[Oe List ...] Fwd: Most censored News stories

[LAURELCG at aol.com]

Forwarded by Jann McGuire

<< Subject:     [EarthCharterMadison] Most censored News stories

    Date:   September 10, 2004 12:24:07 PM CDT

    To:       earthchartermadison at yahoogroups.com

    Reply-To:     EarthCharterMadison at yahoogroups.com





Dear Friends:


The following shows some of the challenge we face in creating a culture

of peace, justice, and healing the Earth.


Be Well


Dave Randle


September 3, 2004


Project Censored Announces Release of

Censored 2005, The Top 25 Censored News Stories

    Media Democracy in Action


Sonoma State University's student run media research group Project

Censored announces the release of its annual publication, Censored

2005, a compilation of the year's 25 most significant news stories that

were overlooked or under-reported by the country's major national news

media, as well as chapters on the grass roots media democracy, media

ownership maps, real news about US involvement in Palestine, Haiti,

Iraq, and more.


   With introduction by Greg Palast and the political cartoon commentary

of Tom Tomorrow throughout, this year's book covers critical issues

facing the American public this election year.  In Chapter 1's list of

top 25 stories focus on politics, economics, foreign policy, food and

health, the environment, energy, domestic policy, and the military. 


   "We define censorship as interference with the free flow of

information," states Peter Phillips, Director of the Project,

"Corporate media in the United States is interested primarily in

entertainment news to feed their bottom-line priorities.  Very

important news stories that should reach the American public often fall

on the cutting room floor to be replaced by sex-scandals and celebrity

updates."


   The Sonoma State University research group is composed of nearly 200

faculty, students and community experts who review about 1000 story

submissions for coverage, content, reliability of sources and national

significance.  The top 25 stories are submitted to a panel of judges

who then rank them in order of importance.  Current judges include,

Norman Solomon, Michael Parenti, Cynthia McKinney, Howard Zinn, and 20

other national journalists, scholars and writers.


Censored 2005, now available in bookstores nationwide, can also be

purchased on the project's website at www.projectcensored.org.


   For more information, contact:

   Project Censored

   Trish Boreta

   707-664-2500

censored at sonoma.edu


************************************************************************




Top Most Censored News Stories


   #1 Wealth Inequity in 21st Century Threatens Economy and Democracy

Multinational Monitor, May 2003, Vol. 24, No. 5

   Title: "The Wealth Divide" (An interview with Edward Wolff)

   Author: Robert Weissman

Buzzflash, March 26 and 19, 2004

   Title: "A Buzzflash Interview, Parts I and II" (with David Cay

Johnston)

   Author: Mark Karlin

London Guardian, October 4, 2004

   Title: "Every third person will be a slum dweller within 30 years, UN

agency warns"

   Author: John Vidal

Multinational Monitor, July/August, 2003

   Title: "Grotesque Inequality"

   Author: Robert Weissman


   Wealth inequality increased dramatically in the United States in the

late1990s. The top 5% is now capturing an increasingly greater portion

of the pie while the bottom 95% is clearly losing ground, resulting in

the rapidly vanishing middle class. This trend is the product of

legislative policies carefully crafted and lobbied for by corporations

and the ultra-wealthy over the past 25 years.  America's economic

trends have a global footprint, and today, the top 400 income earners

in the U.S. make as much in a year as the entire population of the 20

poorest countries in Africa.  A series of reports released in 2003 by

the UN warn that further increases in the imbalance in wealth

throughout the world will have catastrophic effects if left unchecked,

such as the collapse of the entire global economy.



#2 Ashcroft vs. the Human Rights Law that Holds Corporations Accountable

One World.Net and Asheville Global Report, May 19, 2003

   Title: "Ashcroft goes after 200-year-old Human Rights Law"

   Author: Jim Lobe


   Attorney General John Ashcroft is seeking to strike down one of the

world's oldest human rights laws, the Alien Torts Claim Act (ATCA)

which holds government leaders, corporations, and senior military

officials liable for human rights abuses taking place in foreign

countries.  Organizations such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) vehemently

oppose the removal of this law, as it is one of the few legal defenses

victims of human rights violations can claim against powerful

organizations such as governments or multinational corporations.  By

attempting to throw out this law, the Bush Administration is

effectively opening the door for human rights abuses to continue under

the veil of foreign relations diplomacy. 


