Holiday Wreaths to Honor Veterans

Holiday Wreaths to Honor Veterans at VA National Cemeteries

WASHINGTON – December 7, 2011 - Volunteers will place holiday wreaths at Department of Veterans Affairs national cemeteries on Saturday, Dec. 10, to honor the Nation’s Veterans.

“This generous gesture to remember our Veterans at this time of year shows that Americans cherish the service and sacrifice of these heroes,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “The volunteers who turn out for this event show America’s heartfelt, true holiday spirit.”

At most locations, the Civil Air Patrol organizes wreath-laying ceremonies with assistance from local citizens and Veterans service organizations. All 131 VA national cemeteries receive wreaths, one for each military service branch, one for the Merchant Marines and one for prisoners of war and those missing in action. read more with location links>>>

The Victim's of Agent Orange

Helping children cope with disability

Learning to live with misfortune: Cao Thi Phu from central Kon Tum Province (centre) teaches "her" children how to weave brocade at the Cao Phu centre, which she established in October 2009. - VNS Photos Tran Hoai Nam

December, 06 2011 - Cao Thi Phu has spent much of her adult life helping disabled children make their way in life. She herself was a victim of Agent Orange, which she was exposed to during the American War. Tran Hoai Nam reports.

While the war between Viet Nam and America took place decades ago, its brutal aftermath remains severe as thousands of children continue to suffer the effects of Agent Orange.

In sympathy, 55-year-old Cao Thi Phu from central Kon Tum Province has lent her support to a multitude of these children over the past two years by providing them with food, jobs, a platform for their products and a chance to integrate into society.

From inside her house, which serves both her family and as a shelter for 15 disabled children, Phu reminisced about the ups and downs of her life. Through her stories, we witnessed the battlefields in the central province of Quang Tri as well as the moments of happiness experienced by the children whom she has managed to help.

In early 1971, when fighting was at its fiercest, and similar to countless other youths at the time, Phu joined a young volunteer group at age 15. read more>>>

Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign

Occupy: "rent offices; establish protest presence"

Occupy protestors should rent offices; establish protest presence in Washington

December 6, 2011 - The movement has arisen from a simple group of protestors occupying Wall Street in protest of big businesses' grip on the throat of the U.S. economy and has bloomed across the nation with sister protests in cities and towns large and small.

Occupy has peacefully brought forth the discontent simmering under the surface of an electorate ignored by those they put in office; and, they’ve brought a variety of issues into the national dialogue in an attempt to pressure the politicians into acting for change.

It's a good start, but...

There’s only one problem, and it was alluded to several weeks ago by businessman and philanthropist Russell Simmons on Twitter (@UncleRush).

"OWS can set up satellite offices all ovr the country & the revolution shld expand we cn do more from an organized effort out of offices”.

Occupy's next act needs to be to establish a credible and effective presence across the country. It can start anchoring itself where it needs to be by renting office space with donated funds. This shouldn’t be hard to do with the number of empty storefronts and foreclosed properties dotting the nation in cities large and small. read more>>>

Unemployed Storm Capitol Hill

Hundreds of Unemployed Storm Capitol Hill to Meet with Congress

December 06, 2011 - Thousands of Occupy Congress activists have decended on Washington this week to press their agenda of jobs and a fair economy for all. The three days of protests and events was kicked off by a visit to Capitol Hill where hundreds of constituents demanding meetings with their members of Congress. They are angry about the lack of progress on a jobs bill and a host of other economic issues.

At 9 a.m., they assemble on Washington’s Mall. More than 1,000 unemployed and underemployed Americans from across the country. They have come to Washington to pressure Congress for more action on job creation and an extension of unemployment benefits. Jeremy Collins is from Columbus Ohio.

"If any politician would walk by, you could see that there is a lot constituents out here," said Jeremy Collins," who is unemployed. "There are a lot of people here who are registered voters. And if they want to get elected they need to listen to the people." read more>>>

VA Salutes World War II Vets on Pearl Harbor Day

Shinseki Renews Commitment for “Greatest Generation”

WASHINGTON – December 6, 2011 - On the 70th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War II, the men and women of the Department of Veterans Affairs salute the members of “America’s greatest generation” for their sacrifice, love of country and concern for their fellow Veterans.

