“Once all of this ice is melted the world’s oceans will be over 100 feet higher than they are today. So it will be a different world, different coastlines.”
– Richard Heinberg, senior fellow-in-residence and board secretary of the Post Carbon Institute
Melting of Antarctic Ice Sheet Unstoppable, Will Raise Sea Levels Worldwide
Interview with Richard Heinberg, senior fellow-in-residence and board secretary of the Post Carbon Institute, conducted by Scott Harris Two teams of scientists have reported that the Western Antarctic ice sheet is collapsing as a result of global climate change, and is already triggering a rise in sea-level at a faster rate than previously forecast. Researchers say that the melting of the entire western Antarctica ice sheet may eventually increase sea levels by as much as 13 feet. These conclusions were confirmed by several years of readings from the European Space Agency’s CryoSat 2 satellite. The data collected indicates that Antarctica’s ice sheets are losing nearly 160 billion tons of ice per year — which is twice as much as the estimates from previous surveys. Story continues
Millions with Felony Convictions Have Lost Voting Rights Across the U.S.
Interview with Marc Mauer, executive director of the Sentencing Project, conducted by Melinda Tuhus In a move unusual among state election officials, Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill announced on May 6 that her office is collaborating with advocates for the homeless and those convicted of felonies to encourage those groups of people to register and vote. In 2001, Connecticut reformed the state’s election law, allowing individuals who have completed their parole supervision to vote, even if they are still on probation. Story continues
Fast Food Workers Organize Global Strike for Higher Pay
Interview with Erika Eichelberger, staff reporter with Mother Jones Magazine, conducted by Scott Harris Agitation for fair compensation by low-wage workers in the U.S. was first seen in a series of protests and strikes that began in November of 2012. Then, in the first action of its kind, over 200 fast food workers participated in a one-day strike at more than 20 chain restaurants in New York City. Now after a year-and-a-half of organizing, the movement gained visibility on the international stage, when on May 15, fast food workers conducted a one-day strike in 150 U.S. cities and 80 other cities in 30 nations around the world, such as Casablanca, London, Geneva, Sao Paulo, Seoul and San Salvador. The global action was coordinated by the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations. Story continues
This week’s summary of under-reported news
MP3 Compiled by Bob Nixon
- The Bedouin village of al-Araqib in Israel’s Negev Desert has demolished dozens of times by Israeli police. The town is among dozens of Bedouin villages not recognized by the Israeli government and stands in the way of planned Israeli settlements. (“This state does not exist for you,” Foreign Policy, May 1, 2014)
- The Pentagon is seeking to amend or rescind an order by military judge Army Col. James Pohl. The order compels the CIA to turn over details of a secret prison program the agency operated relating to the trial of a Saudi national accused of being the mastermind of the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen that killed 17 American sailors. (“Prosecution to Guantanamo Judge: Take back your CIA ruling,” Miami Herald, May 9, 2014, “Will CIA comply with Guantanamo judge’s order? Agency won’t say,” Miami Herald, April 22, 2014)
- Fossil fuel hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” has transformed North Dakota into the state with the fastest-growing economy and lowest unemployment rate in the nation, but it is also now one of the most dangerous places to work in the U.S., reports Mother Jones magazine. (“North Dakota is the deadliest state to work in,” Mother Jones, May 8, 2014; “In fracking hot bed, a muted approach to regulation,” ProPublica, May 13, 2014)