The United States has the largest web of energy pipelines in the world, extending more than 2.4 million miles. The network of crude oil pipelines in the U.S. is 72,000 miles that connect regional markets. Two Hundred Twenty (220) significant incidents were reported by October 2016 - 3,033 since 2006 costing more than $4.7 billion. Days after President Trump signed executive orders to advance approval of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines, a pipeline rupture spilled 138,600 gallons of diesel fuel in northern Iowa. Established by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a significant incident is classified when results of serious injury or fatality occur, costs incur more than $50,000, releases more than five barrels of volatile fluids such as gasoline or 50 barrels of other liquids, or results in a fire or explosion. Science and experience have proved that carbon infrastructure, i.e. fracking, pipelines, export terminals are faulty. The consistency of pipelines is not guaranteed, and the possibility of ruptures is inevitable thus, impacting the water, land, and air to irreversible conditions. The impact these pipelines and the chemical plants they feed cause long-term health effects of exposure to toxic air pollution, and the threat of disastrous industrial facility chemical releases. These conditions impose serious ecological risk to our communities, and more serious effects in low-income and communities of color. With Trumps recent executive orders to advance approval of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines in addition to streamlining the regulatory process for pipeline construction and expedite the environmental review process, we the people must take back our rights to clean water, air, and land and not wait on the current administration to act in the best interest of the people and our environment. It is in the best interest of the American people, the banks, and Trump to divest from this old dirty energy economy and invest in a new clean energy economy with renewable energy, Green Sustainability, and a revitalization of the existing pipeline infrastructure that is currently deteriorating.

The netflix movie titled “The White Helmets” is one of the contenders to win the 2017 Academy Award for best “short documentary”. Here is why the movie should NOT receive this award. * It is more infomercial than real documentary. The film-makers never set foot in Syria. Some footage from inside Syria appears staged. * Claims that the “White Helmets” are apolitical volunteers are false. White Helmet leaders actively campaign for US/NATO enforced “No Fly Zone”. The White Helmets only operate in areas controlled by the armed opposition, primarily Nusra/Al Qaeda. * “The White Helmets” organization is a creation of foreign powers supporting the ‘Contra’ war to overthrow the government of Syria. The White Helmets were initiated by a British military contractor with major funding from the USA and UK. The “White Helmets” brand is managed by a New York based marketing company called “The Syria Campaign” directed by an Irish American woman who has never been to Syria. This is primarily a media campaign with the netflix movie being one of their promotions. * The White Helmets stole the name Syrian Civil Defence from the legitimate organization which has existed since the 1950’s and which is a founding member of the International Civil Defense Organization. When armed terrorists invaded Aleppo in late 2012, they stole equipment and killed real volunteer rescue workers from the authentic Syrian Civil Defence. * Claims that “White Helmets” are unarmed are untrue. Photos and videos show their members carrying arms and celebrating Nusra/AlQaeda military victories. * Claims that the White Helmets have saved 80,000 lives are nonsense. In fact there are very few civilians living in the zones controlled by 'Contra' terrorists in Syria where the White Helmets operate. * When the Syrian Government recaptured east Aleppo in December 2016, nearly all civilians rushed into the protection of the government controlled areas. They described abuse by the “terrorists” and how civilians who tried to flee had been killed by the armed groups. They described how the “White Helmets” prioritized support to the armed fighters and did little to help civilians. * In late December 2016 Nusra / Al Qaeda terrorists seized the villages, spring and water pumping station in the Barada Valley that supplies clean water to Damascus. They poisoned the water, then blew up the pumping station stopping the flow of water to 5 million people in Damascus. The White Helmets were among the groups allied with Nusra carrying out this atrocity. “The White Helmets” movie is symbolic of the disinformation and deceit in the war on Syria. “The White Helmets” movie deserves an award for advertising and war propaganda but NOT as a documentary movie. For detailed information see the exposes of the White Helmets by writers such as Jan Oberg, Vanessa Beeley, Rick Sterling, Max Blumenthal, Scott Ritter. Jan Oberg provides a listing with links in his extensive article "Just How Grey are the White Helmets and Their Backers?" See the 5 minute video titled "The White Helmets - Al Qaeda with a Facelift".