“Pearl Harbor reminds us not only of a solemn chapter in American history, but also of the great courage and resolve displayed by stalwart defenders in fighting off the attackers that day—qualities that have continued to define each succeeding serving generation, including today’s young men and women in uniform,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

Of the 60,000 soldier, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who served in Hawaii during the attack upon the U.S. fleet in Pearl Harbor and other facilities across the islands, only about 3,000 are still alive.

More than 2,000 Servicemembers died as a result of the fighting on Dec. 7, 1941, and about 1,000 others were wounded, the first casualties in a four-year tally of heroism and sacrifice that would eventually result in 400,000 U.S. deaths in uniform and nearly 700,000 wounded.

“The Department of Veterans Affairs honors the memory of those who gave their lives that day, as well as those who fought and survived. Inspired by their valor and selflessness, America emerged from Pearl Harbor determined to triumph in the ensuing battle against tyranny,” said Shinseki. “At VA, we are committed to ensuring those heroes of Pearl Harbor and other fields of struggle receive the benefits and the honor they have earned.”

“This 70th anniversary also marks the last formal meeting of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, which was founded in 1958 and has served all Veterans and their family members with distinction over the years. The association’s motto is “Remember Pearl Harbor—Keep America Alert,” and they have done so over the years,” said Shinseki.

# # #

We continue to Salute the Greatest Generation as we tear apart what they had built for their kids, grankids and those to follow in the decades after! We started that some three decades ago and especially over the last decade, yet the self proclaimed super patriots, especially the older ones who grew up in those decades directly after and should know better, I did in and into, will wave their flags call others un-patriotic and continue stripping everything we once were as they have for the past decade and two wars of choice!!

Especially related to the Veterans Administration

No Revenues = No Sacrifice = No Support = DeJa-Vu all over again!. Now a decade and counting added to the previous decades of under funding the VA, while the peoples reps Still try and lay blame on the Agency, after rubber stamping wars and costs of and those represented cheer on these wars! While the wealthy and other investors garner their booty, still, from both and many have the chutz·pa to call themselves more patriotic{?} then others wrapped in those false flags, using false slogans and various cheap symbols of!

"to wonder if their sacrifice was justified," Lucas said

Only 8,000 U.S. troops left in Iraq

December 6, 2011 - After nearly nine years of war, the U.S. is getting out of Iraq. Just 8,000 troops remain at five bases, down from 170,000 spread out over more than 500 bases in 2007. All will leave by the end of the month.

CBS News correspondent Jim Axelrod met some of them at Camp Kalsu, and found their work is far from over.

At Camp Kalso Army base, 60 miles south of Baghdad, soldiers of the 1st Brigade, First Cavalry, are making their final checks. It won't be long now before they load up and move out.

snip

He re-enlisted as soon as he got his degree, then pushed to go back to Iraq. As he prepares to leave, he's thinking of five Army buddies - Justin, Jason, Damien, Pierre, Jose - five soldiers killed in Iraq.

"I guess if I think about them it's mostly to wonder if their sacrifice was justified," Lucas said, adding that he still doesn't know the answer. read more with video report>>>

Something to bring thought, look at the names of his brothers lost in that conflict, should tell you what the military and country are made up of and who serves it in the defense of!

A Better World

Andrew Light, Rebecca Lefton, and Adam James explain why developed countries such as the United States need to keep climate aid flowing to get climate change under control and maintain their credibility at international summits.

More: Climate Finance Is Key to U.S. Climate Credibility

Greenhouse Gas Limits

Calif. Takes Big Step Toward Greenhouse Gas Limits

December 6, 2011 - First of a two-part series on California's climate policies

California is about to try a radical experiment. A little over a year from now, the state will limit the greenhouse gas emissions from factories and power plants, and, eventually, emissions from vehicles.

The U.S. Congress tried to pass a similar plan for the whole country but dropped the idea last year.

Paying a price for emissions has many Californians worried about what they'll have to pay for electricity and fuel and everything that takes energy to make. But the state's argument is that this will be good for the economy.

The law, actually a suite of measures generally lumped under the name AB 32, is a risky step at a time when the state's economy is shaky. Essentially, the law puts a statewide cap on the amount of greenhouse gases coming out of smokestacks and tailpipes.

At a hearing recently in Sacramento, skeptics gave state regulators an earful. Among them was single mother Kathy West.

