Carbon-Free Does NOT Require Nuclear

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:29:18 -0400

Many prominent science magazines argue that solving the environmental crisis requires that we use substantially more nuclear energy.

If this was true I'd be all for ignoring the many health risks (including intentional and unintentional explosion) and centralization aspect for the sake of the climate.

But, I discovered from talking to some folks at the Sustainable Energy Summit at Amherst, that it certainly is not true. And this article explains how we can reach a carbon-free and nuclear-free society in scientific yet understandable terms.

McCain can take his 45 n...

Real democracy - Richard Treadwell

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:53:13 -0400

Hi all, Lately, I've become increasingly involved with the common good bank project. I was inspired by some discussions (with lynx in particular) here on rethos to educate myself enough to create some revolutionary financial institution - then I discovered it was already in progress. Please check out the page, http://www.rethos.com/commongoodfinance. We need everyone's help for this thing to get off the ground. Having people sign up increases investor and state regulator confidence. A signature really helps, and if you want to help in other ways that can be arranged as well. Tha...

Selling the Fire Ball: George Bush and Iran

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:26:59 -0400

Great post from a Great site. It's an exchange between Media Lens participants and NY Times workers showing how the media is once again deceiving the public to allow another invasion.

Also Includes GUEST MEDIA ALERT: DAVID PETERSON RESPONDS TO OLIVER KAMM below

When George Bush arrived in Britain last week as part of his "farewell tour", the real reasons for the visit were buried well out of sight. The tour was not, as the Guardian suggested, a mere "continental au revoir". The purpose was to coerce Gordon B...

Common Credit Card Tricks & Traps

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:16:14 -0400

We all know that credit card contracts are packed with fine print tricks and traps to increase the likelihood of paying fees and penalties. As part of our summer focus on credit cards, AFFIL has compiled this list of common tricks and traps. You will be hard pressed to find a credit card without these terms – at least until our government outlaws them – but if you’re informed and cautious, you have a better chance of steering clear of the traps and saving money.

Sick of banks and credit card companies coming up with ways to get your cash?

Do you want an end to the predatory lending practice that caused the subprime mortgage mess?

Check out this short article from PBS Now that lays out both Presidential Candidates' take on the issue.

Then visit our Campaign Center

Ally Request - Common Good Finance

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:14:34 -0400

Senators Caught in Mortgage Fallout

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:21:09 -0400

When Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota wanted a mortgage for his beach house, he turned to a Washington insider, James A. Johnson, former head of Fannie Mae, the government mortgage giant, who then put the senator in touch with

Foreclosure Filings Jump, and Fall Is Forecast as Peak

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:19:54 -0400

WASHINGTON — The number of homeowners swept up in the housing crisis rose last month, with foreclosure filings up nearly 50 percent compared with a year earlier, a foreclosure listing company said Friday.

Nationwide, 261,255 homes received at least one foreclosure-related filing in May, up 48 percent, from 176,137, in the same month a year ago and up 7 percent from April, the listing company, RealtyTrac, said.

One in every 483 households received a foreclosure filing in May, the highest number since RealtyTrac started the report in 2005 and the second-consec...

McCain has lots on credit cards

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:18:21 -0400

WASHINGTON, June 13 (UPI) -- Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his wife, Cindy, have something in common with ordinary Americans -- a lot of credit card debt.

In his latest financial disclosure report, McCain said that he and his wife owe between $10,000 and $15,000 on one card, while Cindy McCain owes between $100,000 and $250,000 to American Express, The Hill, a Washington newspaper, reported. The McCains have another Amex card, listed as being used by a dependent child, that is carrying a balance of $10,000 to $15,000.

Sen. Barack ...

Obama has round-table talk on South Side

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:12:18 -0400

Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama held a round-table talk today on the South Side with three consumers gouged by credit card companies.

“For too long, credit card companies have been using unfair and deceptive practices to trick Americans into signing agreements they can’t afford,” Obama said

The credit card companies start with teaser rates of four percent, then jack them up to 30 percent, lower customers’ credit limits so they can then charge interest, late fees and over-the-limit fees on them, said Obama and Elizabeth Warren, a ...

AP IMPACT: AP-AOL poll: Debt hurts your body, too

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:39:49 -0400

WASHINGTON -- The stress from deepening debt is becoming a major pain in the neck _ and the back and the head and the stomach _ for millions of Americans.

