19 Mar 2005
G20 urges end to farm subsidies

What unmitigated nerve!

"This waffling on subsidies must end. The EU and US cannot offer us post-dated cheques," Indian Trade Minister Kamal Nath said.

I'll tell you what, Mr. Trade Minister. When India institutes a minimum wage equal to that of the US, and labor laws and environmental regulations equal to those of the US, then I'll support ending the subsidies to our farmers that allow them to compete with the atrocious living and working conditions for most of the citizens of your fair republic.

Twenty developing countries call on rich countries to scrap the subsidies they give to farmers within five years.

(link) [BBC News | World | UK Edition]

00:00 /Agriculture | 2 comments | permanent link

The Bible vs. The Volcano

There was a time in history when monotheist religion dominated scientific inquiry, when everyone (in the West, anyway) believed that the Bible was the sole arbiter of truth. This is the era that the fundies seek to restore. It was called the Dark Ages.

Several Imax theaters are refusing to show movies that mention evolution, fearing protests by opponents of the theory.

(link) [NYT > Home Page]

00:00 /Asatru | 2 comments | permanent link

Jessica's remains found

You know where the ultimate blame for this travesty lies?

Couey has a criminal record spanning more than three decades and 24 arrests. Interviews with Couey began Thursday in Georgia, when authorities spoke with him for almost four hours, and resumed early Friday. He had been arrested on probation violation charges.

So why wasn't he still prison? It's not like Florida lacked the necessary provisions in law to put him away.

It's because we don't have room in our prisons for his ilk: they're filled to overflowing with other offenders, which we, as a society, apparently consider more serious.

And until and unless we curtail the insane "War on Drugs", men like Mr. Couey will continue to walk our streets and prey on our children.

Law enforcement officials told CNN Saturday that the remains of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford have been found.

(link) [CNN]

00:00 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link