"I'm a maintenance mechanic at the ConocoPhillips refinery," she told the California Air Resources Board, which administers AB 32. "At our Santa Maria refinery, we just hired 12 operators and two mechanics. What's going to happen to their future, their families? What about your jobs when you get rid of the refining out of California?"

There's no doubt the new laws will make electricity and gas prices rise, but just how much is a matter of much debate — some say thousands of dollars a year for businesses.

The state says costs pale in light of new business the law will create. read more>>>

'job creators'?

If the wealthy and especially the corporations are the only means to 'job creation', according to any and all teabags, then why are so many at the government ever growing, by bid costs, feed bag?! Especially in area's of defense and infrastructure as well as no-bid war contractors, oh the list goes on! And then we have the so called representative's fighting so hard for the billions in federal pork, especially in states that get more then they send to Washington, and if cut off scream it'll cost jobs?!?!?

Seems we the Government create an awful lot of private employment on our dime as well as create an awful lot of ever extremely greater wealth for those that sit in the executive suites! Why aren't they using that private investment capital, in their coffers and the reason supposedly for Wall Street, once was, to Research and Develop then if successful selling their wares to Us, like other private companies invest in and if developing a failure product they suffer the consequences, whatever they may be, of as they do with real good product, helping them build, expand and hire!!!

Example: If you think Boeing is going to have cheaper bids because of the new plant in South Carolina, if doing government contracts, as wages are used as the blame, They Never Are or execs wouldn't be getting the comps they do, then I've got a bunch of Prime lakefront property to sell ya in the middle of the desert!!!!!!!

Occupy Calendar:

Check Out #OWS' Jam-Packed Schedule

Dec. 5, 2011 - Occupiers are going to need a spring break, judging from the packed winter itinerary of national protests being planned under the Occupy Wall Street banner. The movement's "Beyond the Park" faction may think it's time to stop erecting tent cities in public spaces, but if these plans all pan out, the Capitol Lawn could be booked through May Day. Check out this calender of events for what some are calling Occupy's "Valley Forge moment." cont. reading>>>

Political Dictatorship

The Road to Political Dictatorship December 5, 2011 - John Weeks: The economic power of Wall St., if not restrained, will lead to political dictatorship. Watch full multipart The Road to Political Dictatorship

"Occupy" Head to DC From Across the Country!!

This, within the Heart of the Beast of Our Government, outside of the Heart of the Financial Beast NYC, took place yesterday.

Occupy D.C. protesters arrested during Sunday demonstration

Occupy D.C. protesters arrested in standoff over makeshift shelter at McPherson Sq.

Well on their way from across the Country Occupy is heading in to confront the Political!

From Wisconsin:

Occupy Protesters Headed to Washington DC

Dec 05, 2011 - Statewide Wisconsin (WXOW) - More than 150 people from all over Wisconsin are preparing to join others from across the country in Washington, D.C. as part of a three day, non-violent "Occupy Wall Street" Protest. The thousands converging on the Capitol say they want to counter the power of banks, Wall Street, and big corporations. read more>>>

From Chi Town Chicago:

Occupy Chicago heads to Washington

December 5, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Hundreds of Chicagoans who are involved in the Occupy movement are boarding buses for Washington, D.C. Monday morning.

Three buses will carry the protestors from Occupy Chicago to Washington, D.C. The movement has taken place in cities across the country. Protestors say U.S. Congress needs to represent the 99-percent, not just the 1-percent of the nation's wealthiest people.

Many of the protestors are unemployed and say they have been job hunting for years. read more>>>

From St. Louis:

Occupy St. Louis will occupy D.C. for three days

Dec 5, 2011 - Occupy movements from across the country, St. Louis included, are now heading to Washington D.C. St. Louis members will be joining thousands of protesters for Occupy's "Take Back the Capitol" movement.

Johnathon McFarland says he doesn't have a job holding him back. His bags are packed. He's heading out on a bus to occupy Washington D.C.

"Corporations and government shouldn't be involved with each other," said McFarland. "It seems like they're making decisions against the people. That's why people get mad and stand up and say- hey, these are our rights." read more>>>

From MA and Boston heading on down:

Group recruits Occupiers to protest in D.C.

December 5, 2011 - A union umbrella group is loading up buses for Washington, D.C., today, saying it is going to call out Congress and the lobbying mecca of K Street for cozying up to corporations, echoing the message of the Occupy movement.

