Homeless Man Drops Knowledge About The Prison Trap And Relationships In The Internet Age

A homeless man in Austin, TX was recently recorded speaking to a Youtuber outside of a gas station, not only about his own life and situation, but also about the state of society in general. The man seemed happy that someone came up to speak with him and discussed how sometimes he feels that no one really cares.

The man began by speaking about the prison system and the drug war, and how difficult it is, even for nonviolent offenders to get employment and housing once they leave prison.

“Going to prison wasn’t the hard part, it was getting out and being part of society again, that was the hard part,” he said.

He went on to tell the story of how he was once a contractor and had all of the material possessions that he could hope for, but that all came to a sudden end when he was forced to spend 12 years in prison on a nonviolent drug charge. That charge has prevented him from getting a house, or a job since his release, and he is just one of millions in the same position.

New Bionic Lens Could Give You Vision BETTER Than 20/20 For Life

June 2, 2015 by Amanda Froelich


Credit: Ocumetics Technology Corp

Better-than-perfect vision is a thing of science-fiction, right? Not anymore!

According to Business Insider, the new Ocumuetics Bionic Lens implant could remedy impaired vision forever. Invented by Dr. Garth Webb of Ocumetics Technology Corp, the lens will go beyond offering standard 20/20 vision and give patients the super power of seeing three times better.

The innovative invention was presented last month at a cataract and refractive surgery conference after its development took over eight years of research and experimentation. The project itself cost a whopping $3 million in funding for research, international patents, and trials. Dr. Webb says that with his procedure, which takes just eight painless minutes, every person could have extraordinary vision.

Different than working like a contact lens, the Bionic Lens acts similarly to cataract surgery, adhering to the eye’s natural lens. The procedure can be done in an out patents office, its steps simply having a saline solution with the lens flushed into the eye with a syringe. After 10 seconds, the folded lens opens up and moves itself over the eye’s natural lens.

Webb says that immediately after the procedure, vision is totally corrected. It then should allow patients to see farther and more clearly.

Russian firm to supply Iran S-300 missile system once deal agreed

Tue Jun 2, 2015 7:45am EDT

Terror on Trial: Family of Drone Victims Vows to Fight German Court Ruling

Published on
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
by Common Dreams

Faisal bin Ali Jaber, whose relatives were killed in 2012 strike, says he 'will not give up... it is—quite simply—a matter of life and death for us.'

by Nadia Prupis, staff writer

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Faisal bin Ali Jaber filed a constitutional claim against Germany last October following revelations that it helped the U.S. conduct covert drone strikes in Yemen, including one which killed two of Jaber's family members. (Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

Three years after a U.S. drone strike in Yemen killed two civilians attending a wedding, a German court on Wednesday ruled against a member of the victims' family in a case that challenges international support for the so-called "War on Terror."

Faisal bin Ali Jaber was granted permission to appeal the court's decision after judges rejected his constitutional claim against Germany, filed last October following the deaths of Jaber's nephew and brother-in-law, killed in a U.S. drone strike on August 29, 2012 in the village of Khashamir.

The claim was filed after revelations that Ramstein Air Base, situated in southwest Germany but operated by the U.S. Air Force, is "crucial to facilitating American covert drone strikes in Yemen," according to legal charity Reprieve. Jaber is represented by Reprieve and the European Center for Human Rights.

Jaber could not testify in person because travel restrictions in Yemen—implemented over the Saudi Arabia-led military assault against Houthi rebels—prevented him from leaving the country. He had his statement read before the court on Wednesday.

President Barack Obama and German officials previously denied that Germany was involved in drone operations. However, a top-secret intelligence document leaked earlier this year confirmed that Ramstein "is the site of a satellite relay station that enables drone operators in the American Southwest to communicate with their remote aircraft in Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan and other targeted countries," as written by The Intercept, which published a report on the document in April.

Food, Water, Health, Life: UN Experts Warn of Threats Posed by Secret 'Trade' Deals

Published on
Tuesday, June 02, 2015
byCommon Dreams

'All draft treaty texts should be published so that Parliamentarians and civil society have sufficient time to review them and to weigh the pros and cons in a democratic manner,' say officials

by Sarah Lazare, staff writer


The human rights stakes are too high to keep so-called "free trade" deals secret, say UN experts. (Photo: Jerrick Romero-Backbone Campaign/flickr/cc)

Echoing the protests of civil society organizations and social movements around the world, a panel of United Nations experts on Tuesday issued a stark warning about the threats that secret international "trade" agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) pose to the most fundamental human rights.

