The TSA wants to expand into trains, buses and car searches. But in the case of Amtrak perhaps they went too far and too fast. The main reason I can see for search people after they get off a train is to create a climate of fear, not safety on the journey already completed. Perhaps there is hope for our Fourth Amendment rights...

Attacks on passengers' civil rights is one of the most unpleasant parts of flying. But the cancer is spreading to buses and trains. The TSA's Visible Intermodal Protection and Response (VIPR) teams "detain and search citizens at railroad stations, bus stations, ferries, car tunnels, ports, subways, truck weigh stations, rest areas, and special events." According to the TSA News Blog: "VIPR teams periodically descend on transportation hubs to conduct "random" searches, as they did in [various major cities]; and perhaps most notoriously, in Savannah, Georgia, where train passengers were separated from their luggage and body-searched after they got off the train. Amtrak Police Chief John O'Connor hit the roof when he found out and forbade the agency from ever setting foot in an Amtrak station without permission again

From http://aviationjustice.org/2011/12/05/tsa-american-trains-and-buses/

This entry was posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:03 AM and has received 592 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This entry was posted on January 17, 2012 at 3:51 PM and has received 2880 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

The company that makes these minature spy and kill drones is not only selling to the US military but also to local police forces. Should future police want to spy or assassinate leaders of demonstrations or other government opposition they will have a powerful and hard to detect weapon to do so. The drones fly almost silently, weigh under 6 lb and can explode on contact with the target without killing lots of other people nearby.

AeroVironment describes the Switchblade as the warfighter's “magic bullet”. It can rapidly provide a powerful, but expendable miniature flying Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) package on a Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) target within minutes. This miniature, remotely-piloted or autonomous platform can either glide or propel itself via quiet electric propulsion, providing real-time GPS coordinates and video for information gathering, targeting, or feature/object recognition. The vehicle’s small size and quiet motor make it difficult to detect, recognize, and track even at very close range. The Switchblade is fully scalable and can be launched from a variety of air and ground platforms.

The Switchblade's payload and launcher, weighing less than six pounds total, can be carried in a backpack by a single soldier. The mini UAV, which sends streaming video and GPS coordinates back to its operator, can be transformed from an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance UAV into a mini bomb striking a target beyond the line of sight.

The battery-powered vehicle has a very low visual, acoustic and thermal signature. AeroVironment says the the weapon can also be deployed from submarines, ground vehicles and a manned, as well as unmanned, aircraft.

From http://defense-update.com/products/l/switchblade_31122010.html

 

In the January 4 Huff Post, attorney and author John Whitehead reported on the militarization of local police. Some police forces are now equipped with spy drones. Whitehead reports that a drone manufacturer, AeroVironment Inc., plans to sell 18,000 drones to police departments throughout the country. The company is also advertising a small drone, the “Switchblade,” which can track a person, land on the person and explode.

How long before Americans will be spied upon or murdered as extremists at the discretion of local police?

Recognizing the privacy danger, if not the murder danger, the American Civil Liberties Union has issued a report, “Protecting Privacy From Aerial Surveillance.”https://www.aclu.org/files/assets/protectingprivacyfromaerialsurveillance.pdf

 

This entry was posted on January 15, 2012 at 11:02 PM and has received 1888 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This article on the losses of rights in the US is in the Washington Post. Now not only are alternative news site talking about this issue, a main stream newspaper is too. Perhaps it is time to "Occupy the Constitution"... then at least we would be the home of the brave even if no longer land of the free.

And in a signing statement with the defense authorization bill, Obama said he does not intend to use the latest power to indefinitely imprison citizens. Yet, he still accepted the power as a sort of regretful autocrat.


An authoritarian nation is defined not just by the use of authoritarian powers, but by the ability to use them. If a president can take away your freedom or your life on his own authority, all rights become little more than a discretionary grant subject to executive will.

The framers lived under autocratic rule and understood this danger better than we do. James Madison famously warned that we needed a system that did not depend on the good intentions or motivations of our rulers: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”

Benjamin Franklin was more direct. In 1787, a Mrs. Powel confronted Franklin after the signing of the Constitution and asked, “Well, Doctor, what have we got — a republic or a monarchy?” His response was a bit chilling: “A republic, Madam, if you can keep it.”

Since 9/11, we have created the very government the framers feared: a government with sweeping and largely unchecked powers resting on the hope that they will be used wisely.

From http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-the-united-states-still-the-land-of-the-free/2012/01/04/gIQAvcD1wP_print.html

This entry was posted on January 15, 2012 at 3:08 PM and has received 622 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Wondering how the US military might treat people picked up under the new Battleground act? Look no further that what our government is currently doing at the prison in Afghanistan that is 5 times larger than Guantanamo. Sounds to me like the scenes from the movie V for Vendetta - torture, sub-human treatment, no real due process... because the government, like medievel kings is infalliable.