“People are unemployed, and underemployed, and the frustration is building,” said Jay Chambers of Charlestown, a union ironworker. “We’re going to D.C., where 50 percent of the problem lies.”

MassUniting organized the rolling rally to join a national protest and has invited Occupy Boston members to come along. Tomorrow in D.C., protesters plan to “remind” Congress they represent all Americans, not just the wealthiest “one percent” of the population, a statement said. read more>>>

Looking for some more reports from around the country now!

Lessons Not Learned: Our Legacy of Wars of Choice

Vietnam Weapons Of War: Over 42,000 Killed By Leftover Mines, Bombs

Vietnam's prime minister says more than 42,000 people have been killed by bombs, mines and ordnance left from the Vietnam War, and more continue to die 36 years after the war ended.

Nguyen Tan Dung told a mine action donors' conference Monday that more than 62,000 others have been wounded by accidental explosions of weapons from the war.

U.S. Ambassador David Shear told the conference that the United States has provided $62 million to help Vietnam deal with "this painful legacy."

The U.S. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund says more than 350,000 tons of land mines and explosives remain scattered across the country. more>>>

Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign

Agent Orange Blues

Review: Scorched Earth: Legacies of the Chemical Warfare in Vietnam

In 20 years at the Tu Du Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Tan has seen it all: twisted toes, missing limbs, mental disabilities, dysfunctional spinal cords. Her patients are children whom she suspects were poisoned by the dioxin that lingers in Vietnam’s soil and water more than three decades after American pilots sprayed the highly toxic Agent Orange herbicide over an area the size of Massachusetts.

Agent Orange has created “a burden for the economy and for society,” Tan says. The US officials who commissioned the wartime spraying “have to compensate, and they have to help us to solve this problem,” she demands.

Tan is one source for Wilcox’s clunky new book, "Scorched Earth: Legacies of Chemical Warfare in Vietnam", the sequel to his 1983 book "Waiting for an Army to Die: The Tragedy of Agent Orange", which profiled American war veterans who claimed to be suffering from the effects of wartime exposure to Agent Orange.

Scorched Earth chronicles Wilcox’s 2009 trip to Vietnam, in which the Ithaca College professor and his son, Brendan, meet Vietnamese who allegedly suffer from dioxin-related health complications. The trip is a platform for Wilcox to glorify the Vietnamese and to lambast chemical companies and US policymakers who, the author says, refuse to acknowledge their responsibility for causing the complications.

“For decades, the United States government appeared to be waiting for Vietnam veterans to die,” Wilcox writes. “Now, the chemical companies and the government are waiting for the Vietnamese to give up their campaign to secure justice for the victims of chemical warfare. This will never happen. We ignore their suffering at our own peril.” read more>>>

Great News Comes From CBS 60min Sad Report

Looks like I wasn't the only one really impressed with last weeks CBS 60min. Report on the Homeless in Florida and the two youngsters who were mainly profiled in the report. They didn't talk to the father, they lost their mother when very young, but you could tell by their responses what their father has passed on, being a tradesman as a carpenter, with needed developed common sense and critical thought to perform a trade any trade, those gifts to his children and they've grown up with those and the life changing situation they now exist in developing same for them now.

This was a quick report updating that 60min report, CBS doesn't have it but I found a short writeup from a local source.

Stetson University offers free ride to 2 homeless Seminole students

December 02, 2011 - Two homeless Seminole County children who captured the hearts of TV viewers nationwide with their optimism and sincerity are receiving an all-expenses-paid trip — to college.

snip

Stetson President Wendy Libby said she has been bombarded by email from alumni, employees and others asking how the college can help 15-year-old Arielle Metzger, who was wearing a green-and-gray Stetson T-shirt for part of the broadcast, and her brother Austin, 13. read more>>> {much more good news within}

In last nights very short CBS report they mentioned that a few other schools have contacted the kids with offers in furthering their education as well. Sadly nothing about job offers for their father which would help them right now. But here's hoping this brother carpenter and tradesman will come up with some soon. Companies say they're in desperate need of skilled trades people, anyone who does one trade has the ability to learn others quickly, they have the tools in the experience within, do others and they do like other trades in construction, those can also be transferred into other industries as well. You don't learn anything above the basics in any classroom, not in experience trades needs. So those who complain about not finding aren't looking hard or really don't even understand what innovative workers do and can do.

