UK Bioethicist: Natural Birth and Pregnancy Should Not Be Tolerated

Bioedge

January 29, 2012

Here is contrarian bioethics at its best. Pregnancy and childbirth are so painful, risky and socially restrictive for women that public funding should urgently be directed to the development of artificial wombs. This is the only way to achieve true equality between men and women for then neither women nor men would then be limited by having children and the burdens of reproducing the species would be shared equally.

This is the radical suggestion made by a leading British bioethicist, Anna Smajdor, of the University of East Anglia.

Artificcial gestation, or ectogenesis,  is currently science fiction, but it may be possible. Dr Smajdor believes that in a truly liberal society pregnancy and childbirth should not be tolerated:

Changes to financial and social structures may improve things marginally, but a better solution needs to be found. Either we view women as baby carriers who must subjugate their other interests to the well-being of their children or we acknowledge that our social values and level of medical expertise are no longer compatible with “natural” reproduction.

Pregnancy is barbaric, Dr Smajdor contends – an illness so serious that it is comparable to measles, which is also occasionally fatal, but does not last nine months.

I suggest that there is a strong case for prioritizing research into ectogenesis as an alternative to pregnancy. I conclude by asking the reader the following: if you did not know whether you would be a man or a woman, would you prefer to be born into Society A, in which women bear all the burdens and risks of pregnancy, or Society B, in which ectogenesis has been perfected.

Her article in the Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics is a reply to a critique of an article which she published in 2007, “The moral imperative for ectogenesis”. ~ Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, January

ACTA explained

You Tube
January 29, 2012

ACTA is one more offensive against the sharing of culture on the Internet. ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement) is an agreement secretly negotiated by a small “club” of like-minded countries (39 countries, including the 27 of the European Union, the United States, Japan, etc). Negotiated instead of being democratically debated, ACTA bypasses parliaments and international organizations to dictate a repressive logic dictated by the entertainment industries.

ACTA would impose new criminal sanctions forcing Internet actors to monitor and censor online communications. It is thus a major threat to freedom of expression online and creates legal uncertainty for Internet companies. In the name of trademarks and patents, it would also hamper access to generic medicines in poor countries.

US election 2012: Sheldon Adelson, the man keeping Newt Gingrich's bid afloat

Editor's Note: Here's ten million reasons Newt is still in the campaign....

If Newt Gingrich were to win the Republican nomination he would owe around ten million favours to Sheldon Adelson – one for each of the dollars the flamboyant billionaire has pumped into his presidential bid.

Telegraph

Sheldon Adelson

January 28, 2012

Mr Adelson, America's eighth-richest man, is responsible for almost single-handedly keeping the Gingrich campaign alive with what is thought to be the biggest donation in US political history.

The $10 million he has given so far to Winning Our Future – a pro-Gingrich Super-Pac – propelled the former Speaker to victory in South Carolina.

What the 78-year-old Mr Adelson wants in return is unclear. His casino empire already stretches from Las Vegas to Macao, generating a fortune estimated at $20 billion.

Like his candidate, Mr Adleson is a hawkish advocate of Israel. In 2007, the self-proclaimed "richest Jew in the world" founded Israel HaYom, a free right-wing newspaper that now has the largest circulation in Israel. The two men are thought to have met in the 1990s and bonded during Israel-related discussions.

But unlike the presidential hopeful, Mr Adelson says he is a "social liberal", and has not used his vast wealth or political influence to oppose gay marriage, abortion or other issues important to the Republican party's conservative wing.

Read the entire article

Iran moving closer to stage where it will be too late to destroy nuclear facilities, Israel warns

Iran is moving closer to the point when it will be too late to destroy its nuclear facilities with a precision air strike, Israel's defence minister has warned

Ehud Barak, Israel's defence minister, speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos Photo: AFP/GETTY

The Telegraph

The Telegraph

By Adrian Blomfield, Jerusalem

7:40PM GMT 27 Jan 2012

Reviving Western concerns that his government is still contemplating unilateral military action against Iran, Ehud Barak gave one of the clearest signs yet that Israel's support for new US and EU sanctions remains strictly limited.

"We are determined to prevent Iran from turning nuclear," he told the World Economic Forum in Davos. "And even the American president and opinion leaders have said that no option should be removed from the table.

"It seems to us to be urgent, because the Iranians are deliberately drifting into what we call an immunity zone where practically no surgical operation could block them."

Although Israeli intelligence and military officials have privately spoken of Iran's nuclear programme entering a "framework of immunity", it is the first time that a senior figure in Benjamin Netanyahu's government has done so in public.

Israel's fears that it might soon be too late to launch military action were bolstered earlier this month when Iran announced that it had begun to enrich uranium at its Fordow plant, which is buried so deep within a mountain it may be impossible for Israeli warplanes or missiles to destroy.

