Turkey: Suddenly at War with the Kurds and Perhaps the Islamic State

Ranj Alaaldin The Independent
Responding to the July 20 bombing in Suruç, Turkey ended its standoff with the Islamic State (Isis), and attacked Isis positions in Syria. Then, apparently with U.S. acquiescence, Turkey launched air strikes against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) bases in Iraq and Syria, ending a two-year ceasefire. Many believe Turkey’s targeting of Isis is only a pretext for its efforts to suppress the PKK, and the Kurdish national movements in Turkey, Iraq, and Syria.

Wall Street’s New Housing Idea: More Pain for California Cities

Divya Rao and Kevin Stein Rooflines.Org
California cities are being victimized by the latest iteration of Wall Street predation—the purchase in bulk of distressed single-family mortgages and foreclosed homes, so-called Real Estate Owned (REOs) properties—with the intent to rent them. Through this REO to Rental process, investors are muscling out first time homebuyers, displacing tenants, outbidding nonprofit affordable housing developers, and changing the demographics of whole communities.

100 Years After Invasion the Humanitarian Occupation of Haiti

Mark Schuller North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA)
Last Tuesday marked the 100th anniversary of the commencement of the U.S. occupation of Haiti. On July 28, 1915, U.S. Marines landed on the shores of Haiti and occupied the country for 19 years. A century later, the United Nations' "stabilization mission" in Haiti continues to compromise the nation's political and economic sovereignty. UN troops have now been patrolling the country for 11 years, in what some have characterized as a “humanitarian occupation.”

THE TORTURER DESCRIBES HIS JOB

Charlotte Muse WinningWriters.com
California poet Charlotte Muse tries to enter the mind of a person capable of committing torture, justifying torture, an issue from the George W. Bush era that refuses to fade away.

Court Backs Labor Board on Speedy Election Rule

Sean Higgins Washington Examiner
The policy shortens the timespan from when the board approves a union's request for a workplace organizing election to when that election is held to as little as 11 days. Previously, the process often took one to two months. The board formally announced the rule in December and it went into effect April 14.

Scalia's Poetry Slam

It seems only fitting to use Antonin Scalia’s own words for a poetry slam, since the justice’s snarky dissents are filled with so many poetic gems. The Affordable Care Act victory was followed quickly by the same-sex marriage win, and Scalia’s dissents have become increasingly irate and colorful. 

Key & Peele - Pro Teaching

Boyd Maxwell and Perry Schmidt report on the latest developments in the exciting world of pro teaching.
 

Street Art for Hope and Peace

eL Seed delights in juggling multiple cultures, languages and identities. His Arabic poetry artwork, inspired by street art and graffiti, aims to create art so beautiful it needs no translation.

College Board Caves To Conservative Pressure, Changes AP U.S. History Curriculum

Casey Quinlan ThinkProgress
The College Board has revised its guidelines for teaching Advanced Placement History, which has broad influence in high school history courses, to accommodate right-wing pressures. Among the changes: Manifest Destiny is given a more benign treatment and violence against Native Americans is downplayed.