Well Finally After searching through the CBS site, since last night then again this morning, they finally put up a report.

Homeless teens on "60 Minutes" get free college

December 3, 2011 9:01 AM - There has been an incredible outpouring of support for a homeless brother and sister in Florida, profiled last Sunday by Scott Pelley on "60 Minutes." They'd been living out of their father's truck. read more>>>

Video from the Saturday Morning CBS News show

This is what I posted shortly after the initial 60min report:

This is one very intelligent young lady, I suspect her brother is as well even though a bit shy, that knows what she would like for her life. Sadly her and so many others probably will be blocked from reaching those goals with the way some are fighting to destroy what this country once was heading to and especially in education,for education isn't perceived as life learning but by a very expensive piece of paper, just having is enough not if one is actually educated, and the expense is growing, as they seek to keep the masses out of the higher education industry and maintain that for their own or the few chosen by them!!

At another time, not to far back, I would say she would attain her goals as would others with their dreams, now not so!

Hard Times Generation: Families living in cars

November 27, 2011 - More than 16 million children are now living in poverty and, for many of them, a proper home is elusive. Some cash-strapped families stay with relatives; others move into motels or homeless shelters. But, as Scott Pelley reports, sometimes those options run out, leaving an even more desperate choice: living in their cars. 60 Minutes returns to Florida, home to one third of America's homeless families, to find out what life is like for the epidemic's youngest survivors.

The following is a script of "Hard Times Generation" which aired on Nov. 27, 2011. Scott Pelley is correspondent, Bob Anderson and Nicole Young, producers. read more>>>

Florida fights for homeless families November 28, 2011

Schools in Seminole County, Fla., invited homeless families in an event organized by the community to hear about the services available to help them get back on their feet. Scott Pelley reports. more>>>

DoD: Cleantech Hotbed

Anyone carrying the tea buckets against Green Growth and Alternatives Energy are just doing the special interests bidding and to lazy to get actual Facts, same they've done for some forty years. We started down that road back then and allowed it to be blocked, then it was meme's like energy is cheap, can't use that anymore, now it's mostly denial of what we've been doing to the environment all these decades, our environment! It's been blocking the implementation of another of the once envied by all industries into a once vibrant economy and growth of. Those who envied have now taken the lead as well as those innovations we developed and greatly improved on and are still doing so. They also now have the needed innovative skilled experienced workforce of trades workers to continue growing while we only follow and fall rapidly because of the non investments from that top down capitalism, which ruined all we had, while everyone else moves forward!!

U.S. Defense Department A Cleantech Hotbed

December 2nd, 2011 - The idea of a fighting force showing cleantech savvy seems to make heads spin (if the comments to this story are any indication), but for better or for worse the U.S. military might just be our best proving ground for new technologies. And a whole bunch more are about to get play, with the Department of Defense (DOD) announcing 27 new projects that will be demoed in the current fiscal year as part of the Installation Energy Test Bed initiative.

The Pentagon said some 575 proposals were “submitted by private firms, universities and federal organizations,” and that a competitive process yielded the winners in five areas: smart microgrids and energy storage; component technologies for building energy efficiency; building energy management and control technologies; tools and processes for design, assessment and decision-making associated with energy use and management; and technologies for renewable energy generation. read more>>>

Sacramento's, & Country, Green Economy Initiative

The President's Big Boost to Sacramento's Green Economy

December 02, 2011 - I just finished one of the most important meetings in my term as Mayor of Sacramento. Last night, I took a red-eye flight and rushed this morning to the White House for a meeting with President Obama, former President Clinton and 60 university presidents, CEOs and elected leaders from around the country.

The topic? Jobs -- and the incredible opportunity Sacramento has by partnering with President Obama in his plan to invest nearly $4 billion in combined federal and private sector energy upgrades for our nation's commercial buildings through the Better Buildings Initiative.

This outstanding news could not have come at a better time. Sacramento is one of five cities that has taken the President’s Better Buildings Challenge, which translates into new jobs in our construction industry, where the unemployment rate has topped 30 percent. That's what I mean when I talk about putting Sacramento on the map!

Thanks to President Obama and our work through our Greenwise initiative here in Sacramento, hundreds of workers from the Sacramento region will return to job sites and begin retrofitting commercial buildings, and eventually schools and government offices, making them more energy efficient. And the work won't be done at taxpayer expense. Private companies will finance the upfront costs, and they will be paid back through the energy savings that result from the improvements. read more>>>

Green Boosts Economic Growth

Green industry boosts California economy

The California green industry grossed $25 billion in 2007, according to report.