Read the entire article

State of the Banana Republic

RT - Max Keiser Report
January 28, 2012

Every week, Max Keiser looks at all the scandal behind the financial news headlines.  

In this episode, Max Keiser and co-host, Stacy Herbert, discuss the State of the Banana Republic, the blowout at Apple with its profits “trapped” overseas and the gloomy State of the Stiff Upper Lip as UK family debts soar by nearly 50%. And, finally, Max and Stacy examine a proposal that bankers like Goldman Sachs’ Lloyd Blankfein and JP Morgan's Jamie Dimon, should compete like strippers on the open job market.

Philippines may allow greater U.S. military presence in reaction to China’s rise

Zachary S. Welch/AP - Two decades after evicting U.S. forces from their biggest base in the Pacific, the Philippines is in talks with the Obama administration about expanding the American military presence in the island nation, the latest in a series of strategic moves aimed at China.

Washington Post

January 28, 2012

Two decades after evicting U.S. forces from their biggest base in the Pacific, the Philippines is in talks with the Obama administration about expanding the American military presence in the island nation, the latest in a series of strategic moves aimed at China.

Although negotiations are in the early stages, officials from both governments said they are favorably inclined toward a deal. They are scheduled to intensify the discussions Thursday and Friday in Washington before higher-level meetings in March. If an arrangement is reached, it would follow other recent agreements to base thousands of U.S. Marines in northern Australia and to station Navy warships in Singapore.

Read the entire article

The catastrophe of our economy for the young American worker. Average college debt higher than typical new automobile cost, annihilation of pensions, and younger Americans moving back home because of financial necessity.

MyBudget360.com
January 21, 2012

The economy for young Americans might as well be in a parallel universe to the stock market run since early 2009.  Talks of recovery must fall on confused ears as many young college graduates compete for fewer jobs with higher amounts of student debt.  In the last decade college graduates have encountered the highest tuition increases ever while getting a lower return on their investment once they enter into the workforce.  The economy is still a mess if we dig into the data and look outside of the stock market gains.  Many of the S&P 500 companies added jobs globally but outsourced many domestic jobs to foreign markets to save money.  So profits increase but how does this help the domestic job market?  It doesn’t and that is why this recovery is one of low wage capitalism andbanking handouts.  For the millions of young Americans that are entering the workforce with tens of thousands of dollars in student debt, what can they expect from the current economic structure?

The old and the new

The cost of living has soared across many sectors with food, healthcare, college tuition, and energy all outpacing the growth in the typical paycheck.  For these reasons including fewer jobs, young Americans are facing harder times when it comes to saving money:

Source:  CNN Money

 “Ultimately we are pumping out hundreds of thousands of graduates each year that are starting with a negative net worth.”

Contrary to what is being spouted on the media, the employment market is still very weak:

Source:  Census

You have nearly two million job openings less than we did before the recession gained full steam.  Yet our population is expanding and recent graduates are entering the workforce in higher numbers.  The recent job growth is positive but the underlying data shows that many of the jobs are coming from low wage fields.  Many companies, like those in the S&P 500, are exporting jobs to other countries where they can push for lower labor costs.  The question remains, how does this benefit domestic workers?  To the point, this is more momentum when it comes to squeezing out the middle class.

Read the entire article

Massive US Troop Movements In California Raise Russian Concerns

EU Times
January 28, 2012

A disturbing report prepared by the Ministry of Defense circulating in the Kremlin today states that Russian MilitaryOfficials were rebuffed by NATO yesterday after questions were raised regarding massive troop and war equipment movements in the United States region of California and said to involve over 78,000 soldiers from various countries.

Reports coming in from the United States verify these extraordinary troop movements are currently underway with videos showing massive amounts of tanks and other war equipment being brought into the California region by train near Santa Cruz [see video HERE] and Morgon Hill [see video HERE] along with reports detailing that areas of Los Angeles were cordoned off this week for secret military exercises.

Important to note, this report says, is that even though Russia had withdrawn in 2007 from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) it was still able to get explanations for the transferring and movement of Western European and American troops from the United Kingdom under a separate agreement, but which was suspended without notice or explanation by the British government this past 25 November 2011.

Santa Cruz

Morgon Hill

Concerns over the military movements of the Western Powers, this report continues, are due to the United States and its European allies accounting for nearly three-quarters of the entire amount spent on armed troops and equipment in the entire world and that over the past decade have unleashed wars in various parts of the globe which they show no signs of stopping.

Russian military intelligence analysis of the camouflage pattern indentified on the thousands of military vehicles and tanks flooding into the California region [see both videos linked above] note that it is a variant of the MARPAT woodland pattern designed for use by US Marine Forces intended for use in urban environments located in temperate zones or tropical areas, but most certainly is not one used in any of Americas current war theaters of operation.