While we, petitioners, understand a desire to make a living, we also recognize that to use one’s skills to advance racism and xenophobia is to rob workers of their great potential to advance social justice and to continue their legacy of fighting for human rights. Rather than spending billions to construct an unnecessary wall when barriers already exist, we should be investing taxpayer dollars to hire union workers for much-needed infrastructure projects that strengthen our communities: water and sewer pipes; roads; bridges; transit systems. We ask that all unions and their umbrella organizations instruct their members to boycott work on the wall and to, instead, embrace the racial and cultural diversity of America.

The United States spends $1.4 trillion a year on its military budget, including its many intel agencies, veteran affairs and so forth. This astounding figure is more than double what the entire rest of the world spends on theirs. A significant portion of that destructive waste goes to maintaining an over-reaching empire's 748 foreign military bases; a planet-wide occupation. As to how much is spent on external forces by the rest of the world? Threat of force and withdrawn support are the only means of extorting these sites. And exposing this blackmail further is SOFA, the agreement which binds countries to never charge a soldier with anything, even frequent gang-rape and murder. Meanwhile we are told we must endure cuts in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education, and environmental protection... Maybe if we left the world alone it would do the same. America has been by far the most warring of countries in history. Folks might like us better if we would set the waging of endless wars aside for a while, maybe forever. It's a sure thing that Wall Street won't like the new arrangement as there's a profit to be made in every body bag...but they'll just have to find a nicer replacement.

In the wake of the DOJ report and 2016's historical Chicago violence level, most of the activists and community right now believe it is way beyond any possible opportunity for Rahm to take any meaningful action to help a wounded Chicago. Also, it's increasingly difficult to envision a scenario in which Emanuel's political movement isn't viewed as a political Hail Mary to save his career by understandably frustrated and suspicious Chicago residents.

Ramsey Muniz has been a Chicano advocate since the Sixties, and is beloved by hundreds of thousands of Latinos and other Americans he has inspired, to work within the system, to improve our society and government. Mr. Muniz is now in poor health, in federal prison. He has never been accused of any violent crime, and is not a threat to society or anyone. He is a model prisoner, and at age 74 and disabled, Mr. Muniz just wants to return, to his home in Corpus Christi, to live out the rest of his life with his beloved wife, Irma, and their families. A related article: https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/will-trumps-inauguration-be-day-clemency-died

On December 2, 2016, Free Alabama Movement co-founder Robert Earl Council (aka Kinetic Justice Amun) was brutally attacked by two correctional officers at Limestone Correctional Facility. According to multiple sources, Kinetic was beaten and sprayed with mace while handcuffed and being escorted to the shower. There has been no confirmation that he has received proper medical treatment. Kinetic Justice has been imprisoned for over 22 years and is a co-founder of the Free Alabama Movement, which has organized several successful prison work stoppages to demand basic human rights and has provided education and legal support to hundreds of incarcerated people. Kinetic believes that this vicious attack was orchestrated in retaliation for his involvement with the nationwide prison strike that began September 9th, 2016. He now fears for his life. Using excessive force to maliciously and sadistically cause harm violates numerous basic human rights and is a clear violation of the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (the Cruel and Unusual Punishment clause). Please sign this petition demanding that Robert Earl Council ("Kinetic Justice") is transferred from Limestone Correctional Facility immediately. Contact the Alabama Department of Corrections and the Alabama Governor’s Office! Contact information: Warden Christopher Gordy (256) 233-4600 Limestone Correctional Facility 28779 Nick Davis Road Harvest, AL 35749 ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn Assistant ADOC Commissioner Grant Culliver 334-353-3883 [email protected] Alabama Governor Robert Bentley 334-242-7100 Department of Justice 205-244-2001 [email protected] Call script: “I am calling to demand that you release Robert Early Council from solitary confinement and transfer him from Limestone Correctional to a different facility immediately. He was brutally beaten on December 2nd, 2016 at Limestone Correctional Facility, allegedly by officers Doizer and Shoulders. There has been no confirmation that he has received proper medical attention. In addition, Limestone Correctional Officers Doizer and Shoulders should be immediately investigated for the alleged brutal attack of Robert Earl Council." More Background: http://www.inquisitr.com/3752034/kinetic-justice-who-is-he-and-why-should-you-care/

