(2019-02-17). How Kleptocracy Impoverishes Angola, Cà¥te d'Ivoire, and South Africa. therealnews.com 
Léonce Ndikumana discusses his newest research on capital flight from Angola, Cà¥te d'Ivoire and South Africa between 1975 and 2015. 290 Billion dollars were funneled out of these countries over this period through misinvoicing and circumventing regulation and taxation. Most of that money ended up in corporations in the global north
(2019-02-17). After Superstorm Sandy's Rain, Cooperatives Sprang Up Like Mushrooms. truthout.org I
(2019-02-17). Using Marijuana to Quash the Opioid Crisis. truthdig.com In the struggle to address rising levels of opioid misuse and mortality, an unlikely ally has emerged: marijuana. | The relationship between cannabis and opioid use is among of the best-documented aspects of marijuana policy. In short, the science demonstrates that marijuana is a relatively safe and effective pain reliever — and that patients with legal access to it often reduce their use of conventional opiates.
(2019-02-17). Aurora Shooting Victims Ranged From Intern to Plant Manager. truthdig.com CHICAGO—The victims of a disgruntled employee who opened fire at a suburban Chicago industrial warehouse Friday were co-workers ranging from an intern to the plant manager. A look at the victims: | TREVOR WEHNER | The 21-year-old Northern Illinois University student was on his first day as an intern in human resources at Henry Pratt Co. in Aurora and attended the fateful meeting where the gunman was fired and then started shooting. | Jay Wehner said his nephew grew up about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Aurora in Sheridan and was expected to graduate from Northern Illinois University in May with a degre…
(2019-02-17). U.S. Military Invasion of Venezuela is Escalating. indybay.org With the support of Democrats and Republicans, e.g. Pelosi & Trump, the pending invasion of oil-rich Venezuela is escalating, all at taxpayer expense. There are forces opposing it. See www.globalresearch.ca/hands-off-venezuel…. Cuba has provided a detailed description below.
(2019-02-17). Zionist Attacks On SFSU AMED Arab/Muslim Program, The CFA & Labor. indybay.org SFSU Professor Rabab Abdulhadi chair of the AMED Arab & Muslim Ethnicities & Diasporas Program and Professor James Martel who is president of the SFSU California Faculty Association CFA are interviewed about the coordinated attack on the AMED program, Professor Abdulhadi and the students of the program by Zionists.
(2019-02-16). Does Recognition of Parallel Gov't in Venezuela Violate International Law? therealnews.com 
A recent study conducted by the German parliament's independent scientific research service found that international recognition of the self-proclaimed "interim president" Juan Guaidó probably constitutes a violation of international law. We discuss the study's implications with Andrej Hunko, who commissioned the study
(2019-02-16). Teacher Strikes Are Rattling Washington. truthout.org As Denver public school teachers head back to school, ending their first labor stoppage in 25 years, it's hard to dismiss the impact the nation-wide teacher strikes have had on American politics. As Democratic presidential candidates rush to voice support for the Colorado educators, Denver's strike marks the ninth major teacher uprising in the last twelve months, with the anniversary of the very first—West Virginia's—coming up next week. | Survey after survey has shown the striking teachers h…
(2019-02-16). Teachers' Strikes Are Rattling Washington. This Hearing in the US House Is Proof. commondreams.org As Denver public school teachers head back to school, ending their first labor stoppage in 25 years, it's hard to dismiss the impact the nation-wide teacher strikes have had on American politics.
(2019-02-16). The Music That's In All of Us. commondreams.org Musicians Without Borders connects ethnically diverse youth through music education and performance. (Photo: "Music Connects: The Real School of Rock" screenshot) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files……
(2019-02-16). UK students join mobilizations on climate change. peoplesdispatch.org On February 15, tens of thousands of students in the UK joined the school strike for climate by boycotting classes and taking to the streets in around 60 towns and cities. The previous day, the marches and protests in Belgium continued for the sixth successive week
(2019-02-16). Why Did The Iran Hostage Crisis Happen? uwidata.com The Islamic Republic of Iran recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, a revolution which turned an American ally to an American enemy. Some still try to analyze the reasons why Iranian students attacked the US embassy at the beginning during the revolution and created a dispute which not only led to a […]
(2019-02-16). The State, Business and Education: How rapacious corporations are dismantling public education globally. wsws.org Billionaires, global tech companies and national governments are imposing a profit-driven, user-pays system.
