Avatar
Victoria Stuart 🇨🇦 🏳️‍⚧️
ba127250544b40c3d80f42bfa4cde70f089f92c8b58393bb55f91cb76378cec7
Vancouver, BC 🇨🇦 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈 ☮ Truth network • YES! Universal social justice, human rights | environmentalism | unions | democratic socialism • NO! Capitalism | billionaires | inequality | oligarchy | authoritarianism | theocracy • https://Persagen.org/wpi/ • Transgenocide: https://persagen.org/wpi/transgenocide/docs/transgenocide.pdf • About: https://persagen.org/html/about.html • Me: https://persagen.org/about/victoria/victoria-bio-mastodon.html #NoBots

U.K. Government Close To Eroding Encryption Worldwide

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/07/uk-government-very-close-eroding-encryption-worldwide

Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36913268

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3137

Online Safety Bill: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_Safety_Bill

* proposed U.K. act intended to improve internet safety

* duty of care for online platforms towards their users, requiring action against both illegal & legal but harmful content

EFF counters:

* forces backdoors in messaging services

* destroys end-to-end encryption

#UK #OnlineSafetyBill #encryption #surveillance

Addendae

Online Safety Bill – some futures – 25th July 2023

https://www.regulate.tech/online-safety-bill-some-futures-25th-july-2023/

Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36941256

I will replicate the summary from the end of this post here so that readers short of time can cut to the chase – please carry on to unpack these points.

[SUMMARY] What are the best and worst case scenarios for how this will all play out?

In the best case, the world will look like this. ...

In the worst case, the world will look like this. ...

...

Addendae

How the Ultrawealthy Use Private Foundations to Bank Millions in Tax Deductions While Giving the Public Little in Return

It’s a simple bargain: The rich get huge tax breaks by donating art, property and company shares to benefit the public. But some donors collect millions while offering little or no public access

https://www.propublica.org/article/how-private-nonprofits-ultrawealthy-tax-deductions-museums-foundation-art

Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36929335

#wealth #taxation #TaxFraud #WealtyInequality #oligarchy #DefundBillionaires

U.K. Government Close To Eroding Encryption Worldwide

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/07/uk-government-very-close-eroding-encryption-worldwide

Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36913268

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3137

Online Safety Bill: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_Safety_Bill

* proposed U.K. act intended to improve internet safety

* duty of care for online platforms towards their users, requiring action against both illegal & legal but harmful content

EFF counters:

* forces backdoors in messaging services

* destroys end-to-end encryption

#UK #OnlineSafetyBill #encryption #surveillance

m/w in the U.S. ... 🤨

NSA Lobbying Congress to Save a Phone Surveillance Loophole

The National Security Agency has urged top lawmakers to resist demands that it obtain warrants for sensitive data sold by data brokers

https://www.wired.com/story/nsa-ndaa-lobbying-privacy-loophole/

Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36919225

https://persagen.com > search: "data brokers"

E.g. "Acxiom claims to have files on 2.5 billion people, with about 11,000 data points per consumer (quoted in Senate.gov)."

#NSA #surveillance #privacy #DataBrokers

U.K. Government Close To Eroding Encryption Worldwide

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/07/uk-government-very-close-eroding-encryption-worldwide

Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36913268

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3137

Online Safety Bill: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_Safety_Bill

* proposed U.K. act intended to improve internet safety

* duty of care for online platforms towards their users, requiring action against both illegal & legal but harmful content

EFF counters:

* forces backdoors in messaging services

* destroys end-to-end encryption

#UK #OnlineSafetyBill #encryption #surveillance

Florida Will Allow Far Right PragerU Materials in Public Schools

https://truthout.org/articles/florida-will-allow-far-right-prageru-materials-in-public-schools-company-says/

* founded 2009 by right-wing radio host Dennis Prager

* pushes anti-immigrant theories

* downplays role of racism in U.S. history/modern society

* embraces Christian nationalism

* disputes climate change

* denies inequalities based on gender, race, sexuality

* promotes capitalist/imperialist ideology

https://persagen.com >> PragerU

#Florida #PragerU #disinformation #ChristianRight #ConspiracyTheories

Venezuela Delivers House Number 4.6 Million 🥳

Since 2011 the Great Housing Mission of Venezuela has provided homes to low-income families at low cost or free of charge

https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuela-President-Maduro-Delivers-House-Number-4.6-Million-20230721-0011.html

nostr:npub1vfpujc3jdxr6eavfpc5c95kh8lm7gzcz7hvuwjh74j6xf505xcwqf7eqfl

Great Mission Housing Venezuela: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Mission_Housing_Venezuela

* Venezuelan government program to provide housing for people in precarious conditions

* launched by Hugo Chávez administration in 2011

* planned to build 350,000 houses by end of 2012

#Venezuela #AffordableHousing #HumanRights #socialism

ALEC Considers Blacklisting Companies That Voluntarily Recognize Unions

https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2023/07/24/alec-considers-blacklisting-companies-that-voluntarily-recognize-unions

When the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) holds its annual meeting in Orlando, GOP state legislators & corporate lobbyists will embrace model legislation that creates new barriers to union organizing efforts across the U.S.

The proposal is a replica of Tennessee’s Employee Free Choice & Privacy Act (SB0650/HB1342), which was signed into law by GOP Gov. Bill Lee.

...

#ALEC #UnionBusting

... Addendae

What to know about Florida's new Black history curriculum as Harris prepares to speak

https://www.npr.org/2023/07/21/1189214810/florida-black-history-curriculum-kamala-harris

"We're fighting back against attempts to gaslight us, cover up our history, and rewrite the horrors of slavery," Harris said.