see all the You Tube videos and research the USS LIBERTY INCIDENT. Also search OPERATION CYANIDE. The attempted sinking of the USS LIBERTY was a part of OPERATION CYANIDE. The USS LIBERTY was an American Navy spy ship. It was attacked 50 years ago on June 8, 1967. The official version of the cause was that it was a case of mistaken identity. In many experts opinion this was a cover-up and needs to be re-investigated and remembered as the Japanese attack on Hawaii is remembered...as a day of rememberance.

Russia dissolved the Warsaw Pact and Soviet Union in the 1990s, largely voluntarily. Such acts of good faith and confidence building have not been reciprocated by the US or NATO. Instead, the US has acted provocatively, through the CIA and US government funded NGOs such as NED and IRI, to foment anti-Russian "color revolutions" in Russia's near abroad and even in Russia itself. George Friedman, the founder and CEO of Stratfor, the ‘Shadow CIA’ firm, called the fascist-led coup in Ukraine “...the most blatant coup in history.” Also, the US encouraged the Georgian leader, Mikheil Saakashvili, to attack South Ossetia and Russian peace-keepers there. Russia has responded to these provocations with restraint. In 2008, Russia could have occupied Tblisi, the capital of Georgia, and arrested Saakashvili, but they chose not to, instead being satisfied to restore the status quo ante. The Crimean vote to rejoin Russia is quite similar to the Kosovar decision to leave Serbia in the 1990s, except that there had been no previous Russian-inspired coup in Serbia. Russia attempted to accommodate US interests regarding several cease fire agreements in Syria, but the US was unable or unwilling to fulfill its obligations under those agreements. Regarding the CIA report alleging Russian hacking, there is no evidence presented, and there is a disclaimer at the top of the report essentially disclaiming any confidence in the report. All countries perform signals intelligence, including the US. Furthermore, the report does not even allege that any data gathered through the alleged hacks was ever provided to Wikileaks. Julian Assange has stated that the source of the leaks was not a state actor, and Craig Murray, a former top ranking British diplomat, has said he knows the source, which was an insider in the Democratic Party itself, disgusted with what he/she had seen. The US and Russia have enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other several times over. A strategic exchange could well extinct all terrestrial vertebrates. High levels of tension between the US and Russia increase the likelihood of war through intelligence error. The US government should be working to reduce tensions and restart arms limitation/disarmament negotiations as required by the Non-proliferation Treaty, rather than playing a dangerous game of chicken.

On Wednesday, December 21, 2016, a prisoner at the Texas Clements Unit, Kevin "Rashid" Johnson, was gassed in his cell while handcuffed from behind. A letter written by Mr. Johnson to a supporter, dated December 22, 2016, reported that his gassing was “all retaliation for my involvement in exposing the foul abuses here." Kevin “Rashid” Johnson is a well-known scholar and prison activist who has dedicated his efforts to exposing the civil and environmental injustices behind bars. His most recent letter also reads: “I'm in a gas-covered cell now. The law requires that they decontaminate a prisoner and his cell anytime they spray gas on him/her. They refused in my case. My sheets and bedding are covered in bright orange gas, underwear too, as is the cell wall." According to the supporter who received Rashid’s letter, she could smell the toxic gas as soon as she opened the envelope. The vicious treatment of Mr. Johnson is part of a clear pattern. There is evidently a culture among prison staff that encourages such sadistic behavior. What they have done and continue to do -- both to Mr. Johnson and to thousands of other victims -- constitutes a clear violation of basic human rights. A signed statement from prison guard Britta Townsend corroborates that Mr. Johnson was confined to a gassed cell that was not decontaminated and forced to sleep with sheets covered with the bright orange gas. According to Mr. Johnson, Ms. Townsend now fears that she will be targeted by her peers and higher ranking officers.

