Voices, The Peoples News
January 21, 2021
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 To Inform and Educate
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Nice to be back to some semblance of normalcy. Here’s hoping for a better year to come!
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember
that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
– Epicurus
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# Indigenous
As Biden Axes KXL Pipeline, Water Protectors Urge Him to Reject DAPL and Line 3 Indigenous Water Protectors are taking direct action to stop another tar sands pipeline.
https://truthout.org/articles/as-biden-axes-kxl-pipeline-water-protectors-urge-him-to-reject-dapl-and-line-3/
# Indigenous / Global
Papua tribe moves to block clearing of its ancestral forest for palm oil. They say that the company failed to obtain the community’s consent for the project, and that it’s not clear whether it even has the requisite permits to begin operations.
https://news.mongabay.com/2021/01/papua-tribe-moves-to-block-clearing-of-its-ancestral-forest-for-palm-oil/
Indigenous Cacataibo of Peru threatened by land grabbing and drug trade.
Increasing numbers of outsiders are invading the territory and deforesting large swaths of Indigenous land, largely to grow coca which is used to make cocaine.
http://www.envirolink.org/2021/01/15/indigenous-cacataibo-of-peru-threatened-by-land-grabbing-and-drug-trade/
# Border / Immigration
Biden Admin Imposes 100-Day Pause on Some Deportations. Starting Jan.
22, the deportation process will be halted for “certain noncitizens.”
https://www.thedailybeast.com/biden-admin-imposes-100-day-pause-on-some-deportations
Biden Moves for mass amnesty for 11 million illegal immigrants currently in the United States https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/joe-biden-to-prioritize-legal-status-for-millions-of-immigrants-121011700087_1.html
# CoronaVirus
President Biden will issue an executive order on Thursday directing agencies to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) and other powers to speed up the manufacturing of testing and vaccine supplies and other items needed to fight COVID-19.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/535157-biden-to-order-agencies-to-use-defense-production-act-in-coronavirus-fight
A study conducted by Pfizer and BioNTech found that their coronavirus vaccine is likely just as effective against the strain first found in the U.K. that is estimated to be more contagious https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/534982-pfizer-biontech-say-vaccine-likely-as-effective-against-covid-19-variant
12,400 People in Israel Tested Positive for Coronavirus AFTER Being Injected with the Experimental Pfizer COVID Shot https://humansarefree.com/2021/01/12400-israelis-test-positive-for-coronavirus-after-experimental-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine.html
‘Worse Than We Imagined’: Trump Left Biden a COVID Nightmare. The systems to manufacture, distribute, and track vaccine doses set up by the Trump administration are even more broken than Biden’s COVID team feared.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/worse-than-we-imagined-team-trump-left-biden-a-covid-19-nightmare
Brazil’s collapsing health service, new COVID variant, raise Indigenous risk.
Indigenous people are especially vulnerable, with their mortality rate from COVID-19 at least 16% higher than the Brazilian average.
https://news.mongabay.com/2021/01/brazils-collapsing-manaus-health-service-escalates-covid-indigenous-risk/
Pelosi says House will move immediately on COVID-19 relief.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/535243-pelosi-says-house-will-move-immediately-on-covid-19-relief
As Romney Quibbles on COVID Relief Bill, Progressives Urge Biden to Move Swiftly https://truthout.org/articles/as-romney-quibbles-on-covid-relief-bill-progressives-urge-biden-to-move-swiftly/
# Education / Schools
AOC Calls for Canceling Student Loan Debt as Biden Extends Pause on Payments.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and other progressives have long argued that the president has the legal authority to unilaterally cancel all student loan debt.
https://truthout.org/articles/aoc-calls-for-canceling-student-loan-debt-as-biden-extends-pause-on-payments/
# Energy / Pipelines / Mining
On U.S. public lands, can Biden undo what Trump has wrought? President Joe Biden has an ambitious public lands agenda, vowing to ban new oil and gas drilling on federal territory and restore protections.
https://e360.yale.edu/features/on-u-s-public-lands-can-biden-undo-what-trump-has-wrought
Keystone XL pipeline canceled. Here’s what it means for the future fight against fossil fuels https://www.desmogblog.com/2021/01/20/keystone-xl-pipeline-canceled-biden-future-fossil-fuels
# Environment / Climate / Interior
Monarch butterfly population moves closer to extinction. The number of western monarch butterflies wintering along the California coast has plummeted precipitously to a record low.
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Monarch-butterfly-population-moves-closer-to-15882440.php
Mosquito spray tainted with PFAS from shipping containers. PFAS discovered in an insecticide aerially sprayed in more than half of US states leached into the pesticide from plastic shipping containers
https://cen.acs.org/environment/persistent-pollutants/Mosquito-spray-tainted-PFAS-shipping/99/web/2021/01
Biden, in a burst of climate orders, rejoins the Paris Agreement.
https://www.todayonline.com/world/biden-burst-climate-orders-rejoins-paris-agreement
Interior Department Puts Breaks on New Oil and Gas Drilling. Biden has said tackling climate change is one of his new administration’s biggest priorities.