#3 Bush Administration Manipulates Science and Censors Scientists

The Nation, March 8, 2004

   Title: "The Junk Science of George W. Bush"

   Author: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Censorship News: The National Coalition Against Censorship Newsletter,

Fall 2003, #91

   Title: "Censoring Scientific Information"

Author: The National Coalition Against Censorship staff

Environment News Service and OneWorld.Net, February 20, 2004

   Title: "Ranking Scientists Warn Bush Science Policy Lacks Integrity"

   Author:  Sunny Lewis

Office of U.S. Representative Henry A. Waxman, August 2003

   Title: "Politics and Science in the Bush Administration"

   Prepared by: Committee on Government Reform - Minority Staff

   (Updated November 13, 2003


   In Washington D.C. more than 60 of the nation's top scientists,

including 20 Nobel laureates, medical experts, and former federal

agency directors, issued a statement February 18, 2004 accusing the

Bush Administration of deliberately distorting scientific results for

political ends. They are calling for regulatory and legislative action

to restore scientific integrity to federal policymaking.  Under the

current administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has

blacklisted scientists who pose a threat to pro-business ideology, and

many unqualified scientists with close industry ties have been

appointed to advisory boards.


# 4 High Uranium Levels Found in Troops and Civilians

Uranium Medical Research Center, January 2003

   Title: "UMRC's Preliminary Findings from Afghanistan and Operation

Enduring Freedom" and "Afghan Field Trip #2 Report: Precision

Destruction - Indiscriminate Effects"

Author: Tedd Weyman, UMRC Research Team

Awakened Woman, January 2004

   Title: "Scientists Uncover Radioactive Trail in Afghanistan"

   Author: Stephanie Hiller

Dissident Voice, March 2004

   Title: "There Are No Words  Radiation in Iraq equals 250,000 Nagasaki

Bombs"

   Author: Bob Nichols

New York Daily News, April 5, 2004

   Title: "Poisoned?"

   Author: Juan Gonzales

Information Clearing House, March 2004

   Title: "International Criminal Tribunal for Afghanistan At Tokyo, The

People Vs. George Bush"

   Author: Professor Ms. Niloufer Bhagwat J.


   Civilian populations in Afghanistan and Iraq and occupying troops have

been contaminated with astounding levels of radioactive uranium as a

result of post-9/11 United States' use of tons of uranium munitions.

Four million pounds of radioactive uranium were dropped on Iraq in 2003

alone. 

   Most American weapons (missiles, smart bombs, bullets, tank shells,

cruise missiles, etc.) contain high amounts of uranium that on

detonation, release a radioactive dust.  Once ingested, these subatomic

particles slice through DNA.  With a half-life of 4.5 billion years, it

is a permanent contaminant distributed throughout the environment.

   Scientists from around the world testify to the huge increase in birth

deformities and cancers wherever uranium munitions have been used. The

effects of the U.S. deployment will be felt in all the neighboring

countries in the Middle East and Asia, as well as in our returning

troops.


#5 The Wholesale Giveaway of Our Natural Resources

In These Times, November 23, 2003

   Title: "Liquidation of the Commons"

   Author: Adam Werbach

High Country News, Vol. 35, No. 11, June 9, 2003

   Title: "Giant Sequoias Could Get the Ax"

   Author: Matt Weiser


   The Bush Administration's environmental policies are destroying much

of the environmental progress made over the past 30 years.  Between the

"Clean Skies Initiative," a recent policy that allows power plants to

emit more than five times more mercury and twice as much sulfur

dioxide, and the "Healthy Forests Initiative," which allows the

wholesale liquidation of ancient forests by corporate timber interests

under the guise of fire prevention, resource extraction and pollution

is occurring at unprecedented rates.


#6 The Sale of Electoral Politics

In These Times, December 2003

   Title: "Voting Machines Gone Wild"

   Author: Mark Lewellen-Biddle

Independet/UK, October 13, 2003

   Title: "All The President's Votes?"

