Category Archives: planetkillers

Settlers use bulldozers to level Palestinian land near Salfit | Maan News Agency

Occupiers creating “facts” on the ground with IDF assistance – Israeli settlers on Thursday leveled Palestinian land in the village of Kafr ad-Dik west of Salfit, local Palestinian officials said.

Settlers from Alei Zahav and the Bruchin outpost used

bulldozers to level land in an area known locally as Thair Subih.

Witnesses say the settlers were escorted by Israeli military forces.

A day earlier, settlers from Ariel used bulldozers to raze agricultural lands belonging to Palestinian farmers from the Salfit town of Kifl Haris.

A local activist who monitors settlement activities told Ma’an that Ariel settlement is expanding to the West and South and construction work has increased dramatically during the 9-month period of peace negotiations.

Ariel settlement is located 16.5 kilometers east of the green line in the center of the Salfit district, blocking Palestinian development in the area.

via Settlers use bulldozers to level Palestinian land near Salfit | Maan News Agency.

Stop Making Sense – House GOP: Schools Can Opt Out of Unprofitable Healthy Food Programs

GOP against healthy poor children?

House Republicans are proposing to let some schools opt out of healthier school lunch and breakfast programs if they are losing money.

A GOP spending bill for agriculture and food programs released Monday would allow schools to apply for waivers if they have a net loss on school food programs for six months in a row.

Championed by first lady Michelle Obama, the new standards have been phased in over the last two school years, with more changes coming in 2014. The rules set fat, calorie, sugar and sodium limits on foods in the lunch line and beyond.

via House GOP: Schools Can Opt Out of Unprofitable Healthy Food Programs.

Israeli forces uproot trees, level land near Bethlehem | Maan News Agency

Israeli bulldozers leveled large tracts of Palestinian land in the Bethlehem-area village of Nahalin on Monday, locals said.

Head of the village council, Majid Ghayatha, told Ma’an that Israeli bulldozers uprooted dozens of olive and almond trees in the Wad Salem area.

Several grapevines were also destroyed.

Israeli military forces deployed on hilltops above the village to prevent land owners from accessing their fields.

Locals told Ma’an that they believe Israeli forces are clearing land for a new road connecting the Neve Daniel and Beitar Ilit settlements.

via Israeli forces uproot trees, level land near Bethlehem | Maan News Agency.

Stuffed dead polar bears: Another luxury craze for wealthy Chinese: Shanghaiist

The latest accessory of choice and a “must-have” item that has emerged amongst wealthy Chinese for decorating their homes, offices and clubs is none-other than the cuddly, lovable and endangered polar bear. Stuffed.

Shanghai Daily reports:

Sales of legally imported mounted specimens of polar bears and other animals are booming in a Beijing exhibition hall, reported Beijing Youth Daily.

“Business is going well,” a saleswoman at the hall, outside of the capital’s northern Fifth Ring Road, told the newspaper.

“One company boss came and bought a 3.3-meter-tall stuffed polar bear for 600,000 yuan (US$96,238) without any bargaining,” she added.

For those who can’t actually afford a polar bear (or probably fit one in their house), all other things fuzzy and sourced from a blisteringly cold destination will do, with a stuffed arctic fox fetching a humble 80,000 yuan.

Other furry friends such as elk and lions are also high in demand as well as the heads of elephants, deer and zebras.

But don’t worry. “The animals for sale died of natural causes,” the saleswoman said.

Because with the world’s impeccable record with “exotic” animals and the absolute non-existence of animal poaching in history, we can be sure that with statements such as “Prices reflect their endangered status” (as uttered by the saleswoman) will under no circumstance trigger a spike in the black market.

via Stuffed dead polar bears: Another luxury craze for wealthy Chinese: Shanghaiist.

Breaking News: Campaign Launched to End Slaughter of Dolphins in Peru

BlueVoice and Mundo Azul have called on the Peruvian government to both enforce existing laws and enact legislation banning harpoons on fishing boats. “Harpoons are used solely to kill dolphins and banning them would save the lives of t

via Breaking News: Campaign Launched to End Slaughter of Dolphins in Peru.

Two U.S. health workers ill after MERS exposure; World Health Organization meets | Reuters

Two health workers at a Florida hospital exposed to a patient with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome have begun showing flu-like symptoms, raising concerns about the ability of global health authorities to contain the mysterious and deadly virus.

The World Health Organization convened an emergency meeting in Geneva on Tuesday to decide whether the rising rate of confirmed cases, most of them in Saudi Arabia, constitutes a “public health emergency of international concern.”

Florida officials said they were monitoring the health of 20 healthcare workers who had been in contact with the patient, including a doctor who had already left for Canada. They also were trying to track down nearly 100 people who may have overlapped with the patient at the two medical facilities he visited.

via Two U.S. health workers ill after MERS exposure; World Health Organization meets | Reuters.

When it comes to live-chicken sales, health should be the top priority | South China Morning Post

The live-chicken trade was linked to the 1997 outbreak of H5N1 bird flu that killed six people. Central slaughtering would put an end to it. It may be uneconomic and unpopular. But this has to be weighed against the human and economic costs of infection outbreaks.

via When it comes to live-chicken sales, health should be the top priority | South China Morning Post.

Bundy Supporters Drove ATVs Through Native American Ruins – The Wire

Anti-Native American and Anti-Brains!

Both the BLM and the sheriff’s department came to the rally, but whatever skirmishes the ATV riders were anticipating/hoping for didn’t come to pass. The BLM simply recorded the proceedings to prosecute offenders later. The sheriff’s deputies said they were only there to keep the peace, and any punishment would have to come from the BLM, since “they’re the ones that closed the road.” Thanks, deputies.

Lyman won’t have to worry about any federal repercussions, as he ultimately did not drive on the trail. Bundy did ride on the illegal trail, but I guess he doesn’t think there will be consequences for his actions for some reason.

A Navajo Warrior ceremony for returning veterans was scheduled for the area that weekend, but the rally forced organizers to reschedule it for October. So the rally was a slap in the face of Native Americans from the past and the present.

“Damage to archaeological sites is permanent and the information about our collective past is then lost forever,” said Jerry Spangler, director of the Colorado Plateau Archaeological Alliance. “It is sad that irreplaceable treasures of importance to all Americans would be sacrificed on the altar of anti-government fervor. It is worse that protesters would be so blinded to their own insensitivity as to what others consider to be sacred treasures of their past.”

via Bundy Supporters Drove ATVs Through Native American Ruins – The Wire.

Breaking News: BlueVoice Presents Dolphin Defender Award

BlueVoice and Mundo Azul invite you to a press conference at which The Dolphin Defender Award will be presented to Stefan Austermuhle for his exemplary work in uncovering the slaughter of thousands of dolphins by Peruvian fishermen. The award is subscribed by 26 international member organizations of the Dolphin Defender Coalition which is composed of more than 1-million members.

via Breaking News: BlueVoice Presents Dolphin Defender Award.