When people are dealing with mountains of debt, they're much more likely to report health problems, too, according to an Associated Press-AOL Health poll. And not just little stuff; this means ulcers, severe depression, even heart attacks.

Take Edward Driscoll, 38, of Braintree, Mass. He blames debt _ $10,000 worth _ for contributing to his ulcers and his wife Kimberly's panic attacks. "Just worrying, worry...

Help End Unfair and Abusive Credit Card Tricks and Traps!

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:05:21 -0400

Have you received your credit card bill, only to realize that that it was due so soon that you have to pay it right away?

Do you think it’s unfair when your credit card company suddenly decides to apply a new, higher interest rate to an old balance?

Has your credit card company raised the rate on money you've already borrowed for no reason or for a flimsy reason?

Here's your chance to end those sneaky tricks and traps that allow credit card companies to unfairly profit off you - send a comment to the Federal Reserve Board asking them to end cre...

New comment - On Anarchism

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 08:43:00 -0400

Here are some excellent books on anarchism: Kropotkin, Peter. Memoirs of Revelutionist. Ethics Origin and Development The Conquest of Bread Mutual Aid Act For Yourselves. Bakunin,Michael. Bakunin on anrchism

New comment! - How Fair is Fairtrade?

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 05:39:57 -0400

On my Point 1 -- it isn't fair if it isn't a living. It isn't fair if it undercuts someone else making a living. If the market value does not support the product, grow something else. But if there is a demand for a product AND the market value does not support making a living, increase the price. Simple supply-and-demand. Remember, we are talking about a product that people are ALREADY paying a premium for, for the purpose of providing a living to the growers. Re: Nonprofits, a corporation can make all kinds of money and still be a nonprofit. The largest hospital corporation in my to...

New comment! - How Fair is Fairtrade?

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 05:08:40 -0400

Moss, surely the only value of a commodity is that which someone is willing to pay for it which is hence the market value. You're right on point 2 I apoligise for my maths there. I think you got a key question in your post. How much is the fair trade organisation taking from this transaction? The organisations that over see fair trade such as EFTA and IFAT are non profit. They are however not directly involved in the trade. It just seems wrong that people pay well over the odds for a fair trade product and that only a small percentage of the extra that they pay finds its way to t...

New comment - Cooperative Based Society

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:52:37 -0400

Thanks, that's a really good point, the words have been so corrupted they've lost their traditional meaning. Freedom means slavery, peace means war. We should be careful to define our terms. We definitely need to find an economic system that finds the strengths of capitalism and democratic socialism.I believe the common good bank does this. Politics is part of our daily lives, whether we like it or not, wherever there are decisions to be made and power and authority differentials, politics is there. The goal is to have everyone educated and empowered, to ensure self-determination...

New comment! - How Fair is Fairtrade?

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:28:06 -0400

1. I was under the impression that Fair Trade meant paying the worker what the product's value was, rather than what the market price was. If the product's value is less than what is needed to feed and clothe the worker and his family, then the value is not set high enough or the product has no value. 2. Your math was off -- if you pay Â£1 more per jar, you are paying $2 more, not $0.50. 3. What IS the profit level in this? How much is the Fair Trade organization taking from this transaction? Are they being paid like the execs at Ben&Jerry's (used to be), or like Goldman Sachs? ...

Alliance Accepted! - Christel Loll

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:08:11 -0400

New comment! - How Fair is Fairtrade?

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:32:26 -0400

You got it Paul, it depends of the intentions of the merchants to go "fair trade". Like with health and environment, it is most of the time a way for merchants to promote their products. In that case they "greenwash" their image focussing on marketing instead of bringing a real quality to the world. Unfortunately, customers have no way to knowing until someone make it a scandal in the news, or worst, it is not bad enough to make it a scandal, so they can keep going hiding them behind a fake green image for a long time.

New comment - Cooperative Based Society

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:14:20 -0400

Very well written. I must say that I am reaching a point where I do not want to use the words 'Democracy / Republican' or 'Capitalism / Socialism" for the obvious reason that society has associated the wrong 'term' to each. Though the pros to each are legitimate and valid; we need to stop pointing fingers and picking sides--rather find a nice balance of each and utilize their advantages accordingly. Life should not be coordinated with politics entirely--are we forgetting that we are human beings? I always though human society looked out for each other no matter their race/religio...

