Ralph Nader has worn many hats in his life: firebrand consumer advocate, three-time independent presidential candidate, author of more than a dozen books, Harvard Law School educated attorney, radio show host—the list goes on and on. His best-selling book “Unsafe at Any Speed” revolutionized auto safety standards that led to mandatory seat belts.

 

He is one of the foremost social and political critics, not only of American politics but also globally, known also for his work as a philosopher and founder of modern linguistics.

 

I leave the floor to you, Noam, it's up to you.

 

I can start ?

 

I had the great pleasure and privilege of participating in the first editions of the World Social Forum 20 years ago in Porto Alegre: memorable and exciting times, and the same goes for my presence among you today, whether it be virtually, to my great regret.

 Noam Chomsky giving his Speech to the 2022 World Social Forum

 

 

 

US President Joe Biden took a swipe at oil giant Exxon on Friday, accusing the company of making “more money than God” while Americans suffer at the pumps. However, Exxon says it’s scaling up production, while conservatives blame the high gas prices on Biden’s own policies.

Speaking at the Port of Los Angeles, Biden found a number of scapegoats for America’s record high gas prices and 40-year high inflation rate, including the shipping industry and Russian President Vladimir Putin, while also blaming supply-chain backlogs.

Regarding gas prices, Biden singled out oil giant Exxon for engaging in stock buybacks rather than expanding its drilling activity.

The college pranks migrated to TV where the participants of victimisation were famous and willing. This is the pits of stupidity, the apotheosis of shitcrap, yet popularity to goggle humiliation-plus, all in the spirit of a "charitable enterprise" has made it profitable for the owners of Channel Ten in Australia.... Yes the rich winner of the cash at the end, not in need for extra income-tax paperwork gives away the winnings to a "charity" that should feel shameful of such degradation of humanhood, even if willing, is used to make a buck.

 

Meanwhile some demeaning acts have led to students being arrested for "hazing":

 

Everywhere all the time we swim in misrepresentations and misunderstandings. Too often these are deliberately concocted to take us prisoner — spiritually, philosophically and politically — by a corrupt system that needs fodder and an echelonised gradient of underlings doing the dirty work, happily. 

 

For example, though the whole of the UK government is corrupt in its construct and applications, I should refine this here to the two bitches in the UK government, who at best have no idea of the inhumanity of their actions, as they pretty themselves with lipstick and angle their frilly hat, for the queen jubilations. 

 

Journalists and staff of civil society groups in the UK could be sentenced to life imprisonment for offences committed under the government’s proposed new National Security Bill.

 

Journalists who receive some funding from foreign governments are at risk of committing offences under a bill that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The risk also applies to individuals working for civil society organisations such as human rights groups. 

It would be an offence to disclose leaked information that would prejudice the “safety or interests of” the UK. What constituted such prejudice would be entirely a matter for ministers to decide and there would be no defence to argue that the publication was in the public interest.

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The murder by an Israeli sniper of the Palestinian Al Jazeera journalist Shirin Abu Akleh, and the police attack on mourners at her funeral, are not incidental to Zionism, but integral to it. The ‘Green Line’ that bounds the territory the rest of the world regards as belonging to Israel is purely provisional, with no formal border ever having been announced or acknowledged..

“Have you ever wondered who’s pulling the strings? … Anything we touch is a weapon. We can deceive, persuade, change, influence, inspire. We come in many forms. We are everywhere.”— U.S. Army Psychological Operations recruitment video

The U.S. government is waging psychological warfare on the American people.

No, this is not a conspiracy theory.

Syria grants amnesty for terrorist crimes…

Damascus, Apr 30 (Prensa Latina) Syrian President Bashar al-Assad promulgated a Legislative Decree granting pardon to perpetrators of terrorist crimes committed before April 30th, 2022.

 

The amnesty does not cover those violations of the law that led to the death of a human being, as stipulated in the Anti-Terrorist Law No. 19 of 2012 and the Penal Code issued by Legislative Decree No. 148 of 1949 and its amendments, as detailed by the Telegram channel of the Syrian Presidency, nor does it affect the personal right, since the injured party may file a lawsuit before the competent civil court.

 

AS U.S. CONSUMERS struggle with soaring prices and supply shortages, the highly concentrated industry that delivers their goods from overseas is making extraordinary profits — an expected record-breaking $300 million in 2022, according to British market research firm Drewry. While an emboldened Federal Reserve is willing to risk a crushing recession to bring down prices — and Democrats have offered little resistance to interest rate hikes — Congress is turning to an alternative solution too little seen: passing and enacting legislation.

In what seems like the latest attempt to push pro-Kremlin narratives in Ukraine, a media company is targeting areas newly under Russian control. Russian troops have been present in the port city of Berdyansk since mid-May, and an outlet, whose name translates to Southern Front, has been disseminating misleading or unsubstantiated claims across YouTube, Telegram and through their own website.

 Guns were a ubiquitous part of my childhood. My grandfather, who had been a master sergeant in the army, had a small arsenal in his house in Mechanic Falls, Maine. He gave me a 2020 bolt action Springfield rifle when I was 7.

By the time I was 10, I had graduated to a Winchester lever action 30-30. I moved my way up the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) Marksmanship Qualification Program, helped along by a summer camp where riflery was mandatory. Like many boys in rural America, I was fascinated by guns, although I disliked hunting.

 

BY CHRIS HEDGES

 

Two decades as a reporter in war zones, however, resulted in a deep aversion to weapons. I saw what they did to human bodies. I inherited my grandfather’s guns and gave them to my uncle.

Academy Award–winning actor Matthew McConaughey has used an appearance at the White House to call on Congress to "reach a higher ground" and pass gun control legislation in honour of the children and teachers killed in last month's shooting rampage at an elementary school in his home town of Uvalde, Texas.