After many years of completely denying detainees in Afghanistan the opportunity to defend themselves against arbitrary detention, the United States government has finally implemented a hearing process that allows detainees to hear the charges against them and to make a statement in their own defense. Although a significant improvement, these new hearings fall short of minimum standards of due process required by international law.” [Emphasis added.]

In a subsequent interview with CBS News, Eviatar stated:

[Parwan] is worse than Guantánamo because there are fewer rights…There was no evidence presented, there was no questioning of the government's evidence, whether this person had done anything wrong, whether he deserved to be in prison. So that's a real problem -- you have a complete lack of due process.

And in 2010 the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed the existence of a separate, second detention facility at Parwan. Many former prisoners have referred to it as the Tor Jail, translated as “Black Jail.” Nine former prisoners interviewed separately by the BBC spoke of almost identical treatment there: distressingly cold cells, perpetual loud noise, constant light, and, violating any sense of privacy, camera surveillance. One former prisoner said American soldiers made him dance to music to obtain permission to use the toilet.

From http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/01/11-0

Also of interest this article on 10 years of indefinite detection at Guantanamo in the UK Guardian newspaper.

This entry was posted on January 11, 2012 at 2:15 PM and has received 534 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Argentina's crash of 2001 is a preview of what is happening today in Greece now and might happen in US next. I notice that our government has been passing some interesting laws that would allow for capital controls to be implemented easily, press freedoms controlled and the right to protest curtailed. (You only have to look at the military style police response to the OWS peaceful protests that was coordinated by the DHS to see where we are heading.

What happened in Argentina in 2001 was a mess. I have met several Argentinians in my travels who were living there during the crash and they told me of very serious problems with banks, crime and high unemployment. That is what Greek-American's have told me is happening in Greece now. And is a possibility here in USA next. More on one family's experience in Argentina here

Additionally when I traveled from Argentina in October 2011 to next door Brazil I had some difficulty exchanging my Argentinean peso for Brazilian Reals - the first two currency exchange places wouldn't take them at all at any exchange rate. Suggests to me that Brazil doesn't regard the Argentinian economy so highly.

BTW I had a wonderful time in Argentina and will be happy to visit again. The people are friendly and the land I saw was beautiful.

Nearly 10-years ago to the day, the government of Argentina collapsed. Beset by weighty deficit spending and a completely unrealistic currency peg to the US dollar, Argentina became the poster child for the golden rule of economics: 'that which is unsustainable will not be sustained.' It's reversion to the mean.

Within a matter of days, the country had burned through several presidents, the currency collapsed, inflation soared, unemployment shot up, crime rates spiked, and the government defaulted on its debt.

After limping along for most of the last decade with a socialist agenda, the government of Argentina is at it again. The economy is rapidly deteriorating, and street-inflation has surpassed 25%. 

Naturally, the administration of President Cristina Fernandez insists that inflation is not a problem, despite the Argentine peso losing 25% of its value against the US dollar over the last three-years (and far more against gold). 

Meanwhile, Fernandez has borrowed her plays from Atlas Shrugged. She's imposed capital controls, raided pension funds, nationalized private property, and taken control of the media... all in a vain attempt to delay the endgame.

A few weeks ago, the government passed a package of new laws, essentially criminalizing public protest under the auspices of combating terrorism. The legislation, snuck in at a midnight session during the holiday period, provides severe punishment for various crimes under a very broad definition of terrorism.

Fernandez herself maintains that the law would -never- be invoked to restrict the legitimate rights of Argentines. This, from a woman who simultaneously passed legislation to seize control of the country's newspaper industry.

In her latest move, Fernandez has stepped up her saber-rattling over the Falkland Islands, a nearby archipelago that has been a British territory since 1833 (it is now self-governing). You may remember that Argentina invaded the Falklands in 1982 and was subsequently defeated after a bloody conflict with Britain. 

It's a sore subject in Argentina; the government still claims sovereignty over the Falklands (known as Las Malvinas in Argentina), and Fernandez is waving the flag once again. 

Last month Argentine naval forces were sent to frustrate commercial fishing around the disputed territory. And in the most recent development, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay announced that they were closing their seaports to any ship flying a Falklands flag (all 25 of them...)

Argentina has also mounted pressure on the British government to reopen negotiations over the Falklands' sovereignty. Thus far, the Brits have refused.