December 2, 2011 - The green industry in California has accomplished much more than beautification. According to a recently released report by the California Landscape Contractors Association, the industry grossed $25 billion and created nearly 258,000 jobs in 2007, the last year for which data was available.

The report, entitled “Economic Contributions of the Green Industry to the California Economy, 2007,” summarizes a 2011 study conducted by three economists: Dr. Marco A. Palma of Texas A&M University, Dr. Alan W. Hodges of the University of Florida, and Dr. Charles R. Hall of Texas A&M University.

The report identifies the “green industry” as any business involved in the production, distribution, and services associated with ornamental plants, landscape and garden supplies and equipment. Segments of this industry – also known as the environmental horticulture industry – include landscape architects, contractors and maintenance firms, wholesale nursery, greenhouse, and sod growers, marketing intermediaries such as brokers, horticultural distribution centers, and re-wholesalers, retail garden centers, home centers, and mass merchandisers with lawn and garden departments and other retail establishments selling plants and horticultural goods.

The 157,395 green industry establishments in the state had $17.2 billion in direct output (sales) and $25 billion in total output. They employed 169,942 individuals and had a total employment impact of 257,650 jobs, the report states. read more>>>

Green Boosts Economic Growth

Nurturing Green Buildings Initiatives

This Week in Clean Economy: Obama Nurtures His Base with Green Buildings Initiative

Under GOP attack for his Keystone XL delay, Obama goes with his base—and the clean economy. Cap and trade loses favor, and solar fights for a key subsidy.

Dec 2, 2011 - Unions and oil companies painted President Obama as a jobs destroyer for his decision to delay the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline at a GOP-led hearing this morning—but is that true?

Not according to one of the lone dissenting witnesses, a clean energy advocate who said if permanent jobs are the goal, the president must shift the country's energy focus away from oil infrastructure to the manufacturing-heavy green sectors.

"We need to think long term ... The answer lies in increased investment in the research and development of green alternative energy projects," said Jerome Ringo in testimony to the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Energy and Power. Ringo, a former oil worker, was the president of the Apollo Alliance, a coalition of unions and environmental groups now part of the BlueGreen Alliance.

Now it seems Obama—who is under heavy attack from Republicans for choosing to put off the Keystone XL decision for at least a year—is heeding such calls from his base to invigorate the clean economy.

Today the president unveiled a $4 billion green-buildings initiative with former president Bill Clinton and U.S. industrial giants, including 3M Co. and Alcoa Inc., to retrofit 1.6 billion square feet of government facilities over the next two years using private money and existing federal programs. read more>>>

This week on War News Radio: "Resisting Change"

02 Dec 2011 - This week on War News Radio: Resisting Change, we first hear about the implications of the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. Then we learn about the Lord’s Resistance Army, a militia terrorizing central Africa. But first, a roundup of this week’s news.

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Vet Who Served the Constitution Speaks Truth To!!

Vet spits truth before cops move in - Occupy LA Nov 29, 2011 - Veteran defends our 1st Amendment Rights and wants to End the Fed and the Wars. Taped live about an hour before police move in to dismantle Occupy LA.

Occupy America. It's only the beginning

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised Oct 3, 2011 - No copyright infringement intended under the fair use act of a commercial nature. This video is for nonprofit and educational purposes.

Climate Change: The Weight of Words

CLIMATE CHANGE: More than just a word game

JOHANNESBURG, 2 December 2011 (IRIN) - While poor countries are jostling to ensure the lives of their people are protected in a deal on the changing climate being negotiated in Durban, various NGOs, agencies and research institutes are lobbying to get a word into the negotiating text. They include groups who are keen on the words “nutrition security”, and others who want to ensure that “women and children” feature in the text each time the word “vulnerable” appears.

“It is not opportunistic. We are pushing for the empowerment of women and the recognition of the words ‘nutrition security’ - by that we are addressing so many issues at the same time,” said Cristina Tirado, director of the Centre for Public Health and Climate Change at the US-based Public Health Institute.

“Protection and promotion of nutrition and health are essential components of climate-resilient and sustainable development,” she added. ”Women serve as agents of change. Through their unique roles in the family and child care, agricultural labour, food and nutrition security, health and disaster risk reduction, they can be instrumental in addressing climate change, health and nutrition in an integrated way.”