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/535224-bidens-interior-dept-temporary-blocks-drilling-on-public-lands
# Environment / Climate / Interior Global Protesters hold back military takeover of Balkans’ largest mountain pasture. Montenegro’s military, and maybe NATO, want the Sinjajevina Highlands for maneuvers; traditional herding communities want these biodiverse alpine pasturelands conserved.
https://news.mongabay.com/2021/01/protesters-hold-back-military-takeover-of-balkans-largest-mountain-pasture/
Video: Romania’s deadly fight against illegal logging. Romania’s rich and ancient forests are in peril. Since joining the European Union in 2007, the country has seen its forest cover depleted at record levels.
https://news.mongabay.com/2021/01/video-romanias-deadly-fight-against-illegal-logging/
Indigenous agroforestry revives profitable palm trees and the Atlantic Forest https://www.dailyclimate.org/tag/global-agroforestry
Award-winning Thai community continues the fight to save its wetland forest https://www.rnanews.eu/award-winning-thai-community-continues-the-fight-to-save-its-wetland-forest-84971.html
# Food / GMOs / Chemicals
Biden moves to reexamine toxic pesticide. President Biden’s initial wave of planned executive actions includes an order to reexamine one controversial, but widely used, pesticide called chlorpyrifos https://www.npr.org/sections/inauguration-day-live-updates/2021/01/20/958925222/toxic-pesticide-faces-new-scrutiny-from-biden-administration
# Gov / Politics
Inaugural address text
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/01/20/inaugural-address-by-president-joseph-r-biden-jr/
Addressing the Staff…the Reality of Leadership Such as we Haven’t seen for 4 years “The people don’t work for us – we work for the people,” said President Biden https://www.veteranstoday.com/2021/01/20/addressing-the-staff-the-reality-of-leadership-such-as-we-havent-seen-for-4-years/
Biden’s 17 Executive Orders and Other Directives in Detail https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/20/politics/executive-actions-biden/index.html
Pledge of Allegiance in sign language by female black fire captain is praised
https://www.today.com/health/firefighter-andrea-hall-signs-pledge-allegiance-inauguration-t206318
Why aren’t more Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Biden’s Cabinet? (Michael Honda, former Democratic member of U.S. Congress) https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/534942-why-arent-more-asian-americans-and-pacific-islanders-in-bidens-cabinet
Biden to Staff: I’ll Fire You if You Disrespect Each Other. Biden appeared to reference the Trump administration’s reported penchant for discord, telling staffers that “decency” should be a priority.
https://nypost.com/2021/01/20/biden-i-will-fire-you-on-the-spot-for-disrespect-to-others/
The Deep State’s Stealthy, Subversive, Silent Coup to Ensure Nothing Changes
https://www.globalresearch.ca/deep-state-stealthy-subversive-silent-coup-ensure-nothing-changes/5734897
Biden’s Secretary of State Blinken supports sending more weapons to Ukraine’s Nazi-infiltrated military.
https://twitter.com/kgosztola/status/1351627498509971459
9 things to know about Antony Blinken, the next US secretary of state https://www.politico.eu/article/nine-things-to-think-about-antony-blinken/
Biden repudiates white supremacy and calls for racial justice.
https://apnews.com/article/biden-inauguration-joe-biden-capitol-siege-donald-trump-race-and-ethnicity-b30876a77ebece44b2c2381571fb6915
Youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/20/politics/amanda-gorman-inaugural-poem-transcript/index.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=36296
Made-for-TV inaugural program featuring Tom Hanks, John Legend, Katy Perry, former Presidents Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama … and the most eye-popping fireworks display in the nation’s capital in recent memory https://ew.com/tv/watch-celebrating-america-inauguration-special-tom-hanks/
Biden charged the people of this republic with fixing it. So the people need to grow up https://wapo.st/2KyKgW9
In his inaugural address, President Biden pleaded with America. “Let’s end this uncivil war,” he urged. The speech emphasized themes of unity, while being very aware that he was speaking from the site of recent violence.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/nidhiprakash/joe-biden-inauguration-speech-unity-uncivil-war
Mitch McConnell no longer controls the Senate after Georgia’s Democratic Senators were sworn in. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock officially give Democrats tiebreaking power in the Senate.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/addybaird/democrats-control-senate-ossoff-warnock-padilla-sworn-in
21 reasons to hope in 2021
https://www.fastcompany.com/90591674/21-reasons-to-hope-in-2021
President Biden Fires Union-Busting Lawyer Who Refused to Resign from Labor Board https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/01/20/under-pressure-workers-biden-fires-extreme-anti-union-labor-board-lawyer
Senate Democrats file ethics complaint against Hawley, Cruz over Capitol attack
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/21/senate-democrats-file-ethics-complaint-against-hawley-cruz-over-election-challenge-461190
Fauci says it’s ‘liberating’ working under Biden https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/535315-fauci-says-its-liberating-working-under-biden
# Law Enforcement
Senate confirms Biden’s intel chief, giving him first Cabinet official.