Cristina Fernandez's BFF Hugo Chavez recently added to tensions by saying, "The English are still threatening Argentina. Things have changed. We are no longer in 1982. If conflict breaks out, be certain Argentina will not be alone, as it was back then."

At this point, it's all just tough talk and petty annoyances. But here's the thing-- there are four billion barrels of oil estimated to be within the Falklands' territorial waters. 

Given the utter insanity with which Fernandez governs her country and the desperation in the Argentine economy, one cannot rule out the possibility of her trying to grab Las Malvinas by force. After all, military conflict is the ultimate social distraction.

I've often written that economics drives everything. A solid, vibrant, competitive economy lifts an entire nation into prosperity, while deteriorating fundamentals and a socialist agenda create inflation, unemployment, and social turmoil.

War is just another one of those consequences. And given the vast deterioration in the global economy coupled with deeply-seeded conflicts around the world, the Falklands is just one of many that we may have to look forward to in 2012.

Until tomorrow,
 

Simon Black
Senior Editor, SovereignMan.com

 

 

 

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VIEW A PREVIEW OF THIS MONTH'S SOVEREIGN MAN: CONFIDENTIAL

 

The world is changing daily. 'Solutions' to government debt problems now delay the inevitable for minutes rather than weeks and months. 

Simon spends this month getting a grasp on how some of the most experienced experts predict the outcome. He doesn't forget to interview someone who has lived through crisis.

Each provides their action plan to survive and thrive.

Simon wanted to give you a preview so you can read the details for yourself.

Click here to view this month's issue.

This entry was posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:34 PM and has received 1126 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

A lot of positive change is happening in the world. As the economy gets more "flat" new oppotunities are created online and offline. You can be the change you want to see in the world - change your beliefs, heart and actions.

 
"For more than 30 years, Project Censored has searched out the most important undercovered stories of the year showing what's wrong with our world. But in 2008, Project Censored began offering a new feature: a list of the top underreported stories of hope and creative change. These stories suggest that a better world is both possible and practical, and that every day, all over the world, people are solving problems. The message is simple: Stop fighting or lamenting existing reality – be an innovator and help create something better. Below are 12 key examples from the year 2011. To download the full list of inspiring news, click here.

Arab Spring Topples Dictators: In Dec. 2010, following a vegetable seller named Mohammed Bouazizi, the people of Tunisia rose up in an unarmed insurrection to overthrow dictator Ben Ali. Their success prompted a popular uprising against President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, which, after weeks of unprecedented protests, succeeded in ousting him. Soon, the grassroots struggles for democracy spread, with protests taking place throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Though some protests were violently suppressed, movements of the Arab Spring have dramatically increased prospects for democratization in the Middle East. (More here)

Social Media Isn’t Changing the World; It’s Creating a New One: Social Media is a great tool for spreading information and connecting people worldwide. 96% of Generation Y has joined a social network. Google, Facebook, and Twitter connect around two billion people worldwide – a third of the planet’s population! More video was uploaded to YouTube in six months than was produced by the three major TV networks in 60 years. Wikipedia has over 13 million articles, all written by volunteers. Through social media, a new order based on open access, decentralized creativity, More here)

Couchsurfing: Offer Your Couch, Make New Friends: The gift economy is alive and global among an improbable network of “Couchsurfers.” Since its launch in 2003, Couchsurfing.org has become an international phenomenon. It has attracted 1,930,000 registered Couchsurfers from around the world and facilitated 2,086,778 successful surf and host experiences. Couches are offered in 230 countries and 73,339 cities. (More here)

The New Economy Movement: The emergence of the term “new economy” in public discourse in recent decades may be a sign that support for status quo capitalism is wavering. A growing movement of people accepts the idea that the entire economic system must be radically restructured for critical social and environmental goals to be met. They call for institutions with more egalitarian priorities than the narrow corporate focus on profits and growth. As the economy continues to falter, this movement is working to define a viable path toward long-term systemic change. (More here)

Three Ways to Bring People Together in Your Neighborhood: Great ways to connect your community: set up a “gift circle” for neighbors to meet each others’ needs by sharing what they have; throw a community swap meet where people come together with food, music, and all kinds of creative exchanges; or start a neighborhood work group that pools local talent for meaningful collaboration on community projects. (More here)

How to Get Free from Wall Street: Redefine Wealth and Create New Systems of Exchange: Inspiring international economist David Korten proposes that we create real wealth through increased political participation; by basing value on living systems rather than on the money system; by shifting power from global financial markets to local, community-controlled economies; and by expanding the areas of our lives that are based on gift economies, barter, mutual aid, and caring for the greater good. (More here)

