What's a 702(j) retirement plan? Should you get one?

A 702(j) plan is not actually a retirement plan at all; it's a life insurance contract. But the idea of using it to supplement retirement income isn't new.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Saving-Money/2016/0227/What-s-a-702-j-retirement-plan-Should-you-get-one

Recycling sunlight: a solar cell revolution? - CSMonitor.com

Scientists have found a way to recycle sunlight and boost the amount of energy captured from the sun's rays.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2016/0324/Recycling-sunlight-a-solar-cell-revolution

Donald Trump says Iran military will have nuclear weapons as soon as enrichment limits expire

Donald Trump: "When those restrictions expire (in the Iran nuclear deal), Iran will have an industrial-size military nuclear capability ready to go."
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/24/donald-trump/donald-trump-says-iran-military-will-have-nuclear/

Fueling Fascism: The Secret History of How Texaco Supplied Oil to Fascists in Spain

http://democracynow.org - While thousands of Americans fought against fascism in the Spanish Civil War, some chose to back Franco’s fascist regime. The most notable was the CEO of the American oil giant Texaco. He violated U.S. law by selling Franco’s regime discounted oil on credit. Also in violation of U.S. law, the oil was transported to Spain on U.S. ships. For more on this remarkable story, we’re joined by Adam Hochschild, the author of the sweeping new history book, "Spain in Our Hearts: Americans in the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939."
Interview:
https://youtu.be/ROe6oNRoJHY

Top U.S. & World Headlines — March 31, 2016

Interview: https://youtu.be/MF0uk_58gF8

Spoiler Alert: Women Are Already Being Punished For Having Abortions | ThinkProgress

Multiple U.S. women -- with few options to get themselves to one of their state's dwindling legal clinics -- have been arrested for illegal abortions after they bought abortion-inducing medication online. And thanks to the growing number of laws aimed at protecting “fetal rights,” other women have been punished for doing activities that allegedly harmed their pregnancies. Americans have been charged with murder for allegedly seeking to harm their fetuses by attempting suicide, using illicit drugs, or even falling down the stairs...
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2016/03/30/3765073/women-punished-abortion/

Why didn't Flint treat its water? An answer, at last

...But testimony at a legislative hearing this week from the city's utilities chief may help explain: When Flint began to pump drinking water from the Flint River, the city's water treatment plant wasn't capable of adding corrosion control treatment, not without equipment upgrades the broke city couldn't afford...
http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/2016/03/30/flint-water-crisis/82421546/

FDA Updates Label For Abortion Drug, Making Access Easier In Some States

"The updated label is more aligned with evidence-based medicine and has the potential to expand abortion access for Ohio women," Chrisse France, executive director of the Preterm clinic in Ohio, said in a statement. "We are pleased to announce that as of today we will be offering medication abortion to more women, with fewer required visits."... 
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/03/30/472413911/fda-updates-label-for-abortion-drug-making-access-easier-in-some-states

Zika Is Headed For States With Harsh Abortion Restrictions. What Happens When It Gets There?

Zika’s Spread Across The U.S. May Change The Narrative Around Abortion.
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2016/03/30/3764270/zika-comes-to-anti-abortion-states/

Transparent Trickery: Claims Of ‘Persecution’ In Idaho Fail To Sway Court

ADF’s stunt was extremely transparent. It had two goals: One, exempt the Hitching Post from having to perform same-sex marriages and two, try to create a case in which a Christian ministry was being persecuted for its beliefs.
https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/transparent-trickery-claims-of-persecution-in-idaho-fail-to-sway-court

Cartoon Donald Trump Tells Stephen Who Started It

In the wake of accusations against his top advisor, Donald Trump has devolved into a cartoonish version of himself. So Stephen invited a slightly less cartoonish version of Trump to appear on the show: Cartoon Donald Trump.
 https://youtu.be/96Ivji-ph4A

Elizabeth Warren Goes Off On 'Loser' Trump

Elizabeth Warren talks Bernie, Hillary and her most favorite presidential candidate of all, Donald Trump.
https://youtu.be/O7rWXURt6PI

NYPD Commissioner Slams Trump's Terrorist Fears: We Face a 'Bigger Threat' From Our Own Armed Citizens

Bill Bratton knows Americans with guns are a greater threat to our safety than international terrorism.
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/nypd-commissioner-slams-trumps-terrorist-fears-we-face-bigger-threat-our-own-armed

As Sanders Scored Primary Victories, Cable News Broadcasted a Prison Reality Show and Jesus Documentary

Cable news ignored primaries for three important states.
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/sanders-scored-primary-victories-cable-news-broadcasted-prison-reality-show-and-jesus

Donald Trump: "There’s a tremendous tax that we pay when we (American businesses) go into China, whereas when China sells to us there’s no tax."