   Author: Andrew Gumbel

Democracy Now!, September 4, 2003

   Title: "Will Bush Backers Manipulate Votes to Deliver GW Another

Election?"

Reporter: Amy Goodman and the staff of Democracy Now!


   Conflicts of interest exist between the largest suppliers of

electronic voting machines in the United States and key leaders in the

Republican Party.  While the voting machines themselves present some

technical issues, the political affiliations within the voting machine

industry pose even more serious questions. The three major companies

involved in implementing the new, often faulty, technology at voting

stations throughout the country have strong ties to the Bush

Administration, Republican leaders, and major defense contractors.

        It must be noted that under the Help America Vote Act control

over the electoral process has been taken away from local officials and

placed in the hands of a very small number of for-profit corporations. 

In effect we are privatizing America's most public endeavor. 


#7 Conservative Organization Drives Judicial Appointments

The American Prospect, Vol. 14, Issue 3, March 1, 2003

   Title: " A Hostile Takeover: How the Federalist Society is Capturing

the Federal Courts"

   Author: Martin Garbus

   Title: "Courts vs. Citizents"

   Author: Jamin Raskin


   In 2001 George W. Bush eliminated the longstanding influence of the

American Bar Association (ABA) in the evaluation of the prospective

federal judges.  ABA's judicial ratings had long kept extremists from

the right and left off the bench.  In its place, Bush has been using

the Federal Society for Law and Public Policy Studies-a national

organization whose mission is to advance a conservative agenda by

moving the country's legal system to the right.

One of the most important issues in the country is the control of one

of the three branches of government, the judiciary.  While Presidents

and Congress-members get elected every few years, judicial appointments

are for life, Our courts deal with nearly every aspect of life; work

conditions and wages, schools, civil rights, affirmative action, crime

and punishment, abortion and the environment, amongst others.


#8 Secrets of Cheney's Energy Task Force Come to Light

Judicial Watch, July 17, 2003

   Title: "Cheney Energy Task Force Documents Feature Map of Iraqi

Oilfields"

   Author: Judicial Watch Staff

Foreign Policy in Focus, January 2004

   Title: "Bush-Cheney Energy Strategy: Procuring the Rest of the World's

Oil"

   Author: Michael Klare


   Cheney Energy Task Force documents turned over in the summer of 2003

by the Commerce Department as a result of the Freedom of Information

Act lawsuit brought by Sierra Club and Judicial Watch contain maps of

Iraqi oilfields, pipelines, refineries and terminals.  The documents,

dated March 2001, also contain plans of occupation and exploitation

that predate September 11, confirming suspicions that the Bush

Administration energy policy is driving U.S. military strategy.


#9 Widow Brings RICO Case Against U.S. Government for 9/11

Scoop.co.nz, November 2003 and December 2003

   Title: "911 Victim's Wife Files RICO Case Against GW Bush"

   Author: Philip J. Berg

   Title: "Widow's Bush Treason Suit Vanishes"

   Author: W. David Kubiak


   Ellen Mariani became widowed when her husband Louis Neil Mariani

perished in the collision between United Airlines flight 175 and the

South Tower of the World Trade Center.  In addition to her refusal of

the government's million-dollar settlement offer, Mrs. Mariani has

filed a 62 page complaint in federal district court charging  that

President Bush and officials: (1) had adequate foreknowledge of 911,

yet failed to warn the country or attempt to prevent it; (2) have since

been covering up the truth of that day; (3) have therefore abetted the

murder of plaintiff's husband and violated the Constitution and

multiple laws of the United States; and (4) are thus being sued under

the Civil Racketeering, Influences, and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act

for Malfeasant conspiracy, obstruction of justice and wrongful death.


