The 97th edition of PWN is all wrapped up for your listening pleasure. Zaracon was unavailable this week, but RevKess muddled through with news and talk about many issues. From Trayvon Martin to household incomes to government scandals to Target taking aim at Pagans. A little more music than usual was included.
Articles and Links Discussed
- Household income inequality off the charts and rising in the United States. According to the “World of Work” report from the UN, household income inequality in the US rates a 47.7 on the Gini coefficient model. 12.2 points higher than any of the other 25 countries in Europe and North America that are included in the report. This rating is rising. A rating that we do not want to see on the rise. You can download a PDF of the International Labour Organizations report.
- The Trayvon Martin murder case goes to trial in Florida.
- TIME’s online coverage includes a primer on jury selection for this case.
- Jury selection continues with a varied level of familiarity of the case.
- A town divided represents a country divided. Sanford, FL, the location of the trial, is split along racial and criminal lines regarding this case.
- United States State Department releases a memo that reveals cover-ups may be happening in regards to the Diplomatic Security Services. From Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s protection detail engaging prostitutes while on foreign assignment to an “under ground drug ring” near the US Embassy in Baghdad to an ambassador engaging prostitutes.
- Edward Snowden, the former CIA employee turned whistle blower, appears on Democracy Now to talk about why he leaked information revealing the NSA’s apparently unfettered ability to tap into any American’s phone line or internet usage.
- Juan Gonzalez and Amy Goodman of Democracy Now speaks with former NSA Director of World Geopolitical and Military Analysis Reporting Group William Binney, NSA whistle blower Thomas Drake and senior managing attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights Shayana Kadidal about Americans being at risk for surveillence regardless of ISP or phone service provider.
- Article from the UK’s Guardian that first revealed the leaked information from Edward Snowden.
- The Daily Beast has an armchair analysis of Snowden’s motives for the leaks.
- A 12 minute video with some of the leaked information from Snowden.
- Why you should be worried about the surveillance scandal.
- Russia says it would consider an asylum request from Snowden.
- The Wall Street Journal: US Official releases details of Prism program. The fact sheet itself.
- Ben Bradshaw, UK Labour Memember of Parliment for Exeter, joins the campaign to pardon the Witches of Brideford, three women executed in 1682 for witchcraft.
- May 28, 2013: Florida’s Grand Lodge overturns Grand Master Jorge L. Aladro’s edict expelling Pagans, gnostics and Wiccans from the Lodge. Early coverage on PWN, pt 2 is also available.
- Big Box retailer Target adds organic and GMO-free foods to its grocery selection.
- Is Target targeting Pagans with the addition of organic and GMO-free foods?
- Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI may not be long for this world.
Music Played
- Spiral Dance – Tolven Stone – The Quickening
- Frenchy and the Punk – Catapult to the Highlands – Thread & Stone
- Kenny Klein – Rowan and Bracken – Fairy Queen
- Damh the Bard – Save Me – Spirit of Albion
- Telergy – Incarceration – Legend of Goody Cole
- Leigh Anne Hussey – Meet Me By The Standing Stones – Homebrew
Articles and Links We Didn’t Get To or Thought Were Interesting Enough to be Listed Here
- Wendy Griffin, Academic Dean at Cherry Hill Seminary, writes about her thoughts on “professional” Pagan ministers.
- Holli Emore, Executive Director at Cherry Hill Seminary, writes about the new blog-group on Patheos Pagan Portal, the Wild Garden.
- Nels Linde of PNC-Minnesota interviewed Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone at Heartland this year. Read the transcript of that interview.
- Vikki Bramshaw writes about the commonalities between modern occult practice and ancient rituals of sacrifice in her artile on WitchVox, The Nature of Sacrifice.
- Sparked by a discussion in the Pagan Values group on Facebook, Ocean writes on her Deaf Pagan Crossroads blog about the Pagan community and access for the deaf.
- U.S. government is dropping block on Plan B One Step, “the morning after” pill.
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