Trump miscasts impact on trade of Chinese taxes.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/30/donald-trump/trump-miscasts-impact-trade-chinese-taxes/

Hillary Clinton: When it comes to fighting terrorism, "Another thing we know that does not work, based on lots of empirical evidence, is torture."

Evidence backs Hillary Clinton claim that torture is counterproductive for counterterrorism.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/30/hillary-clinton/evidence-backs-hillary-clinton-claim-torture-count/

What Donald Trump and Ted Cruz Have in Common

Both are pushing tax plans that would demolish the federal government...
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/03/trump-cruz-campaign-tax-policy

Protest Plan Calls for Huge Crowd to Smoke Marijuana Outside White House to Push Obama to Do Something While He Still Can

Inspired by a warning from comedian Bill Maher that progress on marijuana reform could be rolled back after President Obama leaves office, pot advocates in the nation's capital have announced a bold protest next month to press Obama to move on marijuana while he still can....
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/bill-maher-inspired-protest-smoke-out-white-house

Fact-Check: Donald Trump Can't Release His Taxes While Being Audited?

Like other presidential candidates before him, Donald Trump is under pressure to release his tax returns. Former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney (who faced tax disclosure issues of his own) even suggested this week that Trump was refusing to do so because they contain a "bombshell." At Thursday's Republican debate in Houston, Trump explained that he cannot release his returns because he is being audited by the Internal Revenue Service...
http://www.npr.org/2016/02/26/468278769/fact-check-donald-trump-cant-release-his-taxes-while-being-audited?sc=tw

Top U.S. & World Headlines — March 30, 2016

https://youtu.be/AfZB9lq_4NI

Pope Francis Calls for Ending Tax-Exempt Status of Churches That Don’t Help the Needy

“Some religious orders say ‘No, now that the convent is empty we are going to make a hotel and we can have guests, and support ourselves that way, or make money.’ Well, if that is what you want to do, then pay taxes! A religious school is tax-exempt because it is religious, but if it is functioning as a hotel, then it should pay taxes just like its neighbor. Otherwise it is not fair business.”
http://usuncut.com/world/pope-francis-calls-for-ending-tax-exempt-status-of-churches-that-dont-help-the-needy/

Ted Cruz Just Gave an Unbelievably Hypocritical Answer to a Question About Church/State Separation

Earlier tonight, during a Town Hall with CNN, student Thomas Dougherty asked Ted Cruz about his stance on church/state separation (13:00 mark)...
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/03/29/ted-cruz-just-gave-an-unbelievably-hypocritical-answer-to-a-question-about-churchstate-separation/

Obama’s Popularity Is Spiking—Further Destroying the GOP’s Chances of Saving Its Sinking Ship

Republicans argue that Barack Obama is a uniquely disastrous president, but his approval rating is on the rise...
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/obamas-popularity-spiking-further-destroying-gops-chances-saving-its-sinking-ship

Rockefeller Family Fund to Divest From ExxonMobil, Says Oil Giant Is 'Morally Reprehensible'

"There is no sane rationale for companies to continue to explore for new sources of hydrocarbons."
http://www.alternet.org/environment/rockefeller-family-fund-divest-exxonmobil-says-oil-giant-morally-reprehensible

Researchers Discover a Crazy-Simple Way for Kids to Fight Obesity, and It's Not About Eating Less

A new study shows that making water fountains more available in schools can help children keep the pounds off...
http://www.alternet.org/personal-health/researchers-discover-crazy-simple-way-kids-fight-obesity-and-its-not-about-eating

6 Ways to Reform Our Corrupt Financial System

We must tame the growth of wealth among the top 1 percent and establish rules and institutions that ensure security and opportunity for the middle class...
http://www.alternet.org/books/6-ways-reform-our-corrupt-financial-system