The hysteria over supposed Russian hacking costing Hillary the election is pathetic, and blaming Russia takes attention from the real issue, THAT the DNC, the DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT and the MEDIA rigged the DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, to ensure that their predetermined candidate would win the nomination. The content of the leaked emails only verified the obvious rigging. This rigging needs to be acknowledged and censured by the Democratic establishment, or it will continue. Suppose that Russia is responsible for the hacking; it could simply be emulating the actions of the self declared exceptional world leader. The U.S. has routinely manipulated elections, orchestrated coups and overthrown governments. The U.S. government and its media need to stop blaming and demonizing Russia, and the U.S. needs to see its actions as other countries see them, if it wants to lead effectively towards a more peaceful, sustainable world Democrats might be surprised to know how vitriolic anti Russia their elected representatives are. background: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/12/adam-schiff-russia-election-hack/511571/#article-comments http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A04D321E-5F86-4FD6-AD8E-7F533E1C2845 http://rootsaction.org/news-a-views/1412-urgent-to-progressives-stop-fueling-the-anti-russia-frenzy http://www.unz.com/emargolis/moscow-attacks/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/...

On Wednesday, December 21, 2016, a black mother, Ms. Jacqueline Craig, called the police in Fort Worth, Texas, after learning that an adult, white neighbor had choked her 7-year-old son for allegedly littering on the sidewalk. The unnamed police officer who arrived at the scene talked to all the parties involved, including the accused neighbor, who did not deny the assault. The police officer ignored the assault entirely to focus on the accusation of littering. Like the slogan "Make America Great Again," the cop's loaded question used coded, racist language and assumptions about black parenting to blame Ms. Craig for what happened to her child. “Well why don’t you teach your son not to litter?” he asked Craig. He proceeded to violently arrest Craig and her two under-aged daughters, all of which was filmed and posted online. In response to the incident, the Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald was quoted saying “I can’t call it racist. The officer was rude. There’s a difference between rude and racism.” However, the facts of this case suggest otherwise: a white man accused of the felonious act of assaulting a child was allowed to walk free while his black victims were arrested for daring to assert their humanity and rights. If the victims had been white and the assailant black, the outcome of this case would almost certainly have been completely different. Chief Fitzgerald ’s knee-jerk denial of the police officer’s racism, which itself is racist, has also led him to miss the magnitude of the criminal assault perpetrated against an entire family by a member of his force. Ms. Craig and her daughters did not merely suffer rude behavior; they were the victims of a violent and traumatic attack at the hands of a police officer at a moment when they were vulnerable and were asking for help. When the mother stood up to the man who assaulted her 7-year-old son, the police criminalized her parenting, excused the man who engaged in corporal violence against her child, arrested her and her two daughters violently, and threatened them with a stun gun. The outrageous Fort Worth incident is a microcosm of contemporary police racism in the 21st century United States. It shows the extent to which racist police contempt 1. dehumanizes and threatens the lives of black children and their families 2. prevents police from deploying reason as they carry out elementary duties 3. animates violent police responses to people of color 4. hinders accurate assessments of reality by their other officers With Donald Trump preparing to take office, we have seen numerous incidents in which people have asserted a right to be racist. This climate needs to change. The Black Lives Matter Movement and its most progressive proposals to demilitarize and demobilize the police are crucial. One place to start is with the demand for accountability when an egregious example of racism and police brutality is caught on film. The video: http://bit.ly/2ieWOzm Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/12/22/a-black-mother-told-police-a-white-man-assaulted-her-child-they-arrested-her-instead/?postshare=9641482457249082&tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.f5c8cc7eff92