Analysis as to why these troops are currently massing in California, this report says, could involve any number of scenarios including: 1.) A planned US-EU invasion of either Mexico or a South American nation. 2.) Preparations to put down large scale rioting erupting in the United States. 3.) Preparations to assist the civilian population in the aftermath of a catastrophe caused by war or natural disaster.

Russian military analysts in this report note that Mexico could be a “prime target” for US-European military action as its Drug War which began in 2006 has claimed nearly 48,000 lives and during this pivotal election year is now threatened with disintegration as its drug cartels now have more power than the government.

Another analysis in this report notes the United States growing anger at both oil rich Venezuela and Brazil whose left-leaning governments are becoming increasingly opposed to American-European domination and increasingly siding with China and Iran against the West. Important to note in this scenario are that war concerns in Brazil have increased to the point that many are now calling for Brazilians to begin preparing to crush an expected American invasion.

Read the entire article

Oklahoma lawmaker wants to stop Pepsi from using aborted fetus cells in soda flavoring research

Natural News
Thursday, January 26, 2012
by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer

(NaturalNews) In order to simulate various flavors in processed foods, some food manufacturers are actually using aborted fetal cells to test and produce these artificial chemical enhancers that millions of Americans consume every single day. Concerned about the ethical and moral implications of such a process, Oklahoma Senator Ralph Shortey has introduced new legislation to prohibit this practice from occurring in his home state.

Senomyx, a California-based biotechnology company that specializes in developing food flavorings, is one such company that uses aborted embryonic cells to create "isolated human taste receptors," which are used in the production of food chemicals. And this company has partnered with several major food manufacturers, including Kraft, PepsiCo, and Nestle (http://www.naturalnews.com/032043_human_fetal_cells_artificial_flav...).

"There is a potential that there are companies that are using aborted human babies in their research and development of basically enhancing flavor for artificial flavors," Sen. Shortey is quoted as saying by KRMG News Talk Radio. "What I am saying is that if it does happen then we are not going to allow it to manufacture here."

According to Children of God for Life (CGL), a pro-life watchdog group, Senomyx uses HEK 293 to produce its artificial flavor enhancing chemicals. HEK 293 is code for human embryonic kidney cells that are manipulated to produce taste receptors that express a specific protein known as the G protein. But CGL says the company could also use animal, insect, or other more acceptably-derived cells instead, and still procure the same results.

While aborted fetal cells are not necessarily in the final products made by PepsiCo, Kraft, or Nestle, such cells appear to needlessly play a part in the production of artificial flavor chemicals used by these companies. And since there are viable alternatives to this questionable practice, Sen. Shortey, CGL, and many others are calling for its end.

As we reported previously, the Campbell Soup company used to be a Senomyx partner until CGL contacted them about the fetal cell issue. Shortly thereafter, reports indicate that Campbell's officially cut ties with Senomyx, which in 2003 filed a patent for "recombinant (genetically modified) methods for expressing a functional sweet taste receptor."

Sources for this article include:

http://www.krmg.com/news/news/local/food-containing-fetuses-targete...

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pro-life-groups-call-for-pepsi-boy...

http://www.naturalnews.com/032043_human_fetal_cells_artificial_flav...

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/01/20/145539661/state-bill...

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/034777_Pepsi_aborted_fetus_cells_soda_fl...

Ron Paul Trounces Santorum on Foreign Policy in CNN Debate

Jake MorphoniosNolan Chart
January 27, 2012

On Thursday night, the four remaining GOP presidential candidates squared off in Jacksonville in the second of two Florida debates, hosted by CNN and moderated by Wolf Blitzer.  While much of the debate time was again wasted on callow rhetoric between neo-con candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, Congressman Ron Paul indoctrinated the audience with principled lessons on liberty and the proper role of government.

Paul showcased his brand of non-interventionist foreign policy in a series of exchanges with former senator Rick Santorum.  These exchanges provided crystal clear contrasts in opposing political philosophies from which voters much choose. Each time that Paul and Santorum sparred over foreign policy, the Texas congressman pummeled the feeble foundations of Santorum’s unprincipled ideologies and tutored his opponents on the basics of the US Constitution (that pesky, outdated thing they would have to swear to uphold if elected president).

Wolf Blitzer addressed the following question to Congressman Paul:

“What would you do as president to more deeply engage in Latin America and, more importantly, to support the governments and political parties that support democracy and free markets?”

To which Paul responded:

“I think free trade is the answer.  Free trade is the answer to a lot of conflicts around the world. And you might add Cuba too.  I think we’d be a lot better off trading with Cuba. But as far as us having a military or financial obligation to go down and dictate what government they should have?  I don’t like that idea.  I would support the people by encouraging free trade and trying to set a standard that countries in Central and South America – or anywhere in the world – would want to emulate.”

