolivar and Zamora Current ( CRBZ) were assassinated in Barinas State on July 27. | The victims, one of whom was pregnant, were part of the Hugo Chavez Popular Defence Brigades organised by the CRBZ in Barinas, Tachira, and other states regularly plagued by landowner violence against campesinos. | No information is yet known about the assailants, but the CRBZ claimed in their statement that they had "military…
(2019-08-02). ExxonMobil fire in Harris County, Texas injures 37 workers. wsws.org The oil industry has proven itself oblivious to the occasional slap on the wrist from federal regulators, continuing to flout health and safety rules in the chase for production and profits.
(2019-08-02). Union Leaders Rebuke Centrist Democrats for Claiming Medicare for All Would Harm Workers. commondreams.org "Medicare for All would put money back into union members' pockets in the form of wages and other benefits. That's why major unions representing millions of workers in the U.S. are in this fight." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2019-08-02). Roaming Charges: Measure for Half-Measure. counterpunch.org 
If you haven't been paying attention to the Democratic Party for the last 40 years and just now tuned into the presidential debates, you might be shocked at how hostile it is to even debating the modest and sensible ideas proposed by Sanders & Warren. With each mention of "single payer," "free college," or "green new deal," the Party writhes wildly like Linda Blair's possessed body being sprinkled with Holy Water. More
(2019-08-02). More than 150,000 healthcare and grocery workers could strike in California and other states. wsws.org Eighty-thousand Kaiser Permanente healthcare employees in several states and 70,000 supermarket workers in California and Oregon are poised to walk out.
(2019-08-02). Killer heat in the United States: Climate Choices and The Future of Dangerously Hot Days. mronline.org 
Extreme heat is poised to rise steeply in frequency and severity over the coming decades, bringing unprecedented health risks for people and communities across the country. | Source
(2019-08-01). Cornel West: Corporate Media's Superficial Coverage Helped Create "Fascist Frankenstein Trump" democracynow.org 
On Tuesday night, Senator Bernie Sanders openly criticized CNN's handling of the debates. He told CNN's Jake Tapper, "Your question is a Republican talking point. And by the way, the healthcare industry will be advertising tonight on this program." We speak with Cornel West and Dolores Huerta about the media coverage and the structure of the debate.
(2019-08-01). Bolsonaro Supporters Attack Glenn Greenwald's Mother. telesurenglish.net Arlene Greenwald, the mother of journalist and author Glenn Greenwald, was attacked via social media Thursday by supporters of Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro. | RELATED: | Brazil: Minister Moro Seeks Deportation of Glenn Greenwald | A blogger named Oswaldo Eustaquio questioned the terminal cancer Glenn's mother is suffering from and wrote on his Twitter account that Glenn lied about his mother's health situation. Eustaquio concluded she was in good health based of her Facebook p…
(2019-08-01). Grocery workers ready to strike in southern CA. fightbacknews.org Los Angeles, CA – Over 40 supporters picketed outside of Ralphs grocery store on Sunset Boulevard, July 31. The store's United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike authorization in June. | Ralphs, Albertsons and Vons grocery employees have been without a contract since March of 2019. In March, the corporations wanted to slash checker pay by 25%, eliminate payouts of unpaid sick days, give no overall wage increases, nor contributions to health care and pension plans, among many other unacceptable contract setbacks. Negotiations for 60,000 workers in Southern California are co…
(2019-08-01). Thanks Miranda Devine, but we will win abortion reform. greenleft.org.au 
Thank you Miranda Devine for your wild overreaction to the bill before NSW parliament to treat abortion as a health issue ("Vote Libs, get Greens", Daily Telegraph, July 31), as it will no doubt lose you and News.com support. | It must also surely rank as top fake news of the week. Far from being "one of the most dangerous radical abortion bills on the planet", the bill is modelled on existing Queensland and Victorian law. | Moreover, your view that Coalition MPs' support for basic health care for women is somehow a Labor-Green plot is equally bizarre. This bill is not about late-term abortions, as you suggest. I…
(2019-07-31). 2nd Democratic Debate, Pt 1: Battle Over Medicare for All and Fixing Immigration (2/3). therealnews.com 
The debate allowed candidates to show how support for Medicare for All and humanity at the U.S. border are key issues in 2020. With guests Kimberly Moffit and Jeet Heer, hosted by Marc Steiner…
(2019-07-31). Last Night's Debate Produced a Clear Winner: Medicare for All. thenation.com Last Night's Debate Produced a Clear Winner: Medicare for All…
(2019-07-31). Sanders & Warren Fight "Republican Talking Point" That Medicare for All Is About Reducing Coverage. democracynow.org 
Ten Democratic presidential candidates took to the stage in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday night for the first of a two-night debate hosted by CNN. The debate began with an extended discussion on healthcare, where progressive candidates Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren defended their platforms of Medicare for All against more moderate candidates who argued this stance is political suicide. We speak with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, former Michigan gubernatorial candidate.