In the developing world women are almost entirely responsible for growing the food for their households, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Yet only 10 to 20 of every 100 land owners is a woman, says the World Bank’s World Development report 2012, which focused on gender equality and empowerment.

The weight of words read more>>>

COP17 Conference: Durban or Bust

The Trans-African Caravan of Hope

KAMPALA, 2 December 2011 (IRIN) - Brandishing a plea for developed countries to make good their promises to reduce carbon emissions, 300 farmers, youths and activists took the scenic route to the COP17 conference in Durban, travelling more than 7,000km from Burundi in 17 days, through 10 eastern and southern African countries, aboard a convoy of buses draped in various national flags.

The aim of the Trans-African Caravan of Hope, organized by the Pan African Climate Change Justice Alliance, was to gather information about and raise awareness of the impact of climate change on those least responsible for causing it.

Signatures were gathered en route for a petition, the African People’s Protocol, which urges developed nations to abide by their Kyoto treaty commitments to reduce emissions and finance adaptation programmes.

IRIN spoke to some of those travelling with the convoy: read more>>>

Scott Olsen talks with Rachel

Injured 'Occupy' marine on the future of the movement 1 December 2011 - Scott Olsen, an Iraq war veteran injured at an Occupy Oakland protest, talks with Rachel Maddow about his personal story and the future of the Occupy movement.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Iraq: The beginning of the end

'The beginning of the end' not by a long shot for the people of Iraq, especially, and the region, who's lives and everything they once were we turned completely upside down and will never be forgotten especially by those who lost loved ones, friends, their homes and businesses. The pandora's box of once peaceful sectarian lives destroyed now pitting the sects and tribes against one another as enemies. Some possibly within will seek retaliation in the blowback to those who invaded, destroyed and occupied. Tens of thousands killed, tens of thousands maimed, millions turned into refugee's in and out of country, many of those still living in their new existence of that status. The once mighty U.S. reputation and moral standing now exposed as a lie to all on the planet and many within accept all that occurred as they yell 'God Bless America!'while waving the flag that now is disgraced as well as not 'teaching' but 'indoctrinating' our next generations on 'patriotism' and the 'homeland' lockstep of pure arrogance and hypocrisy..

Nope, 'the beginning of the end' have shaped the decades to come, like 'shock and awe!' shaped the failed policies, and what it will be like as the Country needs more enhanced and very costly national security needs as well as much less in personal freedoms of the citizens in a democracy, to protect those citizens within our own borders.

And all built on the lies of a few within that sought and got the reigns of power to carry it all out!

Iraq: The beginning of the end 1 December 2011 - What began with shock and awe ended with humble words during a ceremony at one of the last U.S. bases to be handed over to the Iraqis. Jim Axelrod reports from Baghdad on how things have changed since he first reported on the war there nine years ago.

U.S. hands iconic Camp Victory over to Iraqis

December 2, 2011 - CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Inside palace walls built by Saddam Hussein, U.S. generals plotted the war's course, tracked the mounting death toll and swore in new American citizens under gaudy glass chandeliers.

Just outside the palace, American troops whacked golf balls into man-made lakes or fished for carp while others sat down with a cigar and a can of nonalcoholic beer hoping for a respite from incoming rockets or mortar shells.

Along another lake some distance away, a jailed Saddam tended to tomatoes and cucumbers in a small, walled-off enclosure with guards patrolling overhead.

Ever since the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division fought their way into the Baghdad airport grounds nearly nine years ago, the sprawling area they renamed Camp Victory has held a special place in the American military experience in Iraq.

On Friday, the base that at its height was home to 46,000 people was handed over to the Iraqi government as part of American efforts to move all U.S. troops out of the country by the end of the year. read more>>>

'The beginning of the end', as the citizens of the U.S. have already used their well known arrogance and especially apathy of the rest of the planet to move quickly on, blanking out the country destroyed and it's people and their lives, the soldiers and veterans sent into and their families, many on multiple tours, and any responsibility as to the results of the policies they cheered on!

And still No Accountability, as the World and especially the people of that country and region we inflamed wait, for those still reaping wealth and more from the destruction in many forms and many places they sought and got!

And will repeat same probably not to far down the road and into the future!

