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When I began Schwartzreport my purpose was to produce an entirely fact-based daily publication in favor of the earth, the inter-connectedness and interdependence of all life, democracy, equality for all, liberty, and things that are life-affirming. Also, to warn my readers about actions, events, and trends that threaten those values. Our country now stands at a crossroads, indeed, the world stands at a crossroads where those values are very much at risk and it is up to each of us who care about wellbeing to do what we can to defend those principles. I want to thank all of you who have contributed to SR, particularly those of you who have scheduled an ongoing monthly contribution. It makes a big difference and is much appreciated. It is one thing to put in the hours each day and to do the work for free, but another to have to cover the rising out-of-pocket costs. For those of you who haven’t done so, but read SR regularly, I ask that you consider supporting it.
Andy Corbley , Contributing Writer - Good News Network
Stephan:
Here, I am so glad, is some good news about one of my favorite places in America. I spent years hiking and backpacking in Appalachia, particularly the Appalachian Trail. I so many wonderful memories of those days and weeks, and was so glad to discover that other share that love of nature, and are working to restore it.
Credit: Shannon Bell
Despite the Central Appalachia ecosystem being historically famous as coal country, under this diverse broadleaf canopy lies a rich, biodiverse world of native plants helping to fill North America’s medicinal herb cabinet.
And it turns out that the very communities once reliant on the coalfields are now bringing this botanical diversity to the country.
“Many different Appalachian people, stretching from pre-colonization to today, have tended, harvested, sold, and used a vast number of forest botanicals like American ginseng, ramps, black cohosh, and goldenseal,” said Shannon Bell, Virginia Tech professor in the Dept. of Sociology. “These plants have long been integral to many Appalachians’ livelihoods and traditions.” 50% of the medicinal herbs, roots, and barks in the North American herbal supply chain are native to the Appalachian Mountains, and the bulk of these species are harvested or grown in Central Appalachia, which includes southern West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, far-southwest Virginia, and east Tennessee.
The United Plant Savers, a nonprofit with a focus on native medicinal plants and their habitats, has identified many of the most […]
In the near future your car will spy on you, as this article describes. This is what is coming for our cars. It is not good news
Credit: Ford Motor Company
Since the days of Jack Kerouac, driving has been synonymous with a deep love for the open road. But that love affair is about to hit a speed bump.
Ford Motor Company is just one of many automakers advancing technology that weaponizes cars for mass surveillance. The freedom-loving company is currently pursuing a patent for technology that would allow vehicles to monitor the speed of nearby cars, capture images, and transmit data to law enforcement agencies. This would effectively turn vehicles into mobile surveillance units, sharing detailed information with both police and insurance companies. A Ford spokesperson said the patent is intended to be used by law enforcement only.
Ford’s initiative is part of a broader trend among car manufacturers, where vehicles are increasingly used to spy on drivers and harvest data. In today’s world, a smartphone can produce up to 3 gigabytes of data per hour, but recently manufactured cars can churn out up to 25 gigabytes per hour—and the cars […]
Jen Golbeck, University of Maryland - College of Information Studies - HuffPost
Stephan:
This is the best fairest description of the MAGAt cult that I have read. This is the dim fantasy driven group that wants to end American democracy and turn the United States into a racist, christofascist, male dominant, authoritarian, nation. How could such a group exist and support a man who resembles a comic book villain? Remember these facts. The average IQ in the U.S. is 98, with 34% between 98 and 85. Remember also that 54% of Americans can’t read and understand anything written that exceeds 6th grade level and 43% can’t comprehend something written beyond 5th grade level. Also remember that Trump voters are notably uneducated at the college level.
A breakdancer in a Trump mask performs on the street before a rally for Trump in Johnstown. Credit: Jen Golbeck
Some people spend their summers following musicians on tour, meeting people and swapping friendship bracelets. I spent mine traveling around the country to attend Donald Trump rallies and interview his MAGA faithful in Florida, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Illinois.
I am a journalist and researcher working on a book about the psychology of the MAGA movement and the far right. I have been immersed in far-right internet forums for nearly a decade, studying how people are radicalized and identifying when there is a potential for violence. Even as a trained, objective observer, there are days when the bigotry, conspiracy theories, misogyny and hate speech in those spaces overwhelms me. But I also know online vitriol does not always reflect offline reality.
I started going to rallies this year because I wanted to talk with people face-to-face in hopes of understanding their points of view. I have discovered how unique of a phenomenon Trump rallies are — and what you […]
Alicia Victoria Lozano and David K. Li, Reporters - NBC News
Stephan:
I have been to Springfield, Ohio. It is a small city — about 60,000 people — built around manufacturing businesses. The city welcomed the Haitian immigrants when they came because the companies there were desperate for workers. Now, as a result of traitor Trump, his frankenstein Vance, and the MAGAt cult, this small quiet Ohio town is being driven into crisis because of the weird lies about Haitians stealing pets and eating pussycats. This is the state of American politics.
Springfield, Ohio Credit: Springfield News Sun
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO — Bomb threats on Friday forced the evacuation and closure of public schools and municipal buildings for a second consecutive day, as the city continues to deal with sudden national attention because of false claims involving its Haitian population.
Students at Perrin Woods and Snowhill Elementary Schools in Springfield “were evacuated from their buildings to an alternate district location,” school district spokesperson Jenna Leinasars said.
Roosevelt Middle School was “closed prior to the beginning of the school day” in relation to the information received from the Springfield Police Department, Leinasars added.
