Author: Source

Allegations range from Border Patrol agents denying food and water to adults and children in detention for several days, to purposely separating families during deportation.

Those are the findings of a new report released by the Arizona humanitarian aid organization No More Deaths.

The report, “A Culture of Cruelty,” documents 30,000 incidents of human rights abuses against undocumented immigrants in short-term detention between fall 2008 and spring 2011.

A distraught dog owner is searching for answers on Wednesday after her two dogs were apparently poisoned from eating hot dogs placed outside.

“I just can’t believe someone would do this,” said Deb Powell as she choked back tears. “I’m completely devastated.”

Powell calls Delilah, a 3-year-old lab mix and Ed, a 5-year-old pit bull mix her “babies.”

On Monday at about noon, she was with the dogs at the dog run behind the Ocean Beach condo units that she owns.

“Ed went straight… [to] the corner next to some cots and ate something,” said Powell.

Powell reached into the dog’s mouth but he had already eaten it. She was not sure what Ed ate, but several hours later, her neighbor screamed at her to come outside.

He may prove the most disastrous president in our history in terms of civil liberties.

By Jonathan Turley / LA Times / September 29, 2011

With the 2012 presidential election before us, the country is again caught up in debating national security issues, our ongoing wars and the threat of terrorism. There is one related subject, however, that is rarely mentioned: civil liberties. Protecting individual rights and liberties — apart from the right to be tax-free — seems barely relevant to candidates or voters.

Round 2, Day 4: Strike Expands & Exposes ‘Perfect Storm’ in CA

by prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity / September 29, 2011

As released yesterday, Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity has confirmed that at least 6,000 California prisoners in jails, General Population, Administrative Segregation (Ad-Seg/ASU) and Security Housing Units (SHUs) are hunger striking for the human rights of California’s SHU-status prisoners. We have confirmed prisoners are striking at Pelican Bay, Calipatria, CCI Tehachapi, Centinela, Corcoran, Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, and West Valley Detention Center.

Wind and solar sources make up almost half of all new electricity generation in Europe, but we’re far behind in the U.S. — so what gives?

Renewable energy is essential if we are to avert disastrous climate change caused by carbon-dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels. Yet despite significant recent growth, less than 2 percent of the about 4 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity the U.S. generates a year comes from solar or wind power. More than two-thirds still comes from coal, natural gas or oil, and 20 percent from nuclear power. Meanwhile, the world’s total reserves of oil, gas, coal, and uranium are expected to run out by the end of the century, especially as electricity consumption increases.

The modern American dream was inspired by a growing middle class that was the triumph of democracy after World War II. Its promise was and is opportunity: that hard work can earn a good life—a good job with decent pay and security, a home in a safe neighborhood, affordable healthcare, a secure retirement, a good education for the kids. The promise always exceeded the performance—especially with regard to racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants and women—and America never did as well as Europe in lifting the poor from misery. But a broad middle class and a broadly shared prosperity at least provided the possibility of a way up.

Eagle Fire in July Part of Conflict between Los Coyotes Tribe and Eagle Rock Training Center

By Dave Maass / CityBeat / September 28, 2011

An American Indian tribe in San Diego County has been engaged in a four-month standoff with a military contractor that refuses to leave its reservation, according to documents recently filed in U.S. District Court.

By Carol Zellander/Special to the OB Rag

On Tuesday, September 27th 2011, approximately 25 distressed homeowners, Representative Bob Filner, a San Diego Council member, and members of MoveOn.org rallied to protest the alleged crimes associated with PREDATORY LENDING and MORTGAGE fraud perpetrated by HomeEquity Funding Corporation.

The protest took place in the street in front of Peter Scognamillo’s Del Mar home. Scognamillo is Owner and CEO of HomeEquity Funding Corporation.

By: Terrie Best / NUG Magazine / September 27, 2011

In the afternoon session of Tuesday’s San Diego City Council Meeting, the Council voted 7 to 1 to repeal the restrictive zoning ordinance which, if allowed to pass would have identified zones for medical marijuana collectives to exist but at the same time relegated them to far flung industrial areas and forcing a closure while collectives relocated and embarked on a strenuous processing procedure to re-open in those zones.

By by Lucas O’Connor / Two Cathedrals / September 27, 2011

More than one third of San Diego County faced economic insecurity last year topping 1 million residents, and nearly one-in-five children lived in poverty according to a new report from the Center on Policy Initiatives released last week. It’s a boost in the overall poverty rate and children living in poverty, set against widening income inequality and poverty that impacts people of color at twice the rate of whites.

These stats are deeply troubling, but this isn’t just a San Diego issue.

by Tanya Mannes / SignOnSanDiego

You might see them placing bets at the Del Mar Racetrack, taking in a Broadway show at the La Jolla Playhouse or landing a yacht at the Kona Kai Marina.

They are the richest of the rich, and they live here, too. At least 20 people on Forbes’ annual list of the 400 wealthiest Americans have ties to San Diego County, according to U-T reporting and a review of newspaper archives and property records.

Council members Marti Emerald and Todd Gloria have joined 1,000 San Diegans who are pledging to go vegetarian for one week during the Animal Protection and Rescue League’s (APRL) 3rd annual San Diego Veg Week (September 25 – October 2). This is Councilmember Gloria’s third year taking the pledge, and last year Gloria sponsored a resolution in honor of Veg Week, promoting local business and “compassion toward animals.”