#10 New Nuke Plants: Taxpayers Support, Industry Profits

Nuclear Information and Resourse Service, November 17, 2003

   Title: "Nuclear Energy Would Get $7.5 Billion in Tax Subsides, US

Taxpayers Would Fund Nuclear Monitor Relapse If Energy Bill Passes"

Authors: Cindy Folkers and Michael Mariotte

WISE/NIRS Nuclear Monitor, August 2003

   Title: "US Senate Passes Pro-Nuclear Energy Bill"

   Authors: Cindy Folkers and Michael Mariotte


   Senator Peter Domenici (R-NM), along with the Bush Administration, is

looking to give the nuclear power industry a huge boost through the new

Energy Policy Act.  The Domenici-sponsored bill will give nuclear power

plants credits costing taxpayers an estimated 7.5 billion dollars, to

build six new privately owned, for-profit reactors across the country.

Safety standards will be lowered and liability will be passed on to

taxpayers. This is in addition to the $4 billion already provided for

other nuclear energy programs.


#11 The Media Can Legally Lie

CMW Report, Spring 2003

   Title: "Court Ruled That Media Can Legally Lie"

   Author: Liane Casten

Organic Consumer Association, March 7, 2004

   Title: "Florida Appeals Court Orders Akre-Wilson Must Pay Trial Costs

for $24.3 Billion Fox Television; Couple Warns Journalists of Danger to

Free Speech, Whistle Blower Protection"

   Author: Al Krebs


   In 2003, a Florida Court of Appeals ruled that there are no written

rules against distorting news in the media. It agreed with an argument

by Fox Television that, under the First Amendment, broadcasters have

the right to lie or deliberately distort news reports on public

airwaves. Under the current ruling, it is up to the public to discover

whether or not they are being lied to.


#12 The Destabilization of Haiti

KPFA Radio-Flashpoints, April 1, 2004

   Title: "Interview with Aristide's lawyer, Brian Concannon"

Reporter: Dennis Bernstein

globalresearch.ca, February 29, 2004

   Title: "The destabilization of Haiti"

   Author: Michel Chossudovsky

Dollars and Sense, September/October 2003

   Title: "Still Up Against the Death Plan in Haiti"

   Author: Tom Reeves

KPFA - Democracy Now!, March 17, 2004

   Title: "Aristide talks with Democracy Now! About the leaders of the

coup and US funding of the opposition in Haiti"

   Reporter: Amy Goodman

Associated Press, March 16, 2004

   Title: "Aristide Backers Left Out of Coalition"

   Author: Ian James


   On February 29, 2004, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was forced into

exile by American military. While U.S. officials were eventially forced

to acknowledge the kidnapping allegations, they were quick to discredit

them and deny responsibility. Meanwhile, the circumstances that led to

the current situation in Haiti, as well as the history of U.S.

involvement, are being ignored by U.S. officials and the mainstream

media.


#13  Schwarzenegger Met with Enron's Ken Lay Before the California

Recall

Common Dreams, August 17, 2003

   Title: "Ahnuld, Ken Lay, George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Gray Davis"

   Author: Jason Leopold

The London Observer, October 6, 2003

   Title: "Arnold Unplugged-It's Hasta la Vista to $9 Billion"

   Author: Greg Palast

San Francisco Chronicle and CommonDreams, October 11,2003

   Title: "Schwarzenegger Electricity Plan Fuels Fears of Another 

Debacle"

   Author: Zachary Coile

San Francisco Chronicle, May 26, 2001

   Title: "Enron's Secret Bid to Save Deregulation: Private Meeting With

Prominent Californians"

   Authors: Christian Berthelsen, Scott Winokur, Chronicle Staff Writers


   In 2002, while the California Governor and his deputy were attempting

to re-regulate the energy industry (and get back the $9 billion that

was defrauded from California taxpayers by Enron and other energy

companies) Arnold Schwarzenegger was being groomed to overthrow

Governor Davis in a recall - and cancel plans to re-regulate or to

recoup the $9 billion. Back in May of 2001, in the midst of

California's energy crisis, Schwarzenegger met with Enron's Ken Lay to

discuss "fixing" California's energy crisis.


#14  New Bill Threatens Intellectual Freedom

Yale Daily News, November 6, 2003

   Title: "New Bill threatens intellectual freedom in area studies"

   Author: Benita Singh

Christian Science Monitor, March 11, 2004

   Title: "Speaking in 'Approved' Tongues"

   Author: Kimberly Chase


   The International Studies in Higher Education Act of 2003 threatens

academic freedom and classroom curriculum. Under this act, professors

whose ideological principles do not support U.S. practices abroad can

have their appointments terminated, any course curriculum containing

criticism of U.S. foreign policy can be censored, and any course deemed

anti-American can be barred from the classroom.