The Total Disconnect: Military and Corporate America

And frankly education and the whole civilian population, most of that in the population comes from the not wanting to pony up as to the results of our wars of choice, meme's 'Support the Troops', after they cheer them on and send others, the other 1%.

But this report focuses on the experience from serving in the military, in any branch and not even sent into the theaters, verses the corporate mentality, and so called higher education, especially of the past some thirty years. I often have wondered what the hell they're teaching in these classrooms of the higher education industry now which came about with the new capitalism model of top down economics, business, journalism, law, other professions, and we've seen what comes from that education. Mostly from those who network for connections during and do same for advancing within businesses. Just look around at the banking industry, the investment industry, the mortgage industry, the political theater, the list goes on and on, while real work trades are either gone, from what our parents had performed and built after WWII, or denigrated to just labor levels and not as professions with the common sense and critical thoughts to solve problems almost instantly needed to perform as well as understand a business executive, or engineers and architects needs and wants within a business structure not far removed from chain of command military.

Recent Veterans Find Higher Jobless Rates On Return

December 1, 2011 - The jobless rate has declined a bit in the last year, but among veterans who served in conflict since 2003, it is increasing. The unemployment rate for vets serving since the Iraq war began has risen 1.5 percentage points to more than 12 percent in the past year.

Many veterans say they face a tougher job market than civilians. Tom Tarantino spent a decade in the military, where he served in Iraq and led a platoon. But when he separated from the military in 2007, he spent nearly a year looking for a job.

Tarantino says that although corporate America says it wants to hire vets, so far it's amounted to little more than talk.

"This is the first generation of business leaders in America that's largely never served in the military," he says.

As a result, he says, vets and prospective employers often don't see eye-to-eye. Tarantino says he once explained to an interviewer that he'd been a company commander in the military, running an organization with 400 employees and three multimillion-dollar budgets.

"The next sentence [the interviewer] said was, 'Well, you know, if you took this job you might run a group of up to 30 people. Do you think you could handle that level of responsibility?' "

Tarantino says it's not just the cultural disconnect. Military drivers and medics, for example, aren't automatically licensed to do the same job in the private sector once they leave the military. That makes the job transition harder.

Tarantino is now a legislative advocate for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. He says he hopes the recently enacted Hire Heroes Act will provide more counseling and vocational training. It also gives tax incentives to employers who hire vets.

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"You're able to plan, you're able to supervise the execution of that plan, you know how to work well within a team — not only within the team, but in charge of the team," Workman says.

He thought attaining the rank of captain would be like getting an advanced degree.

"This is what the Army was telling me," he says. "The pitch was: That is essentially equivalent to a master's degree, in the eyes of an employer."

But since returning in 2006, Workman hasn't found any job requiring a college degree. Last month, he was laid off from a bookstore. Workman says employers seem worried that vets might be struggling with PTSD or other injuries that might affect their work.

"I get that sort of trepidation, that timid, walking on eggshells around certain questions [attitude]," he says.

Veteran's advocate Tarantino says the public, and vets, may be weary of hearing about war. read more>>>

There's a huge disconnect in that 'equivalent' of real education whether in the military training or coming out of the halls of the so called higher education classrooms.

Most of those who now serve as regular military forces in our wars, the National Guard and Reserves come from the private sector, either working in or owning small businesses, the wide ranged military training is just added pluses to that already gained knowledge base of corporate america, much like the ones life education and gained experiences. Those that join and serve in the military are extremely well trained and not only in fighting others in wars, even those infantry soldiers are trained in new products and technology not yet in the private sector, or become leaders of others who they plan and lead into possible dangers to come, as well as the supervisory over equipment and more on bases and forward fire-bases, that's always been, and for most the embedded structures never leave their performance when joining the private sector. Just look at the high tech equipment the soldiers actually fighting are using daily in these two theaters and the way they carry out the needed daily actions thrust into their lives.

Yet they don't receive a piece of paper saying they've graduated from a facility of higher education.

Many have other interests or the curiosity to learn about while even at these fire-bases and they pursue those interests, including higher education.

In today's economic and job market reality people aren't even hired for experience or what they can quickly bring to a business plan, not just military or veteran personal, but by another piece of paper, a resume, if even lucky enough to have someone even look at that. Bringing us back to what the hell are they teaching in the classrooms of higher education, and how do some of those evolve into business leaders?