In addition to those school evacuations, several city commissioners and a municipal employee were the target of an emailed bomb threat, city spokesperson Karen Graves said.
A second email threatened multiple locations that included Springfield City Hall, Cliff Park High School, Perrin Woods Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Ohio License Bureau Southside, Graves added.
“As a precaution, all affected buildings have been evacuated. Authorities, with the support of explosive detection canines, […]
Marjorie Cohn , Professor Emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law and Dean of the People’s Academy of International Law - truthout
Stephan:
I have wondered for some time about the climate impact of all the wars the United States has been involved in since George Bush started the “war on terror” but could not find anything I thought was fact-based. The one thing that did become clear to me is that all these wars have been insanely profitable for the military-industrial complex President Eisenhower warned us about, and these conflicts have resulted in the death of millions. Here is the first fact-based report I have ever seen on this important climate issue. It is a very nasty story.
A soldier in the Afghan National Army (ANA) walks past a burn pit at a command outpost recently handed over to the ANA from the United States Army on March 22, 2013, in Kandahar Province, Zhari District, Afghanistan. Credit: Andrew Burton / Getty
This week marks 23 years since George W. Bush declared a U.S.-led “war on terror” and the people of Afghanistan and Iraq are still suffering its consequences.
After the U.S. invaded Iraq, an estimated half a million Iraqis were killed and at least 9.2 million were displaced. From 2003-2011, more than 4.7 million Iraqis suffered from moderate to severe food insecurity. Over 243,000 people have been killed in the Afghanistan/Pakistan war zone since 2001, more than 70,000 of them civilians. Between 4.5 and 4.6 million people have died in the post-9/11 wars.
The U.S.’s “war on terror” also escalated the climate catastrophe, resulting in local water shortages and extreme weather crises that are only getting worse. In 2022, Afghanistan had its worst drought in 30 years and it is […]
Jet-powered aircraft are significant contributors to the alteration of our atmosphere and climate change. Here is a first report on what looks like a new technology that could be some very good news.
A rendering of the ES-30 regional airliner Credit: Heart Aerospace
It was just this July that we heard about the ES-30, a hybrid-electric airliner being developed by Swedish firm Heart Aerospace. Well, the company has now unveiled a full-scale demonstrator version of the plane, which should fly next year.
To recap our previous coverage, plans call for the 30-passenger ES-30 to utilize what’s being referred to as a “reserve-hybrid” configuration.
What this means is that for flights of up to 200 km (124 miles), the aircraft will just use two electric motors located relatively close in to the fuselage on each wing. For going farther – up to 400 km (249 miles) – two small turboprop engines located farther out on the wings will kick in to extend the aircraft’s range.
One charge of the aircraft’s BAE-Systems-designed batteries should take only 30 minutes.
Like other electric airliners, the ES-30 should produce fewer carbon emissions than its conventional counterparts, while also being quieter, cheaper to operate, and easier to maintain. Additionally, because its electric motors quickly deliver maximum torque, it […]
When I say Americans are not prepared for what climate change is going to do, here is the data on one aspect of that. But it is only one aspect. One has to also factor in not being able to get insurance, or the failure of the Red state governments to prepare properly. And then there is the impact of the interna migrations. The net-net of all of this is that unless we elect politicians committed to fostering wellbeing, which means making appropriate preparations for climate change, the coming years are going to be very painful and difficult.
A drone view shows houses and streets flooded as Hurricane Debby affects the gulf coast in Suwannee, Florida, on August 5. Credit: Ricardo Arduengo/Reuters
The United States is in the midst of both hurricane and wildfire season. And US homeowners are likely keeping their fingers crossed that they and their families will be spared — not just physically, but also financially.
A quarter of US homeowners (26%) said they are financially unprepared for extreme weather events, according to Bankrate, which surveyed a nationally representative sampling of nearly 1,300 homeowners at the end of July. Those most likely to say they were unprepared lived in the South (29%), the West (28%) and the Northeast (25%). Those least likely to say so were in the Midwest (19%).
In response to a separate question in the survey, another 15% indicated they would have to go into debt to afford the deductible they would owe under their homeowner insurance policy if their property ever did get hit. That group is on top of the 7% who said they don’t even […]
When I was a boy in, I think, the 4th grade, we spent one session each day for a semester studying civics, how the country was structured, how elections worked, and what the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were about. Public schools and religious schools, and some private schools don’t seem to teach that any more. As a result a third of Americans can’t even name the three branches of government. You cannot preserve a democracy when a large percentage of the population don’t even know how the government is structured. I think teaching civics ought to be mandatory in both elementary school, and again at a more sophisticated level in high school, and there ought to be approved by historians not politicians textbooks used in those classes.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA — Do you know your First Amendment rights? Can you name all three branches of the U.S. government? If you’re scratching your head, you’re not alone. A recent survey shows that, even in an election year, many Americans are still fuzzy on some basic civics concepts.
The Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey to celebrate Constitution Day on Sept. 17, offers a fascinating glimpse into what Americans know (and don’t know) about their government and constitutional rights.
First, the positive: nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) can correctly name all three branches of government – executive, legislative, and judicial. It means most people understand the basic structure of our government and how power is divided.
When it comes to the First Amendment, though, things get a bit murkier. While almost everyone knows about freedom of speech (74% of respondents named it), the other four rights protected by this crucial amendment are far more problematic for Americans to name. Only 39% mentioned freedom of religion, 29% noted freedom of the press, 27% recalled the right to assembly, and a mere […]