Ally Request - Zachary McBride

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:54:58 -0400

Ally Request - Cabria

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:54:30 -0400

New comment - Cooperative Based Society

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:10:16 -0400

Well we agree on that, Paul. Also though, people should take a little while to understand why to switch their money over, and how it will be affect them and their community. Once a few banks work, kinks will be worked out, and the proof of concept will persuade people who would be too skeptical to join. I really hope it works too, and I have a feeling it will. The common good dollars is definitely an issue that will elicit contention. To start off with you just get a certain amount of common good dollars, the tricky part comes when you pay participating merchants in common good dollars whi...

New comment - Cooperative Based Society

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 11:55:20 -0400

Amen!

Enter Title:

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:05:59 -0500

Aboriginal Cultural Celebration and Kevin Annett Speaking About Genocide on Native Americans

On February 1, 2008, at 17:30 there will be an Aboriginal Cultural Celebration followed at 19:00 by Kevin Annett showing the documentary Unrepentant and speaking about Canada’s Genocide of Native Peoples at Café Art & Thé, 2055 Bishop St., Montreal, QC. The Aboriginal Cultural Celebration will be a display of Native art, with artists and performers To Be Announced. Kevin Annett, B.A. Anthropology 1983, M.A. Political Science 1986, M. Div. 1990, and Graduate with ...

Support Darfur, Earn Money & Help a Student at the Same Time

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:51:33 -0500

OneBigU (http://www.onebigu.com) allows users to help a struggling student, earn some money, and support a Darfur Charity at the same time.

OneBigU (for One Big University) helps Darfur in the following way:

- Person answers a question asked by any student around the world

- Person gets a little amount of money for every accepted answer

- Person sends the money to a partner Darfur charity, unless he/she wants to withdraw the money

OneBigU is partnered with Help Darfur Now (HDN), a US-based student charity in support of Darfur. All d...

New comment - A Corrupt Patience - Response to Ian Wooden

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:58:17 -0500

Forgive the multiple typos… very distracted by a four year old and trying to stay focused on writing! Li Li

New comment - A Corrupt Patience - Response to Ian Wooden

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:54:30 -0500

That the corporate model is based on a fascist-like one is only common sense from the pov of those who have worked their whole lives for something just to have it taken away by the careless and callous motive of profits. My grandfather worked for over 40 years on the northern railroad and even became a vp… you wuld have thought that at that high level of upper management he would have had a cushy retirement and pension… but not only did that not manifest, when he died, his widow was left peniless. Did the company owners actually care? Of course not. He was treated much be...

Alliance Accepted! - lynx

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:02:39 -0500

New comment! - Alternatives to capitalism

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:55:09 -0500

Gives me chills to think about. I’ve wondered the exact same thing. If these unions are complaining so much about lacking wages, and unjust treatment..why don’t they build their own business? By not doing so they’re supporting this owner/worker distinction. I don’t mean to belittle the unions, but they and we just have to take a step forward.

Its exciting to have someone with similar ideas lynx. Credit Unions, factory takeovers, just production of goods. All the pieces are there, and they are slowly coming together. Its all definitely in an infant stage,...

New comment! - Alternatives to capitalism

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:08:20 -0500

Paul – I agree with you, the next big step forward is not armchair philosophy but to actually develop working alternatives. For me, the growing movement towards worker-owned non-hierarchical and self-managed businesses is a massive step in the right direction because it provides a glimpse of a better way to organize our production. What I’d really like to see is that movement growing and taking things to the next level – setting up credit unions that would provide bridge loans to workers seeking to purchase the businesses where they work and convert them into collecti...

New comment! - Alternatives to capitalism

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:24:26 -0500

My hope is that the energy put into my writing energizes whoever reads it. The people that give me feedback tell me it inspires them to question more and believe less. There are those who hate it of course..but I like to think its because they hate the ideas, and I try to view it like this. People that disagree are much more likely to respond, so hopefully to the extent those who disagree hate it, those who agree (but don’t respond) are moved by it…but who knows. You tell me.

I haven’t gone out and talked to as many people as I would like about the issues. My ...

Alliance Accepted! - Akeeba

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:39:35 -0500

New comment! - Alternatives to capitalism

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:31:45 -0500

Paul, thanks for posting this.