Before You Judge Lazy Workers, Consider They Might Serve A Purpose

In the short term, lazy ants are inefficient, but in the long term, they are not...
http://www.npr.org/2016/03/28/468138647/before-you-judge-lazy-workers-consider-they-might-serve-a-purpose

Millions Of Americans Are Living In Areas That Are At Risk From Human-Caused Earthquakes

Six states are particularly at risk from human-caused earthquakes, according to the USGS...
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/03/28/3763910/usgs-maps-earthquake-risk-fracking/

Brazil Confiscates Abortion Pills From Pregnant Women Exposed To Zika

“I contacted Zika four days ago. I just found out I’m about six weeks pregnant. I have a son I love dearly. I love children. But I don’t believe it is a wise decision to keep a baby who will suffer. I need an abortion. I don’t know who to turn to. Please help me ASAP.”
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2016/03/28/3763898/brazil-abortion-pill-confiscated-zika/

‘Christian’ Ted Cruz Celebrates Resurrection of Christ by Calling for Killing of Innocent Civilians

On Easter Sunday, Cruz was doubling down on his desire to “carpet-bomb” the Middle East...
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/christian-ted-cruz-celebrates-resurrection-christ-calling-killing-innocent-civilians

Atheist Calls for Unity and Decency in Secular Invocation at Jacksonville (FL) City Council Meeting

On Tuesday in Jacksonville, Florida, First Coast Freethought Society founder Earl Coggins delivered the city council’s first-ever secular invocation...
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/03/25/atheist-calls-for-unity-and-decency-in-secular-invocation-at-jacksonville-fl-city-council-meeting/

Why pediatricians care so much about the Supreme Court’s birth control case - The Washington Post

For the second time in two years, the Supreme Court justices tangled over a question about personal beliefs and birth control: Must employers who are religiously opposed to it cover it in their health plans? A prominent group of pediatricians hopes the answer will be yes...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/03/24/why-pediatricians-care-so-much-about-the-supreme-courts-birth-control-case/

Top U.S. & World Headlines — March 29, 2016

https://youtu.be/ry582YHknLU

Uranium Mining Is Coming To The Grand Canyon, If Koch-Backed Group Gets Its Way

A dark money group backed by Charles and David Koch is behind a well-funded effort to undermine protections at the Grand Canyon and overturn the Antiquities Act, the law President Teddy Roosevelt used to permanently protect the area in 1908. If successful, the campaign could stop a permanent ban on uranium mining near the canyon’s rim, despite support for such a ban by a vast majority of Arizonans....
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/03/02/3755751/kochs-uranium-mine-grand-canyon/

This One Chart Shows How Crazy Trump’s Climate Positions Are

Now that the results from Super Tuesday are in, we can officially pivot to considering Donald Trump as the most likely Republican presidential nominee. November will see a Trump v. Clinton or a Trump v. Sanders face-off, barring a few, impressively over-analyzed scenarios. With that in mind, ThinkProgress wanted to revisit our climate and energy candidate chart, where we help voters understand where candidates stand.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/03/02/3755772/trump-v-clinton-v-sanders-on-climate/

And Now the Good News #182: 3/29/2016

Learn more about the stories featured in this video at the following sources:
 “Sleep Tight, Fruit Fly – New Gene Identified” http://goo.gl/Etmbb4
 “New Catalyst is Three Times Better at Splitting Water” https://goo.gl/KDvsLT
 “New Findings in Humans Provide Encouraging Foundation for Upcoming AIDS Vaccine Clinical Trial” https://goo.gl/o88wjc
Interview:
https://youtu.be/gJGKFh9X2wM

Bernie Sanders Wins Landslides in Washington, Alaska and Hawaii; Corporate Media Downplays Them

http://democracynow.org - On Saturday, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders won landslide victories in Washington, Alaska and Hawaii, chipping away at front-runner Hillary Clinton’s lead in the race to win the Democratic Party’s nomination for the White House. Sanders won at least 71 percent of the vote in each state, including 82 percent in Alaska. "The reason we are doing well is because we are talking about the real issues facing America and we’re telling the truth," said Sanders in a victory speech in Wisconsin. While Saturday may have been the biggest day of the Sanders campaign, the corporate media largely downplayed his victories. We air part of his victory speech. Interview:
https://youtu.be/v5Cu7auYI_U

Top U.S. & World Headlines — March 28, 2016

https://youtu.be/h43nja8Ewpw

Denied contraception, Catholic mother of disabled child questions church teachings — at her peril