Transformative Films Educate and Awaken as Well as Entertain: Transformative movies are deeply impacting 21st century audiences. What differentiates these films from others is their explicit intention to either affirm a positive vision of the world or to –to challenge personal or cultural conditioning or beliefs. (More here. Transformative films and videos available free here and here)

Coherence and Chaos – Why We Need Both: On every level of living systems, there exists evidence of the value of both chaos and coherence; healthy function is dependent on their coexistence. Each is important in different situations. When we exclusively reify one over the other, we pay a price. For example, a lack of healthy variability in neural activity is associated with depression. Conversely, a lack of coherence in brain wave patterns is characteristic of schizophrenia. Context matters. (More here)

Research Shows That Eco-Farming, Not Big Ag, Is the Key to Feeding the World: The power elite claim that only industrial-scale corporate agriculture can feed the growing human population. According to this myth, growing enough food will require expanding the current agribusiness model based largely on fossil fuels, petrochemicals, and capital-intensive monocultures of genetically modified crops. Yet recent scientific evidence demonstrates that farms designed to emulate natural ecosystems not only protect and restore natural resources, but are more productive than industrial farms. (More here)

Wind and Solar Are Competitive with Coal and Nuclear: Accounting for the full economic, environmental, and health costs of coal and nuclear energy makes wind, solar, and other non-fossil fuel power economically competitive. (More here)

Studies Indicate Humans are Wired for Empathy: Scientists recently discovered mirror neurons in all primates. Mirror neurons enable us to experience another’s plight as if we were experiencing it ourselves. Several studies suggest humans are not soft-wired for aggression, violence, and self-interest (products of hierarchical oppression), but for collaboration and companionship. Our main drive is to belong. Consciousness has changed throughout history. As we evolve, we extend our empathetic ties. Today’s technology allows people around the globe to interact, furthering our potential for empathetic connection. (More here)

The Health Benefits of Gratitude: The world’s leading expert on gratitude, Robert Emmons, finds that people who regularly cultivate gratitude report a host of physical, psychological, and social benefits. Gratitude celebrates the present, blocks negative emotions, and affirms goodness by recognizing external, greater-than-self factors. People who are grateful have a higher sense of self worth because they are continually aware that others are looking out for them. (More here)

Note: For summaries of some of the most inspiring major media articles ever published, click here.

This entry was posted on January 9, 2012 at 10:41 PM and has received 2134 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Useful tips in case the US Military detains you under the new "Battleground law" (NDAA - National Defense Authorization Act)

From http://boingboing.net/2011/12/21/tom-the-dancing-bug-so-yo.html/tom-the-dancing-bug-105

This entry was posted on January 9, 2012 at 2:01 PM and has received 482 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Face recognition from photos and video, iris scanning, 100s of millions of Americans to be put in new FBI database (and not just criminals, but background check info too). And if they make a mistake flagging your record then good luck straightening it out because the data is being shared with multiple federal agencies and over 18,000 local agencies.

Read details at

http://www.alternet.org

This entry was posted on January 9, 2012 at 1:57 PM and has received 555 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Another crack in the Bill of rights first amendment for freedom of the press. The US DHS monitoring journalists, bloggers and PR folks. Big brother is growing...

Freedom of speech might allow journalists to get away with a lot in America, but the Department of Homeland Security is on the ready to make sure that the government is keeping dibs on who is saying what.

 

Under the National Operations Center (NOC)’s Media Monitoring Initiative that came out of DHS headquarters in November, Washington has the written permission to retain data on users of social media and online networking platforms.

 

 

 

Specifically, the DHS announced the NCO and its Office of Operations Coordination and Planning (OPS) can collect personal information from news anchors, journalists, reporters or anyone who may use “traditional and/or social media in real time to keep their audience situationally aware and informed.”

 

According to the Department of Homeland Security’s own definition of personal identifiable information, or PII, such data could consist of any intellect “that permits the identity of an individual to be directly or indirectly inferred, including any information which is linked or linkable to that individual.” Previously established guidelines within the administration say that data could only be collected under authorization set forth by written code, but the new provisions in the NOC’s write-up means that any reporter, whether someone along the lines of Walter Cronkite or a budding blogger, can be victimized by the agency.

 

Also included in the roster of those subjected to the spying are government officials, domestic or not, who make public statements, private sector employees that do the same and “persons known to have been involved in major crimes of Homeland Security interest,” which to itself opens up the possibilities even wider.

 

The department says that they will only scour publically-made info available while retaining data, but it doesn’t help but raise suspicion as to why the government is going out of their way to spend time, money and resources on watching over those that helped bring news to the masses.

 

From http://rt.com/usa/news/homeland-security-journalists-monitoring-321/

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This entry was posted on January 8, 2012 at 4:02 PM and has received 593 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.