Richard, the ideas you express seem wonderful, in theory. Do you have personal experiences you could share where you’ve been successful at generating the this same kind of energy I see in your writing, in other people? – Thanks.

I think education, access to information, the time to absorb the information, the training to understand the information, the energy to retain the information, etc… are all key components to a successful democracy AND key components in setting up a successful democrat...

New comment! - Alternatives to capitalism

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:27:45 -0500

We need to be thinking realistically about how to press for economic democracy. It should be an issue at the forefront of the world’s consciousness. This isn’t some far off idea that maybe our grandkids will experience, it is the next popular struggle, women’s suffrage, civil rights, economic democracy. We need a vision, along with tangible steps to achieving that vision. Think hard and think big.

New comment! - Alternatives to capitalism

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:08:39 -0500

We should press for advertisement reform while having certain co-ops already advertise in a responsible way. We need to elect politicians that will support the co-op movement by endorsing them, facilitating their inception, and most importantly shunning the corporate world. We should also press for changes within current co-ops. I need to do a lot more research on co-ops vs. corporations. I just met someone who works at a worker-owned co-op. But we need more explicitly democratic co-ops, in the sense that they are accountable to the community and not just the workers.

Imagine a...

New comment - A Corrupt Patience - Response to Ian Wooden

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 03:30:00 -0500

Alright, let’s take a more specific look. Before that, it really is interesting that you view Nazi’s that way because IBM, Coca-cola, Union Banking Corporation all supported the Nazi effort… all in the name of profits. Corporatism is akin to fascism. They are both authoritarian based structures, democracy is non-existent, they’re both brutally destructive systems.

What you are saying is, with a change in consumer opinion, corporations will need to be more socially responsible because social responsibility is what will sell. But ...

New comment - A Corrupt Patience - Response to Ian Wooden

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 02:29:36 -0500

I beleive Richard has some very interesting things to say. Moreover, I find it even more interesting that Richard’s view of corporations is exactly how I view Nazis. Unfortunately, I do believe that his perception of the corporation is colored by the very small minority of corporations which are negligent.

Richard, you are right; there is a problem in the system. Not all companies take a balanced score card approach (to coin the term developed by Kaplan and Norton) in making sure all constituents are taken into consideration. This is the reason in which I posted my artilc...

New comment - A Corrupt Patience - Response to Ian Wooden

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 07:44:33 -0500

there’s a great documentary on exactly this topic called “The Corporation” that systematically analyzes corporate law as it has evolved over the last several centuries and (among other things) shows how it is actually illegal for corporations to implement the kinds of changes unnecessary to bring about meaningful economic, environmental, and social change because doing so would negatively impact their profit margins and by law corporations must put their shareholder returns above all other considerations.

the system isn’t broken folks, it’s working...

Ally Request - Cassie Blume

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:21:20 -0500

New comment! - Kick Coke out!

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:51:11 -0500

If anyone want more information of Coca-Cola its here http://knowmore.org/wiki/index.php?title=Coca-cola. Knowmore.org is a really good website if you want information about corporations.

Alliance Accepted! - Thomas Defler

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:10:44 -0500

New comment! - Kick Coke out!

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 03:16:51 -0400

(Oops. Forgot to add the link.)

http://www.indiaresource.org/news/2007/1053.html

New comment! - Kick Coke out!

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 03:16:06 -0400

Hello again, Paul. I ran across this article today and thought you may like to add it to your armory of anti-Coke weaponry. Again, imagine what they’re doing that isn’t getting caught and announced.

New comment! - Kick Coke out!

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 01:42:33 -0400

I think Richard’s direction is good. Create awareness first. Make sure people know that there is good reason NOT to buy Coke. Health hazards (sugar, caffeine, etc), environmental issues (plastics, energy use to bottle, etc), and truth in advertising and packaging are a good place to start.

Tell your school and peers that any company that has to have their arm twisted in order to get them to be honest about their water sources doesn’t deserve your business and can be assumed to be hiding more, and potentially worse, information.

Fo...

New comment! - Kick Coke out!

