"PROTO THEMA" SCOOP: INSIDE INFO AND POLITICAL CORRUPTION IN CYPRUS. OVER 400M EUROS WITHDRAWN FROM LAIKI BANK 15 DAYS BEFORE "INSOLVENCY", FROM 132 COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS (LET ALONE THE OTHER BANKS)

SOURCE:
http://www.protothema.gr/politics/article/?aid=267996

THE STORY OF RUBIE: THE ATHENIAN, BARKING AT THE TROIKA DELEGATES, DOG THAT REFUSED TO DIE! HOW HE WAS RESCUED, THE VERY LAST MOMENT, BY SOCIAL MEDIA AND ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS!

Amidst all the despair, misery and depression in the human population of Athens a stray dog, Rubie, made the difference and dared just to bark against the Troika delegation visiting the Ministry of Finance. Like every real dog would do.

Enter the genius mayor of Athens, in a lunch break after his outrageous decision to shut down 80 theaters for building department violations (so he can transform them to bars and night clubs overnight), and his cohorts, found the solution to all the harsh problems that the bankrupt city of Athens is facing: RUBIE HAD TO DIE ASAP. No questions asked.

But social media and animal rights activists campaigned hard and asked  lots of questions and the Byzantine regime of the city of Athens mumbled, and stepped back out of fear of a public backlash.

Rubie was rescued. And these days he is alive, healthy and barking on the same old spot at the Marie Antoinettes of the European Union and IMF that continue the looting of Greece.

THE MONSANTO PROTECTION ACT: PROVISION PROTECTS GENETICALLY MODIFIED SEEDS FROM LITIGATION IN THE FACE OF HEALTH RISKS....

The provision protects genetically modified seeds from litigation in the face of health risks and has thus been dubbed the “Monsanto Protection Act” 

Updated, March 28: A number of readers have requested to know exactly where in the HR 933 they might find the provision dubbed the “Monsanto Protection Act.” It is Section 735 in the bill, the full text of which can be read here.

 Original post: Slipped into the Agricultural Appropriations Bill, which passed through Congress last week, was a small provision that’s a big deal for Monsanto and its opponents. The provision protects genetically modified seeds from litigation in the face of health risks and has thus been dubbed the “Monsanto Protection Act” by activists who oppose the biotech giant. President Barack Obama signed the spending bill, including the provision, into law on Tuesday

Since the act’s passing, more than 250,000 people have signed a petition opposing the provision and a rally, consisting largely of farmers organized by the Food Democracy Now network, protested outside the White House Wednesday. Not only has anger been directed at the Monsanto Protection Act’s content, but the way in which the provision was passed through Congress without appropriate review by the Agricultural or Judiciary Committees. The biotech rider instead was introduced anonymously as the larger bill progressed — little wonder food activists are accusing lobbyists and Congress members of backroom dealings.

The Food Democracy Now and the Center for Food are directing blame at the Senate Appropriations Committee and its chairman, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. According to reports, many members of Congress were apparently unaware that the “Monsanto Protection Act” even existed within the spending bill, HR 933; they voted in order to avert a government shutdown.

“It sets a terrible precedent,” noted the International Business Times. “Though it will only remain in effect for six months until the government finds another way to fund its operations, the message it sends is that corporations can get around consumer safety protections if they get Congress on their side. Furthermore, it sets a precedent that suggests that court challenges are a privilege, not a right.”

Natasha Lennard is an assistant news editor at Salon, covering non-electoral politics, general news and rabble-rousing. Follow her on Twitter @natashalennard, email nlennard@salon.com.

http://www.salon.com/2013/03/27/how_the_monsanto_protection_act_snuck_into_law/