Sonia Guizar used to attend mass regularly and teach at a Catholic school. But her Catholic employer’s refusal to cover birth control brought her an ill-timed pregnancy and a child with developmental challenges that stretch her family thin. When she publically shared her experience and questioned Church teachings in a Washington Post story, what she got from fellow Catholics was a heap of abuse from people whose urge to defend religious dogma and authority trumped their kindness and compassion...
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/03/denied-contraception-catholic-mother-of-disabled-child-questions-church-teachings-at-her-peril/

Apple designing its own iCloud servers to avoid surveillance

The NSA is known to intercept tech in-transit through the postal system...
http://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-designing-its-own-icloud-servers-to-avoid-surveillance/

7 Times Muslims Denounced Terror

Although the urge to place blame for these crimes is a natural one, it’s essential to remember that Muslims as a group — made up of 1.6 billion diverse people all over the world— aren’t the right target...
http://www.bustle.com/articles/149432-7-times-muslims-denounced-terror

Bizarre cavefish can walk like a four-legged land-dwelling creature

The discovery of the bizarre cavefish in Thailand could help scientists better understand the evolution of land-walking animals...
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0325/Bizarre-cavefish-can-walk-like-a-four-legged-land-dwelling-creature

Matt Bors on the Media's Cynical Mourning of Justice Scalia

On speaking ill of the dead, and the next Supreme Court Justice....
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/alternet-comics-matt-bors-medias-cynical-mourning-justice-scalia

How an Evangelical Christian Preacher Became an Atheist

--John Loftus, former Christian apologist who defected and now is an atheist counter-apologist, with a number of books that argue against the Christian faith, joins David to discuss his story. Interview: 
https://youtu.be/LufIJ-bIhoo

Trump Defends Tying ISIS To Protester: 'All I Know Is What's On The Internet'

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump defended tying a protester to the Islamic State on Sunday, saying that his claim was supported by an Internet video. But, as "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd noted to Trump, the video was a hoax....
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-defends-saying-protester-isis

Donald Trump Changed His Stance On Immigration On Live TV

Donald Trump, the Republican presidential frontrunner known for espousing harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric that’s doing him no favors among the Latino population, has now slightly softened his position.

“I’m changing,” Trump said in reference to his immigration policy during Thursday night’s GOP debate. “We need highly-skilled people in this country, and if we can’t do it, we’ll get them.”...
http://thinkprogress.org/immigration/2016/03/04/3756587/donald-trump-softens-immigration-stance/

Donald Trump's Top Foreign Adviser, Joseph Schmitz, is a Former Blackwater Executive

When asked this week about how he would approach foreign policy, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told MSNBC, "I’m speaking with myself, number one, because I have a very good brain, and I’ve said a lot of things." He also announced his lineup of little-known foreign policy advisers, including Joseph Schmitz, a former Pentagon inspector general with ties to the Center for Security Policy, who was forced out of his job amid accusations that he protected high-level officials in the George W. Bush administration who were suspected of wrongdoing. We get reaction from The Intercept’s Jeremy Scahill, who notes Schmitz is a radical Christian supremacist with an "insane worldview" who was a former executive with Blackwater. Interview: 
https://youtu.be/d-4RYTTGHvI

Supreme Court Battle | Full Frontal on Samantha Bee | TBS

https://youtu.be/rA3PpLs-t54

Real Time with Bill Maher: New Rule – Better Ted Than Dead (HBO)

In his editorial New Rule, Bill Maher confronts the unfortunate dilemma of choosing either Donald Trump or Ted Cruz as the Republican presidential nominee. Original air date: March 25, 2016. 
https://youtu.be/aZRYfMa1wEk

Real Time with Bill Maher: Overtime – March 25, 2016 (HBO)

Bill Maher and his guests - Sen. Cory Booker, former Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Ian Bremmer, Reihan Salam, and Jerrod Carmichael – answer viewer questions after the show. Interview: 
https://youtu.be/QAFDRqzLu_8

Week In The News: Brussels Attacks, Obama In Cuba, March Madness (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Suicide bombers targeted a terminal in Brussels’ international airport, and the city’s transit system. The President of the United States stood for the Star Spangled Banner — in Havana. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton continued their steady march toward a delegate lead while Cruz returned fire after an insult to his wife. And the North Carolina legislature blocked local laws on LGBT rights. This hour On Point, our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headline — Ray Suarez
Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2016/03/25/obama-cuba-brussels-isis-twitter-2016-election

