Brazil's Amazon States Suffer Record Drought

Larry Rohter, New York Times

MANAQUIRI, Brazil — The Amazon River basin, the world's largest rain
forest, is grappling with a devastating drought that in some areas
is the worst since record keeping began a century ago. It has
evaporated whole lagoons and kindled forest fires, killed off fish
and crops, stranded boats and the villagers who travel by them,
brought disease and wreaked economic havoc.

In mid-October, the governor of Amazonas State, Eduardo Braga,
decreed a "state of public calamity," which remains in effect as the
drought's impact on the economy, public health and food and fuel
supplies deepens. But other Brazilian states have also been severely
affected, as have Amazon regions in neighboring countries like Peru,
Bolivia and Colombia.

Donald Watson, Founder of Veganism, 1910–2005

London Times

Donald Watson

September 2, 1910 – November 16, 2005

Founder of veganism whose dietary crusade grew to attract a quarter of a million adherents in Britain today

Donald Watson survived to the age of 95; good propaganda in his campaign to convince the world that there is nothing inherently lethal about a vegan diet. He always regarded himself as a propagandist, in the term’s non-pejorative sense. When interviewed at 92 he was pleased to report that he had lived thus far without resort to medication “either orthodox or fringe”, and with hardly a day’s illness.

Outspoken Professor to Leave Yale Faculty

Matt Apuzzo, Associated Press

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — A professor who also is an outspoken anarchist has
agreed to leave Yale University this spring, dropping an appeal over
whether his termination was politically motivated.

David Graeber, one of the world's leading social anthropologists, said he
will teach two classes next semester, then take a yearlong paid
sabbatical, after which he will not return.

Jay Driskell writes:

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Hey all,

A quick report on the labor rally at NYU from Friday. The turnout was quite
good on short notice — well over 1500 folks from dozens of unions. The most
significant in attendance were Ron Gettelfinger, the president of the UAW, John
Wilhelm, the president of the hospitality division of UNITE HERE, John Sweeney —
the president of the AFL-CIO, and several city council members — all of whom
promised to do everything in their power to help GSOC win.

The President of
the Professional Staff Congress (PSC) at CUNY, Barbara Bowen, also spoke to the
importance of this fight, not only for the future of intellectual labor, but
also for the labor movement as a whole. "Winning this fight today is as
important as the air traffic controllers strike was early in Reagan's first
term," she said. A representative from the Teamsters promised to do everything
he could to back the strike.