(2019-02-15). The Green New Deal, Capitalism and the State. counterpunch.org 
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created by Richard Nixon in 1970 as the official response to the nascent environmental movement. As laid out in the recently released Poison Papers, it was structured to be dependent on research from private firms that were paid by the chemical producers it regulates. Given the limited market for this research, these firms either produced research conducive to the interests of their customers or they went out of business. More
(2019-02-15). Using Students, Teachers, Journalists and other Professionals as Spies Puts Everyone in Jeopardy. counterpunch.org The US is accusing China of using college students studying in the US to spy for China, but that, even if true (there hasn't been a trial yet), would be only half the story. The US, at great risk to those of us who work and travel abroad, also tries to enlist seemingly innocent Americans More
(2019-02-15). Denver Public Schools: 50 Years of 'Political Theater'? progressive.org Over the last half century, Denver teachers have struck three times for better working conditions and provisions for students. So why did we have to fight the same fight in 2019?
(2019-02-15). Headlines for February 15, 2019. democracynow.org Trump to Use National Emergency Declaration to Build Border Wall, "It's Incredible": Rep. Ocasio-Cortez on Amazon Scrapping NYC Project After Grassroots Protests, Report: Amazon to Pay No Federal Taxes Despite Making $11 Billion in Reported Profits, Denver Teachers Declare Victory After 3-Day Strike, More U.S. Workers Went on Strike in 2018 Than in Any Year in Three Decades, Parkland Shooting Survivor Emma González: "We Fight Our Trauma by Fighting Against Gun Violence", William Barr Sworn In as Attorney General After Senate Confirmation, Former Deputy FBI Director Speaks Out on Launching Counterintelligence Prob…
(2019-02-15). 'Victory' Deal Reached to End First Denver Teachers Strike in 25 Years. therealnews.com 
Journalist Eric Blanc discusses the tentative agreement to end the Denver teachers strike
(2019-02-15). Denver teachers win strike. fightbacknews.org Denver, CO – After all night negotiations the Denver School Board, the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA) announced that they had reached a tentative agreement to end the teachers strike. It was announced that the strike officially ends this Friday, but teachers were free to go back to work today, February 14. | The tentative agreement was reached after three days of striking by 3700 Denver teachers, who set up picket lines and went on marches all over Denver. The strike activities ended yesterday with a large rally and subsequent march by teachers and supporters to the Denver school board headquarters.
(2019-02-15). Someone Needs to Teach These As$#oles a Lesson. counterpunch.org 
"Someone," my Finnish-American socialist great-aunt Mary used to say in the late 1960s, "ought to teach these assholes a lesson." By "these assholes," she meant the people who own and run the United States. Mary died many years ago. I thought about her the other night while watching Donald Trump lie about crime and border walls More
(2019-02-15). Tampa Bay students disrupt USF board meeting, demand protections for undocumented students. fightbacknews.org Tampa, FL – The Tampa Bay chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held a series of protests and a sit-in at the University of South Florida's (USF) main student center on February 12, to pressure the administration to increase protections for immigrant and international students. These protests were a continuation of Tampa Bay SDS's main campaign called, "Immigrants are Here to Stay" in which they demand noncompliance with federal agencies such as ICE, FBI, DHS so that those agencies cannot receive the personal information of documented and undocumented students on campus. | Students held a series of p…
(2019-02-15). Sudan uprising: 'This is a people's revolution'. greenleft.org.au 
In Sudan, a multifaceted civil opposition is posing a serious threat to the continued existence of Bashir's dictatorial regime after weeks of protests, writes Mohammed Elnaiem. | If a hospital is not a sanctuary for an injured person, what is? And what level of hatred, what kind of viciousness can be satisfied by the attempt to ensure that a protester die twice? On January 9, riot police, plain-clothed Bashir loyalists, and security forces fired tear gas and live bullets into the Omdurman Teaching Hospital in Sudan after wounded protesters were taken there during the biggest protest to date demanding the downfall…
(2019-02-15). Indian students demand right to education, jobs. greenleft.org.au 
Up to 20,000 Indian students and their supporters from around the country took to the streets of Delhi on February 7 for the Young India Adhikar [Rights] March. The protest was organised by representatives of 60 student organisations from campuses across the country, to protest the Modi government's attacks on students, and to demand the right to education and employment. | Green Left Weekly spoke to one of the march organisers, Kawalpreet Kaur. Kaur is a student at Delhi University and a representative of the All India Students Association (AISA), one of the organisations that initiated the protest. | GLW: How d…
(2019-02-15). Union shuts down Denver teachers strike. wsws.org The Denver Classroom Teachers Association cut a deal in the early hours of Thursday morning and told teachers to return to work before voting on the contract.