Friday News Roundup – Domestic (Diane Rehm Show, 2016-3-25)

The U.S. reacts to terrorists attacks in Brussels. Congressional leaders call for stepped-up airport security. And while all the presidential candidates condemned the attacks, individual responses range from tightening borders and visa systems to heightened monitoring of Muslim neighborhoods. Many Americans wait in long lines to vote in so-called “Western Tuesday” contests in Utah, Idaho, and Arizona. Republican party leaders map a strategy to deny Donald Trump the GOP nomination. Joe Biden repudiates the Republican-dubbed “Biden rule” to blockade Supreme Court nominees in an election year. And reaction at home to President Obama’s historic visit to Cuba. A panel of journalists joins guest host Katherine Lanpher for analysis of the week’s top national news stories.
Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2016-03-25/friday-news-roundup-domestic

Dr. Mads Gilbert Has A Prescription For Gaza

Little to no access to water, food, electricity, sanitation, proper healthcare – these are just some of the things that have resulted from the Israeli siege of Gaza. And Dr. Mads Gilbert has got something to say about it.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/TH2-RVJGQ_8

Friday News Roundup – International (Diane Rehm Show, 2016-03-25)

Belgium detains at least six people after the terror attacks in Brussels. Officials confirm 31 people, including two Americans, were killed in the attacks. The Belgian government acknowledges high level counter-terrorism failings. Secretary of State Kerry says the Islamic State is lashing out in Europe because its base in the Middle East is eroding. Syrian troops battle Islamic State militants in an effort to retake the ancient city of Palmyra. A UN tribunal convicts a former Bosnian Serb leader of genocide. And president Obama makes a historic trip to Cuba. A panel of journalists joins guest host Katherine Lanpher for analysis of the week’s top international news stories. Interview: 
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2016-03-25/friday-news-roundup-international

A Brief History Of Canada’s Stunning About-Face on Climate Change

Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Obama are expected to sign onto a joint climate change strategy during Trudeau’s upcoming visit to Washington. The agreement, to be approved this week, will likely touch on automotive fuel standards and include measures to spur the adoption of electric vehicles.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/03/09/3757245/canada-energy-history/

Top U.S. & World Headlines — March 25, 2016

https://youtu.be/EqD4smIR2pc

Can Religious Groups Ignore All Laws They Don’t Like?

Or just those related to women’s health?
http://www.thenation.com/article/can-religious-groups-ignore-laws-they-dont-like/

"The Muslim Problem" (commentary)

*** Explicit Language ***
https://youtu.be/g2k24aJITgo

A New ISIS Recruitment Video Stars Donald Trump

Terrorist propagandists seize on the Republican front-runner's own words...
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/03/donald-trump-isis-recruitment-video

Lindsey Graham Just Went Off on Donald Trump and the GOP: "My Party Is Completely Screwed Up"

Graham proceeded to basically call out the entire Republican Party, which he called "absolutely screwed up," even warning Noah to prepare accordingly if Trump were to make it to the White House. "If Trump wins, your days are numbered, pal," he said. "Young, black, liberal guy from Africa is not going to work with him."
http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2016/03/lindsey-graham-daily-show-ted-cruz-donald-trump
https://youtu.be/tPOOXp3S2UI

Wisconsin’s Voter ID Law Requires an Education Campaign, Which the State Hasn’t Funded

The controversial law is about to get its inaugural use in a major statewide vote, Wisconsin’s April 5th primary...
https://www.propublica.org/article/wisconsin-voter-id-law-education-campaign-state-hasnt-funded

John Oliver Tries To Take Donald Trump's Border Wall Proposal Seriously (VIDEO)

What will it be made of? Who will pay for it? Where will it go? Oliver gets to the bottom of it all—and comes back to the xenophobia.
https://youtu.be/yMAPRDBBjX4 

