Your news: CENSORED!

It’s that time of year, when journalists in newsrooms across the country gather ‘round computers to read that long-awaited list.

If it’s September, it’s “Project Censored.”

Sonoma State University’s “Project Censored” has released its top 25 news stories of 2006-2007 – which have been censored by the “mainstream media’s” lack of coverage.

These are the stories we might be hearing or reading if the MSM were not obsessed with the latest car chase, sex scandal and celebrity fluff.

(NOTE: This post is long, because it has a list of 25 stories, a brief description of each and links to the winning articles. After you read the introductory paragraphs, just scroll down through the list to see what interests you. You might want to click on the post title and bookmark the post page for future reading. Thanks.)

Hundreds of stories are submitted; vetted by students, faculty and journalists, then the top 25 are submitted to judges who rank their importance.

What makes this 31-year-old tradition so exciting? After the list is published, the top stories eventually make their way into the MSM.

So, why not read tomorrow’s news today?

Drumroll.

Here are the top 25 censored stories of 2006-2007, from the Project Censored 2008 news release (LINK):

#1 No Habeas Corpus for Any Person

The Military Commissions Act of 2006 (MCA) ushered in military
commission law for U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike. Text in the
MCA allows for the institution of a military alternative to the
constitutional justice system for any person arbitrarily deemed to
be an “enemy of the state,” regardless of American citizenship.

Winning entry:

“Who Is 'Any Person' in Tribunal Law?”, Robert Parry, Consortium, 10/19/2006, LINK

“Still No Habeas Rights for You” Robert Parry, Consortium, 2/3/2007, LINK

“Repeal the Military Commissions Act and Restore the Most American
Human Right” Thom Hartmann, CommonDreams, 2/12/2007, LINK

#2 Bush Moves Toward Martial Law

The John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007 allows the president to deploy military troops anywhere in the United States and take control of state-based National Guard units without the consent
of the governor or local authorities in order to "suppress public disorder.”

“Bush Moves Toward Martial Law” Frank Morales, Uruknet, 10/ 26/2006, LINK

#3 AFRICOM: U.S. Military Control of Africa’s Resources

In February 2007 the White House announced the formation of
the U.S.-African Command (AFRICOM), a unified Pentagon command center
in Africa. Presented as a humanitarian guard in the “global war on terror,” the real objective is procurement and control of Africa’s oil and its global delivery systems.

“Understanding AFRICOM, Parts 1-3, b real, MoonofAlabama.org 2/21/2007, LINK

#4 Frenzy of Increasingly Destructive Trade Agreements

The U.S. and European Union (EU) are vigorously pursuing increasingly destructive trade and investment agreements outside the auspices of the WTO, resulting in unprecedented exploitation, loss of livelihood, displacement and degradation of human rights and environments.

“Signing Away The Future” Emily Jones, Oxfam, 3/2007, LINK

“Free Trade Enslaving Poor Countries” Sanjay Suri, IPS coverage of
Oxfam Report, 3/20/2007, LINK

#5 Human Traffic Builds U.S. Embassy in Iraq

The enduring monument to U.S. liberation and democracy in Iraq – the world’s largest embassy - is being built by forced labor. Contractors subcontracting to the U.S. State Department are using bait-and-switch recruiting practices to
smuggle Asian workers into brutal and inhumane labor camps "in the middle of the U.S.-controlled Green Zone.

“A U.S. Fortress Rises in Baghdad: Asian Workers Trafficked to Build World's Largest Embassy” David Phinney, CorpWatch, 10/17/2006, LINK

#6 Operation FALCON Raids

Under Operation FALCON - federal and local cops organized nationally - more than 30,000 fugitives were arrested in the largest dragnets in the nation's history. Over 960 state, local and federal
agencies were directly involved. Only promotional coverage supplied
by the Department of Justice was ever aired. We have yet to be told who these fugitives were and what became of them.

“Operation Falcon and the Looming Police State” Mike Whitney,
Uruknet, 2/26/2007, LINK

“Operation Falcon,” SourceWatch, Updated 11/18/2006, LINK

#7 Behind Blackwater Inc.

Blackwater, the most powerful mercenary firm in the world, is the company that most embodies the privatization of the military-industrial complex. Bush’s contracts with Blackwater have allowed the creation of a private army of more than 20,000 soldiers, operating with almost no oversight or effective legal constraints, to deploy in nine countries and aggressively expand its presence inside U.S. borders.

“Our Mercenaries in Iraq: Blackwater Inc and Bush's Undeclared Surge” Jeremy Scahill, Democracy Now! 1/26/07, LINK

#8 KIA: The U.S. Neoliberal Invasion of India

The Knowledge Initiative in Agriculture, quietly signed by Bush and India’s Prime Minister Singh, trades India’s agricultural sector for U.S. nuclear technology. The KIA allows for the grab of India’s seed sector by Monsanto, its trade sector by giant agribusiness ADM and Cargill, and its retail sector by Wal-Mart.