(2019-02-14). One Year After Parkland, 1,200 More Kids Are Dead by Gunfire—But Students Still Fight for Gun Safety. democracynow.org 
It's been one year since the devastating massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School—the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that galvanized the nation to take action against gun violence and turned a generation of young people into activists. On February 14, 2018, a former student armed with a semiautomatic AR-15 entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and opened fire, gunning down 17 students, staff and teachers in just three minutes. It was one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Students who survived the massacre quickly came to national prominence as leading activists…
(2019-02-14). Denver teachers' strike ends after authorities agree to reform pay system. peoplesdispatch.org The teachers, under the banner of the Denver Class Teachers Association, went on strike on February 11 seeking higher base pay rather than one-time bonuses to ensure greater retention
(2019-02-14). New Hampshire Is Trying to Stop College Students From Registering to Vote. aclu.org Voting is my right. I shouldn't have to jump through hoops to exercise it. | Growing up, my parents taught me that voting is not only a right, but a privilege. They voted in every local, midterm, and presidential election, and every time they did so they were sure to show me their "I voted" sticker. | As I grew older, they discussed propositions or candidates with me, asking me what I thought and even providing me with sample ballots. My dad and I would talk about why our opinions were the same or different, and what information we were basing those votes on. When 2016 rolled around, I still wasn't old enough to…
(2019-02-14). "I don't need a Prince Charming to find love" amnesty.org 
Teacher, model and romantic, Alan Costa is a performance artist blazing a unique trail across Salvador, Brazil. Together with his collective Afrobapho, the 28-year-old human rights activist is using fashion, photography and art to spark conversations about what it means to be LGBTI and black in Brazil. | I've never been in love. I've never received love. In fact, I've never experienced a non-abusive relationship. | I used to believe in romantic relationships, but it just hasn't happened for me. As a black, queer man, my body is seen as some kind of masculine ideal, yet there's a distance around the way people thi…
(2019-02-13). Chicago Teachers Union strike at CICS charter schools enters week two. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL – The strike by members of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) at CICS charter schools entered its second week, February 11. More than 175 unionized educators at four schools run by charter operator CICS – Chicago International Charter Schools – are walking the picket lines for better conditions, better pay and the schools their students deserve. The strikers are keeping their spirits high, despite more than a week of picketing in the cold and dark.
