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Doris Lessing - Visionary, Prophet, Feminist

Lorna Sage; Clancy Sigal
Doris Lessing, died this week at 94, was one of the major fiction writers of the second half of the 20th century and one of the most vividly representative literary figures of our times. She was a visionary, prophet, feminist icon and Nobel prizewinner given to constant literary reinvention. She was a young, romantic, passionate, fiercely ambitious single mother pounding away at a portable typewriter trying to keep it together, writes Clancy Sigal, of his former lover.

How to Reverse a Slow-Motion Apocalypse - Why the Divestment Movement Against Big Energy Matters

Todd Gitlin TomDispatch.com
Climate Change crossroads - Super-Typhoon Haiyan, possibly the strongest such storm ever to hit land; Australia, elected a climate-change denialist as prime minister is experiencing its hottest year on record; the rest of the world is living through the seventh warmest year on record. And...young activists organizing a growing campaign to pressure universities and colleges to divest from the giant energy companies, to change the mood and calculations of our moment.

Tidbits - November 21, 2013

Portside
Reader Comments: Capitalism and Unemployment; New York and Seattle elections; more. Announcements: Human Rights Film Screenings New York City -Nov 20 26; Breaking the Silence-Oakland-Nov 23: Fighting Back Against Wall Street -NYC-Nov 25; Chanukah Message from Jewish Voice for Peace; The National Labor College; New Day New York Dec 5 Day of Action; 50% Off PM Press for the Holidays; Pvt Chelsea Manning-4th birthday in prison-Dec 17; Faith Petric Memorial -Berkeley-Jan 15

Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders-Run in 2016?

Dan Roberts, Greg Sargent, John Nichols
IF the fundamental issues that are of concern to the great mass of Americans - the collapse of the middle class, growing wealth and income inequality, growth in poverty, global warming - then (big IF), just maybe Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders will run for President in 2016. Both could challenge Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. Taxing the wealthy and not cutting but expanding Social Security, could become their rallying cry.

Walmart Workers, Community Allies to Hold 1500 Protests Across Country on Black Friday

OUR Walmart Common Dreams
Protests in Los Angeles, Miami, Bay Area, Chicago, Seattle, Washington D.C., Minneapolis, Sacramento mark Largest Mobilization of Working Families in Recent History. Environmental, Religious, Women's & Immigrants' Rights Groups Join Workers to Call For An End to Illegal Retaliation, $25,000 a Year, Full-Time Work

As Poor Countries Walk Out of Climate Talks, Venezuela Calls on Industrial Nations to Take Action

Amy Goodman Democracy Now
A group of 133 developing nations have walked out of a key part of the climate talks in Warsaw, Poland, amidst a conflict over how countries who have historically emitted the most greenhouse gases should be held financially responsible for some of the damage caused by extreme weather in nations with low carbon emissions. The United States, Australia, Canada and other industrialized countries are pushing for the issue to be put off until after the 2015 climate talks.

Ten Years In, Prison Rape Elimination Act Standards Finally Go Into Effect

Matt Stroud In These Times
This week, more than a decade after congress passed PREA in July 2003, those standards went into effect. Among them: No inmate under 18 may be placed in a housing unit where contact will occur with adult inmates in a common space, shower area or sleeping quarters.