“Vandana Shiva on Farmer Suicides, the U.S.-India Nuclear Deal, Wal-
Mart in India” Democracy Now! 12/13/2006, LINK

“Genetically Modified Seeds: Women in India take on Monsanto” Arun Shrivastava, Global Research, 10/9/06, LINK

“Sowing Trouble: India's Second Green Revolution” Suman Sahai,
SciDev.Net, 5/9/06, LINK

#9 Privatization of America’s Infrastructure

More than 20 states have enacted legislation allowing public-
private partnerships to build and run highways. We will soon be paying Wall Street investors, Australian bankers and Spanish contractors for the privilege of driving on American roads.

“The Highwaymen” Daniel Schulman with James Ridgeway. Mother Jones, 2/2007, LINK

“Bush Administration Quietly Plans NAFTA Super Highway” Jerome R. Corsi, Human Events, 6/12/2006, LINK

#10 Vulture Funds Threaten Debt Relief for Poor Nations

Vulture funds, as defined by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), are companies that buy up the debt of poor nations cheaply, when it is about to be written off, and then sue for the full value of the debt plus interest, which might be 10 times what they paid for it. Otherwise known as “distressed-debt investors,” these companies profit off plunging impoverished nations into crippling debt.

“Vulture Fund Threat to Third World” Greg Palast with Meirion Jones for BBC Newsnight, 02/14/2007, LINK

#11 The Scam of Reconstruction in Afghanistan

Much of the U.S. tax money earmarked to rebuild Afghanistan actually ends up going no farther than the pockets of wealthy U.S. corporations. Paychecks for overpriced, and often incompetent,
American experts under contract to USAID go directly from the Agency to American bank accounts. Seventy percent of the aid that does make it to a recipient country is carefully tied to the donor nation for further fraud and exploitation.

“Why It's Not Working in Afghanistan” Ann Jones, TomDispatch.com,
8/27/06, LINK

“Afghanistan Inc: a CorpWatch Investigative Report” Fariba Nawa,
CorpWatch, 10/6/06, LINK

#12 Another Massacre in Haiti by UN Troops

On December 22, 2006, more than 30 unarmed Haitian civilians, including women and children, were killed by extensive and indiscriminate gunfire from UN peacekeeping forces, reportedly as
collective punishment for a massive demonstration days earlier calling for the return of President Aristide.

“UN in Haiti: Accused of Second Massacre” Haiti Information Project, Haiti Action, 1/21/2007, LINK

“Haiti: Poor Residents of Capital Describe a State of Siege” Wadner
Pierre and Jeb Sprague, IPS, 2/28/07, LINK

#13 Immigrant Roundups to Gain Cheap Labor for U.S. Corporate Giants

In the wake of 9/11, Immigration Customs Enforcement has
conducted raids and roundups of illegal immigrants under the rubric of preventing terrorism and keeping our homeland safe. The real goal, however, is to replace the immigrant work force in the U.S. with a tightly regulated, exploitive guest-worker program.

“Migrants: Globalization’s Junk Mail?” Laura Carlsen, Foreign Policy
in Focus, 2/23/07, LINK

“Which Side Are You On?” David Bacon, Truthout, 1/29/07, LINK

“Workers, Not Guests” David Bacon, The Nation, 2/6/07, LINK

#14 Impunity for U.S. War Criminals

A last minute adjustment to the Military Commission Act of 2006 redefined torture, removed the harshest definition of war
crimes and provided exemption for the perpetrators from prosecution for such
offences dating back to November 1997. The source of this provision is, however, a mystery. The White House denies any involvement or knowledge regarding the insertion of such language into the MCA.

“A Senate mystery keeps torture alive, and its practitioners free” Jeff Stein, Congressional Quarterly, 11/ 22/06, LINK

#15 Toxic Exposure Can Be Genetically Transmitted to Future Generations

Research suggests that our behavior and our environmental conditions might program sections of our children’s DNA. New evidence about how genes interact with the environment suggests that many
industrial chemicals may be more ominously dangerous than previously thought. One researcher points to a revolution in medicine: You aren't eating and exercising just for yourself, but for your lineage.

“Some Chemicals are More Harmful Than Anyone Ever Suspected” Peter Montague, Rachel's Democracy & Health News #876, 10/12/06, LINK

#16 No Hard Evidence Connecting Bin Laden to 9/11

Osama bin Laden’s role in the events of September 11, 2001, is not mentioned on the FBI’s “10 Most Wanted” notice. Six years later, an FBI spokesperson explains that the reason 9/11 is not mentioned on Osama bin Laden's “Most Wanted” page is because the FBI has no hard evidence connecting bin Laden to 9/11.