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:04:23 -0400

Hmm…sounds like a tough job. You can find coke bottles in the most remote parts of the earth. Does your school sell coke at the serveries? Your school might have a contract with coca-cola for its soft drinks. The only way to do it would be to educate your peers on the evils of the coca-cola corporation..of which Im not educated myself. You should educate the rethos community on the issue. But if you could create an awareness group and gather enough support to pressure the administration its totally possible. Hope you succeed in your efforts!

Please come to Los angeles for Darfur Rally

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:07:10 -0400

Monday October 15 in Downtown LA 12 noon!!!

Help to stop American Investment in Darfur! Join me in downtown Los Angeles for a rally!

Click here to sign up

Alliance Accepted! - Americans for Fairness in Lending

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:09:50 -0500

Alliance Accepted! - Courtney

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 21:01:35 -0400

Alliance Accepted! - Benjamin Ackerman

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 01:09:14 -0400

Alliance Accepted! - Hannah

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:05:08 -0400

Ally Request - Nate Westheimer

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:16:26 -0400

Alliance Accepted! - Travis

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 22:27:26 -0400

Ally Request - Nature Coast UU Social Justice

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:15:58 -0400

Alliance Accepted! - Patrick Scott

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:40:46 -0400

Alliance Accepted! - Colette Cope

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 01:17:04 -0400

Alliance Accepted! - Richard Treadwell

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 21:08:27 -0400

Alliance Accepted! - DanRose

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:56:41 -0400

Ally Request - Ingrid Fetell

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:21:53 -0400

Ally Request - John Collier

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:21:24 -0400

Alliance Accepted! - Bryan Moats

Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:09:36 -0400

Alliance Accepted! - Nicki Langewis

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:56:39 -0400

Conserve the Rainforest

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:32:14 -0400

Support an organization that works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.

Rethos.com - interwebme's Global Feed

Carbon-Free Does NOT Require Nuclear

Real democracy - Richard Treadwell

Selling the Fire Ball: George Bush and Iran

Common Credit Card Tricks & Traps

Ally Request - Common Good Finance

Senators Caught in Mortgage Fallout

Foreclosure Filings Jump, and Fall Is Forecast as Peak

McCain has lots on credit cards

Obama has round-table talk on South Side

AP IMPACT: AP-AOL poll: Debt hurts your body, too

Help End Unfair and Abusive Credit Card Tricks and Traps!

New comment - On Anarchism

New comment! - How Fair is Fairtrade?

New comment! - How Fair is Fairtrade?

New comment - Cooperative Based Society

New comment! - How Fair is Fairtrade?

Alliance Accepted! - Christel Loll

New comment! - How Fair is Fairtrade?

New comment - Cooperative Based Society

Ally Request - Zachary McBride

Ally Request - Cabria

New comment - Cooperative Based Society

New comment - Cooperative Based Society

Enter Title:

Support Darfur, Earn Money & Help a Student at the Same Time

New comment - A Corrupt Patience - Response to Ian Wooden

New comment - A Corrupt Patience - Response to Ian Wooden

Alliance Accepted! - lynx

New comment! - Alternatives to capitalism

New comment! - Alternatives to capitalism

New comment! - Alternatives to capitalism

Alliance Accepted! - Akeeba

New comment! - Alternatives to capitalism

New comment! - Alternatives to capitalism

New comment! - Alternatives to capitalism

New comment - A Corrupt Patience - Response to Ian Wooden

New comment - A Corrupt Patience - Response to Ian Wooden

New comment - A Corrupt Patience - Response to Ian Wooden

Ally Request - Cassie Blume

New comment! - Kick Coke out!

Alliance Accepted! - Thomas Defler

New comment! - Kick Coke out!

New comment! - Kick Coke out!

New comment! - Kick Coke out!

New comment! - Kick Coke out!

Please come to Los angeles for Darfur Rally

Alliance Accepted! - Americans for Fairness in Lending

Alliance Accepted! - Courtney

Alliance Accepted! - Benjamin Ackerman

Alliance Accepted! - Hannah

Ally Request - Nate Westheimer

Alliance Accepted! - Travis

Ally Request - Nature Coast UU Social Justice

Alliance Accepted! - Patrick Scott

Alliance Accepted! - Colette Cope

Alliance Accepted! - Richard Treadwell

Alliance Accepted! - DanRose

Ally Request - Ingrid Fetell

Ally Request - John Collier

Alliance Accepted! - Bryan Moats

Alliance Accepted! - Nicki Langewis

Conserve the Rainforest