New Poll Says Republicans Are Embarrassed By Their Candidates

https://youtu.be/OhOZheM2zaU

CruzCare for nonbelievers

"Just like you have antidepressants that serve to cheer up a person and make them feel better about themselves and their life, CruzCare will make it legal, and even mandatory later on, to prescribe similar medication to atheists, so that they forget about the “I don’t believe in God” or “I am not religious” crap, and come back to their faith and church as normal people do. And all of that will be done completely free of charge." (Rafael Cruz, father of presidential candidate Ted Cruz)

https://ffrf.org/images/uploads/fttoday/2016/FT_April_2016.pdf , page 23

Should Kids Be Able to Sue for a Safe Climate? This Federal Court Is About to Decide

Twenty-one kids were in court yesterday to demand a climate fix.....
http://www.alternet.org/environment/should-kids-be-able-sue-safe-climate-federal-court-about-decide

The Netherlands Could Soon Ban The Sale Of Non-Electric Cars

In the Netherlands, gas-powered cars could soon be a thing of the past.

The lower house of the Dutch parliament passed a motion recently that would ban the sales of non-electric cars in the country by 2025. The motion still needs to pass the Senate to become binding, but if it does, it would mean that the only non-electric cars allowed in the Netherlands would be those already on the road today: anyone in the country looking to buy a new car would have to buy electric....
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/04/18/3770328/netherlands-non-electric-car-ban-motion/

Flint Polling Places Ran Out Of Ballots, Turned Voters Away

At least one Flint, Michigan polling location ran out of Democratic ballots on Tuesday, forcing voters to either wait over an hour for city clerks to deliver new ones or to leave their phones numbers to be called when more ballots arrived.
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/03/08/3757998/michigan-ballots-shortage/

Trump Suddenly Backpedals On Torture

One day after touting his ideological flexibility on the debate stage, GOP frontrunner Donald Trump demonstrated that flexibility on Friday by reversing his position on torture....
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/03/04/3756857/trump-torture-reversal/

More Than Half Of Ted Cruz’s Super PAC Money Comes From Fossil Fuel Sources

These fossil funders have made denying climate change and ignoring scientists a prerequisite for being a Republican candidate....
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/03/07/3757233/presidential-candidates-fossil-fuels/

Mitch McConnell Says Senate Republicans are "following a longstanding tradition of not filling vacancies on the Supreme Court in the middle of a presidential election year."

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/22/mitch-mcconnell/mitch-mcconnell-exaggerates-tradition-not-confirmi/

Worldwide Renewable Energy Investment Hits A New Record

Last year, the world invested $286 billion in green energy — some 3 percent more than the last record set in 2011 — mostly on wind and solar, according to the report, put together by the Frankfurt School and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). On the other hand, coal and gas-fired electricity generation drew less than half the investment made in solar, wind, and other renewables...
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/03/24/3762644/record-renewable-energy-investment-worldwide/

Atheism and virtuousness (Essay by Samuel Chan Sai Hay)

Without religion, how can one be good, or even want to be good? As an international student from Hong Kong studying in the U.S., I nd the previous statement offensive to nonbelievers. The theory that there is an incompatibility between morality and atheism is far too common and prevalent in the United States. In light of this, I would like to introduce Hong Kong as an an- swer to how atheism and morality can coexist and illustrate how an atheistic society can be as ethical as any other type of society. 

According to government docu- ments, about 50% of the city’s pop- ulation, which is approximately 3.5 million people, do not consider them- selves religious. In fact, as studies in recent years indicate, 77% of China’s population describe themselves as nonreligious people, while 47% con- sider themselves atheists. 

Hong Kong is often applauded as one of the most civilized, orderly and peaceful cities, having only a total of 11.95 crimes per 1,000 citizens, which is almost four times less than the num- ber in the heavily religious United States. And atheism does not necessar- ily spell violence or savagery. In 2014, Hong Kong only had 27 homicides, while New York City, which is also a city of 8 million people, had 333 homi- cides. The incarceration rate of Hong Kong also hit a record low in 2014, with only 123 people per 100,000 in prison, which is 125th in the world. Although nonreligious factors must not be over- looked, one can see that the degree of religiosity does not necessarily have direct links to a population’s savagery. That being said, one’s civility is actually subject to a collection of many other factors, such as education, rather than only religion. 

Hong Kong, despite, or perhaps because of, its nonreligiousness, also displays outstanding numbers in term of city safety, human development and sustainability. The list goes on, but it just proves that it is possible and real- istic for a largely atheistic society to be as moral, civilized and advanced as any other societies, no matter what their religiosities are.

https://ffrf.org/images/uploads/fttoday/2016/FT_April_2016.pdf