WashingtonBullets: Pinochet And Kissinger
By Ethan Heitner, TomPaine.com
As the American press ruminates on the death of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, much of the discussion has centered on his corrupt military junta, with little reflection on the US government’s direct involvement in his violent rise to power. While any chance to bring Pinochet to justice died with him, Ethan Heitner argues that the opportunity to hold someone accountable — namely Henry Kissinger — still remains. The former US Secretary of State’s complicity in Pinochet’s crimes, writes Heitner, was extensive and well-documented. — Elizabeth Oliver
http://tinyurl.com/y6w692
Homelessness Begins at Home
By Samantha Topol, The Believer
The Homeless Museum is part parody of established New York museums (its PR director is a taxidermied coyote), and part commentary on how we relate to poverty in a culture of affluence. Installations like the ‘Homeless Simulator’ and ‘$0.00 Collection’ aim at provoking discussion on poverty — a mission aided by director of development ‘Madame Butterfly’ and founder Filip Noterdaeme, who occasionally jumpstart dialogue as visitors tour the vagabond gallery. The literally homeless museum is currently squatting in Noterdaeme’s Brooklyn apartment. — Jenna Fisher
http://www.believermag.com/issues/200612/?read=article_topol
http://www.homelessmuseum.org/
Nobel Notations
By Josie Glausiusz, Discover
Ever wonder what a great idea looks like in crayon? Photographer Volker Steger challenged a few Nobel science laureates to depict their prize-winning ideas on cardboard with crayons. One simply wrote out equations, others etched scientific or symbolic pictorials, and Roald Hoffmann, who shared the prize for chemistry in 1981, wrote a poem. After you read up on the winners, a fun sidebar lets you match the laureates to their drawings. — Elizabeth Ryan
http://tinyurl.com/ynyctm
A Green Chimney
By Sarah Rich, WorldChanging
The purveyors of POM Wonderful pomegranate juices are about to break new ground with a different kind of plant — the manufacturing variety. According to Sarah Rich, POM’s Los Angeles factory is set to install the first industrial-scale ‘liquid chimney,’ which will break down carbon dioxide and render it harmless. The chimney was developed by an Ohio man who would rather save a buck than save the planet, but that hasn’t stopped the health-loving POMers from adopting his technology. — Suzanne Lindgren
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/005551.html
The Grass Is Greener
By Alfred Lee, Los AngelesCityBeat
New Mexico is shaping up for a mean, green competition with Hollywood. According to a recent report by the UCLA Institute of the Environment, the TV and film industry is second to only petroleum manufactures in terms of pollutant emissions. New Mexico’s ‘Green Filmmaking Program’ is setting out to change that with increased access to eco-friendly vendors, and possibly even financial incentives. The program’s promoters hope it will bring business from LA producers looking to go green. (Thanks, AltWeeklies.) — Suzanne Lindgren
http://lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=4707&IssueNum=183
Pesticide Makers Take Aim at Organic Upstarts
By Cindy Skrzycki, Bloomberg.com
Since 1996, the Environmental Protection Agency has exempted ‘minimal risk pesticides’ (those using nontoxic ingredients) from costly testing requirements. But with the home and garden market for organic pesticides blossoming, insecticide makers such as Off! and Raid are petitioning to end the exemption. The pesticide companies argue that the organic products mislead consumers into buying what they claim are less effective products when it comes to protecting public health from insect-borne diseases. Those touting the botanical alternatives see the move as an effort to quash competition. (Thanks, Organic Consumers Association.) — Evelyn Hampton
http://tinyurl.com/yhb72z
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