MIT Predicted in 1972 That Society Will Collapse This Century. New Research Shows We’re on Schedule. — “the scenario which was the least closest fit to the latest empirical data happens to be the most optimistic pathway known as ‘SW’ (stabilized world), in which civilization follows a sustainable path and experiences the smallest declines in economic growth—based on a combination of technological innovation and widespread investment in public health and education.” (Vice)
Planes dump water on Siberian wildfires as residents plead for help — “The Siberian fires have raised fears about the permafrost and peatlands thawing, releasing carbon long stored in the frozen tundra. Meanwhile, ash from the fires could blanket nearby snow cover, turning it dark so that it absorbs more solar radiation and warms even faster.” (Reuters)
E.P.A. Approved Toxic Chemicals for Fracking a Decade Ago, New Files Show — ‘“In areas where there’s heavy fracking, the data is starting to build to show there’s a real reason for concern,” said Linda Birnbaum … The presence of PFAS, she said, was particularly worrisome. “These are chemicals that will be in the environment, essentially, not only for our lifetimes, but forever,” she said.’ (New York Times)
Kremlin papers appear to show Putin’s plot to put Trump in White House — ‘Vladimir Putin personally authorised a secret spy agency operation to support a “mentally unstable” Donald Trump in the 2016 US presidential election during a closed session of Russia’s national security council, according to what are assessed to be leaked Kremlin documents.’ (Guardian)
Explosive Interview Directly Implicates Donald Trump in Tax Scheme — ‘Jennifer Weisselberg’s claims would directly tie Trump to what a New York criminal indictment described as a corporate scheme to pay executives “in a matter that was ‘off the books.’”’ (Daily Beast)
The Left Needs Free Speech — “I would support free speech even if it wasn’t a tactical necessity right now, because I don’t think I have a lock on all the truth in the world. But the fact is, given American realities, where almost half the electorate voted for Donald Trump and large numbers don’t even believe in evolution, no one needs it more than the left. It’s messy, it’s contradictory, it means living with insults and stupidity and even, sometimes, evil and pain. Fortunately, your enemy is in the same position. That may be as good as it gets." (Dissent)