“Unfortunately, sometimes we slip up on our standards and we go around the world and we try to force ourselves on others.  I don’t think the nations in Central and South America necessarily want us to come down there and dictate which government they should have.  I believe that with friendship and with trade you can have a strong influence.”

Congressman Paul’s answer reflected both his moral character as well as his deep understanding of constitutional foreign policy as intended by the Founding Fathers.  Thomas Paine, the author of Common Sense, is often credited as the original patriot to strongly inject into American politics the notion of non-interventionism.  He argued in Common Sense of the need for the new nation to avoid the formation of alliances with other nations.

Read the entire article

Georgia Ruling On Obama Eligibility

SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS!!!

by Mark Matheny

in Politics

Fri, Jan 27, 2012

Mark Matheny Discusses the recent court hearing in Georgia, that could keep Obama off the Primary ballot in Georgia this Election. (You can listen to "Like father- Like son: Obama Birth Certificate Smoke screen Here.

Listen to internet radio with Mark Matheny on Blog Talk Radio

Breaking: LAX FEMA Rendition Site Confirmed

Infowars.com
January 27, 2012

FEMA CAMPS EXPOSED: Alex presents newly exposed footage filmed at LAX airport in Los Angeles confirming a ‘rendition hub’ capable of processing thousands of people per hour from straight off the tarmac and other transportation points.

Further, Alex dredges up video clips of other facilities used in the past for mass containment of dissenters- from Pier 57 in New York City used to detain those rounded-up during mass arrests at the 2004 Republican National Convention to the former Mueller Airport facility in Austin which news clips exposed had been converted to hold mass arrestees to the Sand Point Naval Station in Seattle used for 1999 WTO protesters.

This is, of course, only the tip of the iceberg, yet demonstrates the growing apparatus aimed at American dissenters in the Homeland.

Obama Seeks New Power to Merge Agencies, Pledges Some Action ‘With or Without Congress’

CNS NEWS
January 27, 2012

(CNSNews.com) – President Barack Obama wants more power to reorganize the executive branch, powers he says will only be used to make government more efficient.

“This is the same sort of authority that every business owner has to make sure that his or her company keeps pace with the times,” Obama said at the White House Friday. “Let me be clear, I will only use this authority for reforms that result in more efficiency, better service, and a leaner government.”

He also said that he was elevating the Small Business Administration to a cabinet-level position, and pledged to do whatever possible even without Congress.

“So with or without Congress, I’m going to keep at it,” the president said. “I’m hopeful it’s with Congress, because this is an area where we can receive bipartisan support, because making our government more responsive, strategic and leaner should not be a partisan issue.”

The president’s first goal, if Congress approves these powers, would merge portions of the U.S. Commerce Department’s business and trade functions, the Small Business Administration; the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; the Export-Import Bank; the Overseas Private Investment Corporation; and the Trade and Development Agency.

“With the authority I am requesting today, we could consolidate them all into one department with one website, one phone number and one mission – helping American businesses succeed,” Obama said.

Under Obama’s proposed authority, he would be allowed to propose merging federal agencies to save money, and entitle him to an up-or-down vote in Congress within 90 days.

Obama invoked the New Deal era in talking about the presidential powers to reorganize the executive branch that he said Congress granted to presidents up to Ronald Reagan in 1984.

“Congress first granted this authority to presidents in the midst of the Great Depression, so that they could swiftly reorganize the executive branch to meet the changing needs of the American people,” Obama said.

“For the next 52 years, presidents were able to streamline or consolidate the executive branch by submitting a proposal to Congress that was guaranteed a simple up-or-down vote. But in 1984, while Ronald Reagan was president, Congress stopped granting that authority and when this process was left to follow the usual congressional pace, not surprisingly, it slowed down,” he added.

Obama insisted government has not kept pace with the rest of the world.

“Think of all that has happened since 1984. A generation of Americans has come of age,” Obama said. “Landlines have turned into smart phones. The Cold War has given way to globalization. So much has happened – and yet the government we have today is largely the government we had back then. We deserve better.”

Five different federal agencies deal with housing and more than a dozen in food safety, Obama said, stating it leads to unnecessary duplication.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, with jurisdiction over government reorganization, said Obama has not welcomed earlier proposals to streamline the government.

“I stand ready to work with President Obama on proposals to reorganize federal agencies,” Issa said. “While I have been disappointed that the White House has not embraced earlier bipartisan congressional efforts seeking collaborative engagement on proposals to reorganize government, I hope this announcement represents the beginning of a sincere and dedicated effort to enact meaningful reforms.”