Welcome to Illbird Press
"It's an ill bird that fouls its own nest."
A little news and opinion on environmental and sociopolitical happenings.
AROUND the WORLD June 28-July 4
From Environmental Health News: Farming is healing
From Reuters: Flood risks increases along East Coast
From Reuters: Flood risks increases along East Coast
Black people have used farming as a form of resistance, healing and independence for more than 150 years. FOR MORE, CLICK
From Reuters: Flood risks increases along East Coast
From Reuters: Flood risks increases along East Coast
From Reuters: Flood risks increases along East Coast
An independent research shows a greater danger of flooding this year than that projected by government estimates. FOR MORE, CLICK
From The Guardian: FL manatee deaths up
From Reuters: Flood risks increases along East Coast
From the Guardian: South Pole heating 3x faster
In the wake of the Covid19 pandemic, manatee deaths have increased, not decreased. FOR MORE, CLICK
From the Guardian: South Pole heating 3x faster
From the BBC: Scientists propose extinction target
From the Guardian: South Pole heating 3x faster
Scientists now believe that all of Antarctica, not just part of it, is warming much faster than the rest of the world. FOR MORE, CLICK
From the BBC: Scientists propose extinction target
From the BBC: Scientists propose extinction target
From the BBC: Scientists propose extinction target
We're in the midst of a sixth great extinction and conservationists say a global plan is needed to slow its progress. FOR MORE, CLICK
From Reuters: Space offers view of emissions
From the BBC: Scientists propose extinction target
From the BBC: Scientists propose extinction target
Satellite imagery reveals methane leaks as scientists seek to find climate change influencers. FOR MORE, CLICK
Daily Cartoon
Meaning lost
For other cartoons, CLICK HERE
In 500 words or less
by David Gerard, June 30, 2020
By most media accounts and recent polling, Trump will be a one-term president.
Before you start cheering, do not think the last of Trump will be when Trump is replaced in the White House.
The effects of any president, especially bad ones, are long-lasting because they have had four years to make many poor decisions and appointments. In Trump’s case, he has made a multitude of misguided and ill-founded decisions and appointments.
One of Trump’s poor decisions, and the decision of another misguided president, became very evident last week. Two judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled to dismiss charges against Trump’s former National Security Michael Flynn.
Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about clandestine meetings he had with a Russian ambassador. Flynn’s lies occurred during the Mueller investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 election and contacts that Trump’s campaign members and personal advisers had with Russian officials.
But after Flynn’s guilty plea and clear evidence that he lied, Trump’s attorney general, William Barr, led court action to drop charges against Flynn.
And it worked.
Of the two judges who approved allowing Flynn to avoid prosecution and sentencing, one was appointed by Trump, the other by George W. Bush. These are two judges who evidently will make decisions not based on justice and jurisprudence, but on political ideology.
This is especially foreboding in the event that important environmental and social issues come before them. If they are dedicated to conservative ideology, as it appears they are, they will likely not make rulings that favor environmental and social justice. They likely will be reluctant to side with the environment and human health in lawsuits brought before them. Rather they probably will side with big corporations, the wealthy, and their party principles.
Even yesterday, the Supreme Court, now with two Trump appointees, declined to hear an appeal of the Trump’s administrations waiving of environmental reviews in order to speed up the construction of the Mexican border wall.
And just as conservative judges are overlooking an egregious action by a public servant, they may overlook an even greater crime in the future by another scoundrel and opportunist at the bequest of their political ideologues.
Trump needs to go. Unfortunately, when he goes, the mess he has created won’t immediately leave with him.
For past columns, click here