(2019-02-13). Atlanta School Cheating Scandal: The Untold Story of Corporate Greed & Criminalization of Teachers. democracynow.org 
As teacher strikes in Denver and Los Angeles join a wave of recent labor actions bringing attention to the plight of the American public school system, we take a fresh look at one of the largest public school scandals in U.S. history. Public schools in Atlanta, Georgia, were thrown into chaos in 2015 when 11 former educators were convicted in 2015 of racketeering and other charges for allegedly facilitating a massive cheating operation on standardized tests. Prosecutors said the teachers were forced to modify incorrect answers and students were even allowed to fix their responses during exams. The case has fueled…
(2019-02-13). Denver teachers strike for decent pay. fightbacknews.org Denver, CO – Over 3700 Denver teachers walked off the job on Monday, February 13 in support of their claim for an increase in their base pay, which is widely regarded as too low to maintain their families. The Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA) called the strike in case collective bargaining failed to gain adequate salary increases. | Collective bargaining occurred in an all-day meeting on the Saturday before the strike. When it became clear that the school board members were engaging in filibustering and refusing to talk about the teachers' claims, DCTA got up from the table to prepare to strike. | Pic…
(2019-02-13). Betsy DeVos Is Pushing a Terrible Double Standard on College Campuses. aclu.org The education secretary's proposed rules on treatment of sexual harassment and assault claims in school settings discriminate on the basis of sex. | This piece originally ran at The Washington Post. | In her proposed rules governing the treatment of sexual harassment and assault claims on college campuses and K-12 schools, Edu…
(2019-02-13). New Hampshire Law Illegally Targets Young Voters Ahead of 2020 Primary. aclu.org The state wants students to face criminal penalties if they don't pay to change their out-of-state licenses after voting. | The New Hampshire 2020 primary is still almost a year away, but state legislators are already working to disenfranchise voters. HB 1264, a law set to go into effect in July 2019, will change the definition of what it means to be a "resident" of New Hampshire, forcing people with out-of-state driver's licenses or car registrations to switch to the state versions if they register to vote. | While it may sound like an archaic DMV issue, it's actually a burden on the right to vote. In New Hamps…
(2019-02-13). Students and Faculty Rally Against Proposed Private Police Force for Johns Hopkins. therealnews.com 
Johns Hopkins Black Student Union President Chisom Okereke says an armed, private police force would endanger students of color
(2019-02-13). China: Prisoner of conscience ill-treated in prison: Lee Ming-che. amnesty.org Taiwanese activist Lee Ming-che has been given rotten food and insufficient clothing in his freezing prison cell. As a result of exposing these prison conditions, his wife is not allowed to visit him again until 22 April 2019. Sentenced in 2017 to five years' imprisonment for "subverting state power", Lee Ming-che is a prisoner of conscience and should be immediately and unconditionally released.
(2019-02-12). A Green New Deal for India? therealnews.com 
A new report from the Political Economy Research Institute puts forth a proposal to boost equity while lowering carbon emissions. Shouvik Chakraborty, an author of the report, explains
(2019-02-12). Denver Teachers Strike over Bonus-Based Pay System, Demanding Reliable Salary Plan & Better Wages. democracynow.org 
Public school teachers in Denver, Colorado, are striking for the second day, after negotiations between the teachers' union and the school district failed to reach a contract over the weekend. The Denver Classroom Teachers Association is demanding an increase in teachers' base salaries rather than putting money in incentives and bonuses. The Denver teachers walked out Monday following 15 months of negotiations over a controversial bonus-based pay system that educators say leaves them unable to predict their salaries and guarantee financial security. The starting salary for a Denver teacher for the 2019-2020 schoo…
(2019-02-12). Dear House Democrats: Go Easy on Betsy DeVos. progressive.org I'm not looking for gotcha moments or public chastising of the Secretary, I'm after something larger.
(2019-02-11). Headlines for February 11, 2019. democracynow.org Shutdown Talks Stall as Friday Deadline Looms, Virginia: Gov. Northam Refuses to Step Down Amid Racism Crisis, Second Woman Accuses Virginia Lt. Gov. Fairfax of Rape, Venezuela: U.S. and Russia Dig In at U.N. with Rival Resolutions, Venezuela: Standoff over Aid Pits Military Against Guaidó Supporters, Rio: At Least 13 Dead in Shootout, Haiti: At Least 2 Killed in Anti-Government Protests, Gaza: Israeli Forces Kill 2 Teenage Protesters, Acting Pentagon Chief: No Orders to Withdraw U.S. Troops from Afghanistan, AMI, Saudi Official Respond After Bezos Accuses Nat'l Enquirer of Blackmail, Denver Public School Teacher…
(2019-02-07). Virginia Is the Latest State to Go #Red4Ed. progressive.org The movement has kicked off thanks to the efforts of an big-tent organization that has embraced all types of teachers, education professionals, and community members.
(2019-02-06). Why Oakland Teachers are Ready to Strike. progressive.org More than 80 percent of teachers have cast a ballot — the highest turnout in the union's history — and 95 percent have voted to authorize a strike.
(2019-02-01). How Los Angeles Teachers Organized and What They Won. progressive.org "It's really hard to overstate the incredible feeling of empowerment, solidarity, and joy that you saw in school site picket lines and at the massive rallies that we held every single day."