June 28, 2008

Plans to base the much-talked-about United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Africa have been dropped for now. The U.S. government acknowledged defeat in its all-out campaign to convince any African ally to welcome the installation on its territory. AFRICOM will begin operations this October in Germany instead.

As John McCain campaigns on a pledge of increasing greenhouse gas emissions by launching new offshore oil drilling while at the same time refusing to make caps mandatory on emissions by big polluters, new government data indicates that the effects of global climate change, caused by greenhouse gas emissions, are intensifying.

The candidates who demonstrate to voters that they value families will win in the November elections. That’s quite a reversal from the 1980s, when the conservative agenda began to be packaged as “family values.”

Almost everything you’ve heard about China is true — at least, that’s my impression from a short week-and-a-half visit to Beijing at the end of May.

Housing help falls short

Parole for juveniles?

Musings on democracy

Boot straps or getting the boot?

The U.S. House of Representatives last week approved by a vote of 293-129 a compromise bill reauthorizing warrantless electronic spying on the American people under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). About 50 Democrats joined the Republicans in approving the disappointing compromise authored by House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer.

Earlier this month, members of Congress joined a wide range of groups in a “Time to Talk to Iran” event on Capitol Hill.

House backs paid leave for federal workers

Supreme Court kills company neutrality law

Mine safety mandates yet to be instituted

Working mothers hit McCain on sex discrimination bill

CHICAGO — “The great thing about people who lead great lives is they inspire others years later to stand up for what is good and just,” declared Rev. Calvin Morris. “Rudy Lozano’s footprints show us the way for activism in today’s historic struggles.” Morris, director of the Community Renewal Society opened a June 22 gathering of over 250 people paying tribute to the remarkable life of Rudy Lozano, cut short by an assassin’s bullet 25 years ago.