Senators confirmed Avril Haines to be President Biden’s director of national intelligence, giving him his first Senate-confirmed Cabinet pick.
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/535132-senate-confirms-bidens-intel-chief-giving-him-first-cabinet-official
Feds used toxic smoke grenades during summer protests in Portland, researcher finds. “This is a complete and utter misuse of a chemical weapon that could be lethal,” the researcher said.
https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2021/01/portland-researcher-finds-federal-agents-used-toxic-smoke-grenades-during-summer-protests.html
Far-Right Proud Boys Leader Joe Biggs Charged over Role in Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection https://nypost.com/2021/01/20/proud-boys-leader-joe-biggs-charged-for-role-in-capitol-riot/
Video Shows Since-Promoted CA Cop Brutalizing Jailed Man. Lt. Kent Tribble can be seen punching Enrique Cruz multiple times in the head, before slamming him against the wall.
https://theappeal.org/vallejo-police-force/
# Legal / Judicial / DOJ
Day One for Biden, Jailing the Trump Family and Friends. As difficult as it will be, the crimes of the past four years must be investigated and, when the evidence supports it, charged and prosecuted. There can be no justice without accountability, which is why President Biden’s words regarding “justice” were as welcome as they were important.
https://www.veteranstoday.com/2021/01/20/kirchner-day-one-for-biden-jailing-the-trump-family-and-friends/?mc_cid=5f6a2e4cf6&mc_eid=3f7488d454
Eric Garner’s Mother Says We Must Push for Justice That Her Son Didn’t Receive An international inquiry commission about racist police killings opens with testimony from mothers of the victims.
https://truthout.org/articles/eric-garners-mother-says-we-must-push-for-justice-that-her-son-didnt-receive/
McConnell proposes postponing impeachment trial until February.
McConnell told colleagues that Trump should have at least as much time as the president had in previous trials, which means he would like to postpone the proceeding until the second week of February, according to Republican senators on the call.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/535322-mcconnell-proposes-postponing-impeachment-trial-until-february
‘Zip Tie Guy’ Had Stockpile of Weapons at Home: Prosecutors. A newly released detention letter says Eric Munchel and his mother also stashed weapons outside the Capitol before they stormed the building.
https://www.wsmv.com/news/agents-find-sniper-rifle-stash-of-weapons-in-home-of-zip-tie-guy/article_fb7c6a78-5bf7-11eb-ad33-a32b2e8d199a.html?block_id=995901
# LGBTQ
President Biden issues executive order protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/president-biden-issues-most-substantive-wide-ranging-lgbtq-executive-order-in-u-s-history
# Marijuana / Hemp / CBD Oil
President Joe Biden named a new acting director for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) released the full legislative details of his marijuana legalization plan though his budget proposal.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/cuomos-new-york-marijuana-legalization-plan-draws-mixed-reviews-from-advocates/
The new Virginia Senate Marijuana Subcommittee debated and approved amendments to the governor’s legalization bill.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/virginia-senate-marijuana-committee-approves-amendments-to-legalization-bill/
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Trade Representative appointed a second official from the National Industrial Hemp Council to serve on a federal agricultural trade advisory committee.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/usda-appoints-another-hemp-executive-to-trade-advisory-committee/
South Dakota lawmakers formed a Cannabis Caucus to coordinate efforts on marijuana bills after voters approved legalization in November.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/south-dakota-lawmakers-form-cannabis-caucus-to-address-marijuana-legalization-issues/
Synthetic cannabidiol, better known as CBD, has been shown for the first time to kill the bacteria responsible for gonorrhoea, meningitis and legionnaires disease https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210119102842.htm
# Medical / Health
Hospital closes because owners are behind on rent: Doctors and patients at the Heights Hospital were left stuck in the parking lot after being told they were not allowed in the building Monday afternoon.
https://khn.org/morning-breakout/houston-hospital-abruptly-closed-until-bill-is-paid/
AI-assisted test diagnoses prostate cancer from urine with almost 100% accuracy https://www.zmescience.com/medicine/ai-prostate-cancer-test/
# Science
Alliance for Diversity in Science and Engineering Young Researchers Conference: January 28th – 30th, 2021 ADSE is creating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive research workforce drawn from a national fabric of students and researchers from community college through graduate school.
https://www.allianceinscience.org/yrc2021
# Security
Senate Confirms First Woman as Intelligence Director. Haines is Biden’s first Cabinet member to be confirmed.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/avril-haines-becomes-first-woman-director-of-national-intelligence-11611187964
# Social
Self-Described Anarchists Smash Windows at Dems’ Portland HQ. Several arrests were made as a gathering to protest Joe Biden’s inauguration turned chaotic.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/self-described-anarchists-smash-windows-at-democratic-partys-portland-hq
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