“FBI says no hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11” Ed Haas,
Muckraker Report, 6/6/06, LINK

#17 Drinking Water Contaminated by Military, Municipalities and Corporations

Corporations, municipalities and the U.S. military are using America’s waters as their dumping ground "often with little or no accountability.” The average major facility discharges pollutants in excess of its permitted limit by over 275 percent, nearly four times the legal limit, while more than 40 percent of U.S. waterways are already unsafe for swimming and fishing,

“Factories, Cities Across USA Exceed Water Pollution Limits” Sunny
Lewis, Environment News Service, 3/24/2006, LINK

“Military Waste In Our Drinking Water” Sunaura Taylor and Astra Taylor,
AlterNet, 8/4/2006, LINK

#18 Mexico’s Stolen Election

U.S. interests were significantly invested in the outcome of Mexico’s 2006 presidential election in which overwhelming evidence reveals massive fraud.

“Evidence of Election Fraud Grows in Mexico” Chuck Collins and Joshua Holland, AlterNet, 8/2/2006, LINK

“Mexico: The Political Volcano Rumbles” Revolution, 9/10/06, LINK

#19 People’s Movement Challenges Neo-Liberal Agenda

In Latin America, massive opposition to U.S. economic domination has demanded that populist leaders and parties take control of national governments, building powerful alternatives to neo-liberal
exploitation.

“Is the U.S. Free Trade Model Losing Steam?” American Friends Service Committee, Trade Matters, 5/3/06, LINK

“Economic Policy Changes With New Latin American Leaders” Mark Weisbrot, International Herold Tribune, 12/28/06, LINK

“Is Hugo Chaves a Threat to Stability? No.” Mark Weisbrot, International Affairs Forum, 3/31/07, LINK

#20 Terror Act Against Animal Activists

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act of 2006 expanded the definition of terrorism to include acts that interfere, or promote
interference, with the operation of an animal enterprise. More than 160 groups opposed this Act on grounds that its terminology is dangerously vague and poses major conflict to the U.S. Constitution.

“The AETA is Invidiously Detrimental to the Animal Rights Movement
(and Unconstitutional as Well)” David Hoch and Odette Wilkens, Vermont Journal of Environmental Law, 3/9/07, LINK

“U.S. House Passes Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act With Little Discussion or Dissent” Will Potter, Green is the New Red, 11/14/06, LINK

“22 Years for Free-Speech Advocates: Six Animal Rights Activists Given Lengthy Prison Sentences for Running Website” Budgerigar, Earth First! Journal, 11/06, LINK

#21 U.S. Seeks WTO Immunity for Illegal Farm Payments

The July 2006 Doha round of WTO negotiations broke down over the
contentious issue of farm trade and the unrestricted opening of markets to agricultural products. In a last-minute proposal, one not included on the original agenda, the U.S. insisted that all trade
agreements include a special Peace Clause that would make its use of illegal farm subsidies immune from prosecution by the countries affected.

“Canada launches WTO case on U.S. subsidies” Eoin Callan, Financial
Times, 1/9/2007, LINK

“U.S. seeks get-out clause for illegal farm payments” Oxfam, 6/29/2006, LINK

#22 North Americans Invade Mexico

The number of North Americans living in Mexico has soared from 200,000 to 1 million (one-quarter of all U.S. expatriates) in the past decade. With more than 70 million American baby-boomers expected to retire in the next two decades, experts predict a tidal wave of migration. The land rush is sending up property values to the detriment of locals whose children are consequently driven into slums or forced to emigrate north.

“Border Invaders: The Perfect Swarm Heads South” Mike Davis,
TomDispatch.com, 9/19/2006, LINK

#23 Feinstein’s Conflict of Interest in Iraq

Dianne Feinstein is involved in monumental conflicts of interest as she promotes and exploits the “global war on terror.” As a member of the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee, Senator Feinstein voted for appropriations worth billions of dollars to her husband's military construction firms, while consistently voting to fund U.S. military proliferation.

“Senator Feinstein’s Iraq Conflict” Peter Byrne, Bohemian, 1/24/2007, LINK

#24 Media Misquotes Threat From Iran’s President

A mistranslated quotation attributed to Iran’s President Ahmadinejad, which threatened that Israel must be wiped off the map, has been spread around the world. Ahmadinejad’s actual statements, however, were significantly less threatening.

“Wiped Off The Map - The Rumor of the Century” Arash Norouzi,
MohammadMossadegh.com, Global Research, 1/20/2007, LINK

“Full Text: The President of Iran's Letter To President Bush” Translated by Le Monde, Information Clearing House, 05/09/06, LINK

#25 Who Will Profit From Native Energy?

The U.S. government and the energy industry intend to market a shift away from dependence on foreign energy by deregulating and stepping up their exploitation (development) of wind and solar resources located on Native American reservations.

“Native Energy Futures” Brian Awehali, Lip Magazine, 6/5/06, LINK

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From the Web site:

“Project Censored is a media research group out of Sonoma State University which tracks the news published in independent journals and newsletters. From these, Project Censored compiles an annual list of 25 news stories of social significance that have been overlooked, under-reported or self-censored by the country's major national news media.”

Read more about “Project Censored” and purchase the yearbook “Censored 2008:” LINK