Changes to the social studies curriculum were approved by the Florida Board of Education.

The divisive revisions follow FL rejecting Advanced Placement course on African American studies.

https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/20653/urlt/6-4.pdf

#Florida #education #BlackHistory

Addendae, cont'd

DeSantis Faces Criticism Over Florida’s New Standards for Black History

Middle schoolers would learn that enslaved Americans developed skills that “could be applied for their personal benefit”

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/us/desantis-florida-black-history-standards.html

... the standards say that middle schoolers should be instructed that “slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit” — a portrayal that drew wide rebuke.

#RonDeSantis #HistoricalRevisionism #BlackHistory #Florida

Ron DeSantis Tells Russell Brand That Jan. 6 ‘Was Not an Insurrection’

The main Republican rival to Donald J. Trump avoided answering whether he would pardon the former president

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/us/politics/desantis-russell-brand-jan-6-insurrection.html

“It was not an insurrection,” Mr. DeSantis said ...

When asked whether he would pardon Trump, DeSantis sidestepped the question.

Instead, he accused the news media of exploiting the issue.

... cont'd

The hire drew backlash f. conservatives across Texas who criticized statements McElroy made about diversity, equity & inclusion, per The Texas Tribune who first reported the story

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/11/texas-a-m-kathleen-mcelroy-journalism/

Diversity, equity, and inclusion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity,_equity,_and_inclusion

McElroy's offer quickly fell apart: the position was originally tenure-eligible, but changed to a 12-year professor of practice.

McElroy ultimately turned down the offer for a one-year contract, the Tribune reported.

Addendae, cont'd

Race was a factor in Black professor’s failed hiring, Texas A&M department head says

Hart Blanton, the head of the university’s department of communications and journalism, also said then-President M. Katherine Banks interfered with the recruitment of journalist Kathleen McElroy

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/21/banks-tamu-journalism-hire

... race was a factor in university officials’ decision to water down the job offer.

Addendae

This Database Exposes Client Conflicts of >1,500 Big Oil Lobbyists

F Minus reveals that 100s of schools, municipalities, nonprofit organizations ... are paying lobbyists who also represent the fossil fuel industry

https://www.desmog.com/2023/07/21/database-exposes-client-conflicts-of-more-than-1500-big-oil-lobbyists

As lawsuits mount against the fossil fuel sector for decades of sowing climate disinformation, the PR & ad agencies, banks, institutional investors, & law firms that work with the industry are also facing increased scrutiny.

...

#DeSmog #Fminus

... cont'd

F Minus has released a searchable database revealing that many also work with clients who support / say they support strong action to slow climate change.

https://fminus.org/

https://fminus.org/#database

#ClimateChange #GlobalWarming #lobbyists #FossilFuels #FossilFuelsLobby

Addendae

This Database Exposes Client Conflicts of >1,500 Big Oil Lobbyists

F Minus reveals that 100s of schools, municipalities, nonprofit organizations ... are paying lobbyists who also represent the fossil fuel industry

https://www.desmog.com/2023/07/21/database-exposes-client-conflicts-of-more-than-1500-big-oil-lobbyists

As lawsuits mount against the fossil fuel sector for decades of sowing climate disinformation, the PR & ad agencies, banks, institutional investors, & law firms that work with the industry are also facing increased scrutiny.

...

#DeSmog #Fminus

Supreme Court clears way for Alabama to resume executions

https://www.scotusblog.com/2023/07/supreme-court-clears-the-way-for-alabama-to-resume-executions

Friday morning SCOTUS declined to block the execution of James Barber

Barber died by lethal injection at a prison in southern Alabama a few hours later.

Barber’s execution followed a trio of botched lethal injections in 2022, two of which went so badly that they were eventually called off.

Supreme Court clears the way for Alabama to resume executions

https://amylhowe.com/2023/07/21/supreme-court-clears-the-way-for-alabama-to-resume-executions

#Alabama #SCOTUS #CapitalPunishment

Ron DeSantis Launches Investigation Into Bud Light

DeSantis’s campaign is tanking, and this is what he comes up with

https://newrepublic.com/post/174508/ron-desantis-launches-investigation-bud-light

DeSantis calls for investigation into AB InBev (parent company of Bud Light) “regarding their Bud Light marketing campaign,” referring to the company’s single simple sponsored video w. actress / influencer Dylan Mulvaney, who is trans.

https://mastodon.social/@persagen/110651379832563084

[2023-07-03] DeSantis' transphobic attack ad

#RonDeSantis #transphobia #DylanMulvaney #BudLight

... Addendae, cont'd

Life in pictures 🙂 📸

Tony Bennett, Always a Class Act

From the early days with Frank Sinatra to his 21st-century resurgence with Lady Gaga, he was steadfast in his approach to song and style

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/style/tony-bennett-pictures.html

#TonyBennett

... Addendae

What to know about Florida's new Black history curriculum as Harris prepares to speak

https://www.npr.org/2023/07/21/1189214810/florida-black-history-curriculum-kamala-harris

"We're fighting back against attempts to gaslight us, cover up our history, and rewrite the horrors of slavery," Harris said.

Changes to the social studies curriculum were approved by the Florida Board of Education.

The divisive revisions follow FL rejecting Advanced Placement course on African American studies.

https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/20653/urlt/6-4.pdf

#Florida #education #BlackHistory