"Our concerns relate to the rights to life, food, water and sanitation, health, housing, education, science and culture, improved labor standards, an independent judiciary, a clean environment and the right not to be subjected to forced resettlement," reads the statement, whose ten signatories include Ms. Catalina Devandas Aguilar, Special Rapporteur on the rights of person with disabilities and Ms. Victoria Lucia Tauli-Corpuz, Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples.

In particular, the officials raise the alarm about the "investor-state dispute settlement" systems that have become the bedrock of so-called "free trade deals," included in 3,000 agreements world-wide, according to the count of The New York Times. Popularly known as corporate tribunals, ISDS frameworks constitute a parallel legal system in which corporations can sue state governments for allegedly impeding profits and thereby supersede democratic laws and protections.

The UN experts warn that "ISDS chapters are anomalous in that they provide protection for investors but not for States or for the population. They allow investors to sue States but not vice-versa." Under this framework, states have faced penalties for "for adopting regulations, for example to protect the environment, food security, access to generic and essential medicines, and reduction of smoking, as required under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, or raising the minimum wage," resulting in a "chilling effect," the officials warn.

Chris!

It's so good to see you! I hope you and yours are all well!

'Here's To War' is still my favourite of your songs, makes me cry sometimes though.

Did you like Neil's song? It wasn't quite what I was expecting, but I love it .... I've been playing it over and over lol, kind of addicting. I can't wait to hear the whole album.

It's really good to hear from you again.

People Should Control the Food System, Not Corporations

Published on
Monday, June 01, 2015
by Common Dreams

Why you should ditch the official EXPO and go to the People's EXPO instead

byKirtana Chandrasekaran, Stanka Becheva

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'At the People’s EXPO running this week, small scale food producers, farmers' movements, activists and researchers will discuss the real challenges of the current food system and the solutions: agroecology and food sovereignty – the right of people to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound methods.' (Image: expodeipopoli.it)

Monsanto, Let Our Farmers Grow: Rock Star Bucks Coffee Giant

The indefatigable rocker and activist Neil Young has released a new video featuring an anti-Starbucks anthem, part of Young's fierce fight against Monsanto, GMOs and Starbucks' alleged support of them in an industry lawsuit against GMO labeling. The vintage-style song, "A Rock Star Bucks A Coffee Shop," comes ahead of this month's release of Young's new concept album, "The Monsanto Years," and a summer-long tour with Willie Nelson's sons Lukas and Micah and their band, Promise of the Real.

Young had earlier announced a boycott of Starbucks, an affiliate member of the shadowy Grocery Manufacturers Association that with Monsanto is trying to block a landmark Vermont bill, set to take effect next year, that would require the labeling of products with genetically modified ingredients. In a particularly surreal argument, the industry group has said the law is an assault on corporations' right to free speech that would "confuse consumers." Starbucks claims it has taken no position on the issue of GMO labeling, but its position on the Vermont law remains murky and Young has http://neilyoung.com/previous13.html" target="_blank">urged the coffee giant to "come clean" on its role in a legal action that flies in the face of "the will of the people." In the video - where he and everyone else seem to be having a rowdy good time - he wails, "I want a cup of coffee but I don't want a GMO... I'd like to start my day off without helping Monsanto." They performed another spirited, acoustic version in Hawaii over Memorial Day. The album's out June 30. Meanwhile, there are a slew of petitions against Monsanto: here, here, here and here.

Two Years Later, Murder Charges for Rana Plaza Tragedy, But Justice Elusive

Syrian Antiques on Sale on Facebook

Posted 31 May 2015 20:24 GMT


Looted ancient coins from Syria on sale on Facebook. Photograph shared by @zaidbenjamin on Twitter

Ancient Syrian antiques are being posted for sale on Facebook.

The alarm was raised by Washington DC-based journalist Zaid Benjamin, who shared screenshots of the Facebook pages posting Syrian antiques for sale in Turkey.

The ISIS smugglers making up to $1million per item selling ancient antiquities looted from the rubble of Syria

According to news reports, ISIS militants are reaping millions in the lucrative smuggling of antiques, selling ancient artifacts plundered from museums to the West and the neighbouring Gulf through a web of smugglers and middle men.