linkage, readage

oozing social conscience, right?

-an exposé on the big american apparel controversy by clamor magazine; a.a. protests, of course, and fighting ensues. anyway, why am i not surprised that "socially conscious" initiatives that are in fact all about some dude's ego ("hyper-capitalist-socialist-fusion-model" of "vertically integrated manufacturing" - wow!) [cough, pulafashion, cough] rely on sexism and old-school patriarchal attitudes?! go figure. / / / buy nothing day aa ad parody -->

-"england bans violent porn" at feministe [with a nice summary of a sex-positive feminist stance, and the complexity of the issue]

-via alternet:

SELLING OUT IRAQ: ALTERNET'S WAR PROFITEERING ARCHIVE
A compendium of recent articles about the ruthless war profiteering going on Iraq, produced by AlterNet and other members of the progressive Media Consortium.

THE UNDECLARED WAR ON AMERICA'S MIDDLE CLASS
Under the guise of free market capitalism, conservative policies have made 80-hour work weeks the norm. Working harder for less money means middle class families are getting screwed.
THE SLOW DEATH OF THE MIDDLE CLASS
Conservatives are working hard to dismantle almost every policy that protects average American workers. Air America host Thom Hartmann speaks up about how we can fight.

WOMEN EXPOSE STREET HARASSMENT
Women who are cat-called on the street can put their harassers to shame with the help of a New York-based website.
[let's make a hollabackro!!!!]

MOM AND POP STORES TAKE ON WAL-MART
Megastores and multinational chains beware: some small businesses and locally owned stores are successfully outcompeting the world's largest companies.
[hooray, and can i say, for once, that germany rules?!]

AMERICA'S NEXT MEDIA MOGUL
Tavis Smiley has a bestselling book, a popular website and successful talk shows. What's next for this "modern-day cross between Marcus Garvey and Martin Luther King Jr."?
[here's a reza aslan segment on the tavis smiley show]

AN EXIT STRATEGY FOR THE WAR ON DRUGS
Imprisoning millions of nonviolent drug users is a failed strategy -- but there are some solutions that actually work.

THE LAST DEFENDERS OF MARRIAGE
The institution of marriage isn't under attack by gay couples -- despite what conservatives would have you believe.

SPINNING THE TROOP LEVELS IN IRAQ
President Bush keeps demanding 'blank checks' for more time and more troops in Iraq -- and Congress keeps cutting them.

PENTAGON SPENDS BILLIONS TO OUTSOURCE TORTURE
Bush administration hawks are getting profit-hungry companies like CACI to do their dirty work in the war zones of the New American Empire. And we're footing the bill.

BUSH'S TACTICS AID THE TERRORISTS
Since 9/11, the White House has relentlessly manipulated public opinion by hyping the war on terror. But the main result is a terrified public -- which may have been the point all along.

HIGH ON OPIUM, NOT DEMOCRACY
In Bush-liberated Afghanistan -- which has just harvested its biggest opium crop ever -- billions in drug profits are financing the Taliban.