Free Republic

Behind a wire fence lies a vast gaping wound of earth. Before Google’s arrival a few months ago, an estimated quarter of a million trees occupied the 330 hectares (815 acres) of forest near the town of Muhos in rural northern Finland. Now they are all gone. After the tech company illegally stripped the entire area to build a datacentre – taking even the top soil with it – all that remains is a vast expanse of mud indented with the trail marks of machinery, puddles and mounds of earth, roots and branches. Residents say that brown water flowing off...

The health of U.S. children has deteriorated over the past 17 years, with kids today more likely to have obesity, chronic diseases and mental health problems like depression, a new study says. Much of what researchers found was already known, but the study paints a comprehensive picture by examining various aspects of children’s physical and mental health at the same time. “The surprising part of the study wasn’t any with any single statistic; it was that there’s 170 indicators, eight data sources, all showing the same thing: a generalized decline in kids’ health,” said Dr. Christopher Forrest, one of the...

To the happy few who may read this...I used to post here as Pat The Postman. Never insulted anyone. Just presented facts. Paid respect to everyone. Yesterday I participated in a highly interesting thread about the War On Iraq/Terrorism. Today I posted a link to an official report from the UK from the Chatham House, a deeply respected think tank, held in high esteem all over the world. And what happened? Well, all my posts were removed, and the thread about the Chatham House report was pulled within a minute. This is interesting. What's the matter? There is but one...