Category: NEWS

New National Tenants Union Pose Threat to Big Landlords

Five local tenants unions from around the country have had so much success in taking on big landlords that they have joined hands to launch a new national union. Billing itself “the union of unions,” it is the first major national effort at tenant organizing in 40 years. A National Tenants Union Has Arrived https://inthesetimes.com/article/national-tenants-union-federation Related Reading

HOUSING

The Potential Impact of Brazil’s ‘Billionaire Tax’ Proposal

Estimates suggest that billionaires pay about 0.3% of their wealth in tax, so Brazil has floated a proposal to impose a 2 percent global tax on all of them. The idea would raise $250 billion a year, and several nations have voiced their support. However, U.S. treasury secretary Janet Yellen opposes it. Here’s how Brazil’s proposed…

GLOBAL

The Scientific Magic of New ‘Electrical’ Bandages

It is a well-established fact that that electric fields accelerate healing in chronic wounds, so electric bandages were bound to come – and now they have arrived. Battery-charged bandages have been animal-tested with remarkable results, so they soon will be available to treat slow-healing wounds caused by diabetes and other chronic illnesses. That could significantly increase…

GLOBAL

Austrian Heiress Distributes Inheritance with Community Input

Instead of spending or investing the fortune her grandmother left her, Marlene Engelhorn asked the public to help her decide what charities she should give it to. Now a group of 50 publicly chosen citizens has decided. The 25 million euros (about $26.8 million) will be divided among 77 organizations. Group of Austrians Picks 77…

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

It’s Time to Ban Plastic Production

Recycling plastic is not working. It helps a little, but not nearly enough. Plastic permeates the oceans, the clouds, our food, or water, our bodies – everything. So a strong new movement is developing that seeks either to ban plastic production outright or regulate it out of existence. The Movement to Ban Plastic Production https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2024/07/22/texas-plastic-production-pollution…

ACT NOW

California is Proving Large-Scale Clean Energy Use is Achievable

It was a long time coming, but thanks to years of construction and solid political leadership, California is suddenly producing more energy from clean sources than the state uses. By depending on solar panels, wind, geothermal sources and hydropower, the state is proving that it is possible to run a large modern economy on clean…

ENVIRONMENT

REPORT: Alternative Jet Fuels Remain Unrealistic

Even though Virgin Atlantic garnered headlines last year by staging the first transatlantic flight using corn-based fuels that are far cleaner than traditional kerosene-based jet fuel, a new report warns that developing those fuels would cause more problems than they would solve. The effort to find a solution continues, but success may be years away. ‘Magical thinking’:…

ENVIRONMENT