(2019-07-31). "We Don't Want Another President Obama": Activist Urges Democrats to Reframe Immigration Debate. democracynow.org 
Democratic candidates also sparred on immigration policy, from decriminalizing border crossing to providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants. We hear excerpts of Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, as well as Montana Governor Steve Bullock. Plus we speak to Erika Andiola, chief advocacy officer for RAICES, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services.
(2019-07-31). FROM THE FIELD: Turning waste into a business in the slums of Yaoundé, Cameroon. un.org The increasing volume and complexity of waste associated with modern economies is posing a serious risk to ecosystems and human health. Every year, an estimated 11.2 billion tons of solid waste are collected worldwide, according to the UN Environment Programme.
(2019-07-30). UNICEF must triple budget to combat Ebola outbreak in DR Congo; complex crisis impacting unprecedented number of children. un.org With an unprecedented number of children affected by the Ebola virus outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday said it would need to triple its budget to tackle the complex crisis, which included intensifying the overall public health response and launching measles vaccinations.
(2019-07-30). Four Immigrants Have Died at Stewart ICE Jail in Georgia. Advocates Want It Shut Down. democracynow.org 
A 44-year-old immigrant from Mexico died last week at Stewart Detention Center, one of the largest immigration jails in the United States and one that has been plagued by allegations of neglect and abuse for years. Pedro Arriago-Santoya was the fourth person to die at Stewart in just two years and the seventh person to die while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement since October. An immigration judge had ordered Arriago-Santoya be deported in June. Instead, he was transferred to Stewart on July 10 as his removal proceedings continued. Two weeks later he was pronounced dead at a Georgia hospital.
(2019-07-30). Venezuela: Six Chavista Militants Killed in Fresh Rural Violence. venezuelanalysis.com Landowner violence continues to plague the Venezuelan countryside.
(2019-07-28). 'We are the vaccine against unilateralism': Non-Aligned Movement gathers in Venezuela to resist dictatorship of dollar. thegrayzone.com The Grayzone reports from the 2019 Non-Aligned Movement, where delegates from over 120 nations offered a crucial endorsement of Venezuelan…
(2019-07-26). UN sees progress in fight against tobacco, warns more action needed to help people quit deadly product. un.org Progress is being made in the battle against the global tobacco epidemic, but more action is needed to help people quit the deadly products, according to a new report from the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
(2019-07-25). Hahnemann University Hospital closure planned: Profit vs. people's lives. liberationnews.org 
At the end of June, American Academic Health System corporation announced that they are closing Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, which they have owned since January 2018.
(2019-07-25). This County Criminalized Students for Bad Grades — Until Now. aclu.org Today, we filed a landmark settlement that will end the relationship between the probation department and school districts in Riverside. | Since 2001, the Riverside County, California probation department has been needlessly funneling young people struggling with grades, behavior, trauma, and mental health into the criminal justice system. | This direct line to the criminal system is the product of a partnership between local school districts and the county probation department called the Youth Accountability Team (YAT). Instead of counselors or other school and community-based supports stepping in to support and…
(2019-06-19). House Casts Historic Vote to Repeal Authorization for Endless War. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — June 19, 2019 — In response to the House of Representatives passing H.R. 2740 (Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020), which includes language to repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) eight months after …