#15 US Develops Lethal New Bio-weapon Viruses

The New Scientist, October 29, 2003

   Title: "US develops lethal new viruses"

   Author: Debora MacKenzie


   Scientists funded by the US government have developed a way to make

pox viruses incredibly deadly.  The stated goal of this research is to

fight possible bio-terror attacks. The new virus kills all mice even if

they have been given antiviral drugs along with a vaccine that would

normally protect the victim from death.


# 16  Law Enforcement Agencies Spy on Innocent Citizens

Agenda, July--August 2003

   Title: "Big Brother Gets Bigger--Domestic Spying & the Global

Intelligence Working Group"

Author: Michelle J. Kinnucan

Community Alliance, April 2003

   Title: "Police Infiltrate Local Groups"

   Author: Mark Schlosberg

CovertAction Quarterly, Fall 2003

   Title: "Denver Police Keeping Files On Peace Groups"

   Author: Loring Wirbel

North Bay Progressive, Volume 2 # 8, October 2003

   Title: "Fresno Peace group Infiltrated by Government Agent"

   Author: Mike Rhodes

World Socialist Web Site, www.wsws.org, 1/10/04

   Title: "Bush Administration Expands Police Spying Powers"

Author: Kate Randall


With little media comment, federal, state and local agencies have begun

working as partners in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of

intelligence information. Under the "Global Intelligence Working Group"

(that oversees the new network) police departments receive increased

funding for surveillance activity. This has resulted in the recent

COINTELPRO-style instances of police infiltration of groups critical of

government policies.


#17 U.S. Government Represses Labor Unions in Iraq in Quest for

Business Privatization

The Progressive, December 2003

   Title: "Saddam's labor laws live on"

   Author: David Bacon

Left Turn, March/April 2004, v. 12

   Title: "Ambitions of Empire: The Radical Reconstruction of Iraq's

Economy"

   Author: Antonia Juhasz


   According to the Wall Street Journal (alone), the Bush Administration

has "sweeping plans to remake Iraq's economy in the US image." The US

is calling for the privatization of state-owned industries such as oil

and water. But it has chosen not to overturn Sadaam-era edicts that

outlaw unions. Every day the economic policies of occupying authorities

create more hunger among Iraq's working people, transforming them into

a pool of low-wage, semi-employed labor, desperate for jobs at any

price.


#18  Media and Government Ignore Dwindling Oil Supplies

New Internationalist, October 31, 2003

   Title: "Running on empty; Oil is disappearing fast"

   Author: Adam Porter

Guardian Unlimited, December 2, 2003

   Title: "Bottom of the Barrel"

   Author: George Monbiot


   Even industry executives affirm that oil is close to reaching, or may

have already reached, its highest levels of production potential. Once

the peak is reached, oil prices will start to rise (as they have every

year since 2000). As oil decline accelerates, prices will rise even

faster, with devastating effects to the US economy. Over the years,

U.S. leaders, bowing to oil industry pressure, have not worked to

develop viable alternatives (as they have done in Europe).


#19  Global Food Cartel Fast Becoming the World's Supermarket

Left Turn, August/September 2003

   Title: "Concentration in the Agri-Food System"

   Author: Hilary Mertaugh


   Agribusiness and supermarket alliances are transforming the agri-food

system into a powerful network of transnational corporations. They now

have the power to control the world's food supply at every stage of

food production. As fewer corporations control food production,

traditional farming is becoming a high-tech form of serfdom.  Lack of

competition is leading to higher prices, lower choice and quality, and

employee abuse.


#20 Extreme Weather Prompts New Warning from UN

UK Independent, July 2003

   Title: "Extreme Weather Prompts Unprecedented Global Warming Alert"

    

   In 2003, The UN's World Meteorological Organization reported

unprecedented levels of extreme weather and climate occurrences all

over the world. The report emphasized an alarming increase in global

warming and pointed to the impact of human activity. The significance

of this particular report is that the highly respected UN organization

is known for its normally conservative predictions and statements.


