Letters From the August 17-24, 2015, Issue Letters From the August 17-24, 2015, Issue
Bad weather, useful idiots, the oily truth, telling privilege…
Jul 30, 2015 / Our Readers
Malaysia Needed a Clean Human Rights Record—So the State Department Just Gave It to Them Malaysia Needed a Clean Human Rights Record—So the State Department Just Gave It to Them
The president cleansed Malaysia of its notorious human trafficking record to give the country a front row seat to join the TPP—and Congress can’t do anything about it.
Jul 29, 2015 / William Greider
It’s Not a Nuclear-Armed Iran That Israel and Saudi Arabia Really Fear It’s Not a Nuclear-Armed Iran That Israel and Saudi Arabia Really Fear
It’s that the Vienna Agreement opens the door for the United States and Iran to develop important financial and trade ties.
Jul 28, 2015 / Peter Van Buren
Zero Waste Remains a Dirty Business Zero Waste Remains a Dirty Business
New York and Los Angeles are reforming their waste-management systems, but there’s still a ways to go to clean up the sanitation industry’s labor standards.
Jul 27, 2015 / Michelle Chen
Did ISIL Arise Partly Because of Climate Change? Did ISIL Arise Partly Because of Climate Change?
Martin O’Malley was ridiculed by the right for correctly noting the role of climate-induced drought in causing Syria’s instability. The bad news is that this is only the beginning.
Jul 24, 2015 / Juan Cole
John Kerry Makes the Case on Capitol Hill for a Deal With Iran John Kerry Makes the Case on Capitol Hill for a Deal With Iran
It’s this deal or war, the secretary of state claimed.
Jul 23, 2015 / James Carden
The Geopolitical Big Bang You Probably Don’t See Coming The Geopolitical Big Bang You Probably Don’t See Coming
China and Russia are gearing up to create an economic zone beyond Washington’s reach.
Jul 23, 2015 / Pepe Escobar
Climate Change, Alien Invasions, and Other Conspiracy Theories Cooked Up by Scientists Climate Change, Alien Invasions, and Other Conspiracy Theories Cooked Up by Scientists
If it’s not in the Bible, Republicans aren’t buying it.
Jul 22, 2015 / Tom Tomorrow
Can Living With Long-Term Drought Cause Trauma? Can Living With Long-Term Drought Cause Trauma?
While climate scientists warn about the dangers droughts pose to the natural world, Dr. Irwin Redlener worries about its effects on minds and bodies.
Jul 20, 2015 / Sarah Goodyear
Chris Christie Is Turning Tap Water Into a Private Commodity Chris Christie Is Turning Tap Water Into a Private Commodity
A new law pushed by the governor makes it even easier for towns to sell their public utilities to private corporations.
Jul 16, 2015 / James F. Kelly