#21 Forcing a World Market for GMOs

Globalinfo.org, 12/3/03

   Title: "Agriculture: Biotech Links to Big Lenders Worry Farm Experts"

   Author: Katherine Stapp

Inter Press Service (IPS) News Agency, May 14, 2003

   Title: "U.S. WTO Dispute Could Bend Poor Nations to GMOs-Groups"

   Author Emad Mekay

CMW Report, Summer 2003

Title: "A Rebuttal to the Tribune"

   Author: Liane Casten

SF Weekly, June 2-8, 2004

   Title: "Bioscience Warfare"

   Author: Alison Pierce  


   The Bush Administration is trying to force Europe to drop trade

barriers against genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Meanwhile, the

agricultural biotechnology industry is focusing even more intently on

developing countries, where regulations governing their use are

generally more lax. At the same time, biotech promoters continue to

suppress studies that show GMOs may have adverse effects on health and

the environment.


#22  Exporting Censorship to Iraq

The American Prospect, Volume 14, Issue 9, October 1, 2003

   Title: "Exporting Censorship to Iraq"

   Author: Alex Gourevitch

Asheville Global Report, May 12, 2003

   Title: "U.S Army Major Refuses Order to Seize Iraq TV Station"

   Author: Charlie Thomas


   After the fall of Saddam, Paul Bremer told journalists they were now

"free to criticize whoever, or whatever, you want." But when negative

critiques of U.S. policies appeared in the Iraqi media, Bremer quickly

placed controls on its content. And rather than hiring a media outlet

to run the Iraqi media (or simply allowing the news groups already

there to continue reporting), the Pentagon chose a defense contractor

to define the news.


#23  Brazil Opposes US-style FTAA agreements, But Provides Little

Comfort for the Poor of South America

Globalinfo.org, November 15, 2003

   Title: "Trade: US Moves to Squeeze FTAA Opponents"

   Author: Emad Mekay

Left Turn, Mar/Apr, 2004

   Title: "Lula's First Year"

   Author: Brian Campbell


   The Free Trade Area of the America's (FTAA) could become the biggest

trading block in history, expanding NAFTA to 34 countries from Canada

to the bottom of South America. This deal is unlikely to meet its

January 2005 deadline, now that the second largest player in the

negotiations, Brazil, is holding back. However, Brazilian President

Lula has begun, of his own volition, to institute his own brand of FTAA

austerity policies that are sure to drive the poor of the region deeper

into poverty.


#24 Reinstating the Draft

Salon, November 3, 2003

   Title: "Oiling up the Draft Machine?"

   Author: Dave Lindorff

Buzzflash.com, November 11, 2003

   Title: "Would a Second Bush Term Mean a Return to Conscription?'

   Author: Maureen Farrell

War Times, October-November, 2003

   Title: "Military Targets Latino Youth"

   Author: Jorge Mariscal


   The Selective Service System (SSS), the Bush Administration, and the

Pentagon have been quietly moving to fill draft board vacancies

nationwide in order to prepare for a military draft that could start as

early as June 15, 2005. Several million dollars have been added to the

2004 SSS budget. Meanwhile, through an on-going militarization of

public school systems, the Pentagon has begun efforts to double the

number of Latinos in the U.S. military by 2006.


#25 Wal-Mart Brings Inequity and Low Prices to the World

Multinational Monitor, October 2003

   Title: "Welcome to Wal-World"

   Author: Andy Rowell


   The vision of the international division of Wal-Mart is one where

Wal-Mart becomes a global brand, just like McDonald's or Coca- Cola,

monopolizing the global retail market. The next five or six years could

see about 5,000 to 6,000 Wal-Mart stores outside of the United States.

Wal-Mart is Americanizing retailing around the world and exercising an

inordinate amount of economic power.


Forwarded by Jann McGuire.


Peter Phillips Ph.D.

   Sociology Department/Project Censored

   Sonoma State University

   1801 East Cotati Ave.

   Rohnert Park, CA 94928

   707-664-2588

   http://www.projectcensored.org/ >>