News items are in order by date, starting
with the most recent.
Lynn Margulis (Photo Credit: UMass Office of News & Media Relations)
Lynn Margulis: 1938-2011
by David Ray Griffin, November 23, 2011 (adapted from 911Truth.org)
The family of Lynn Margulis has announced that she died at home on Tuesday, November 22, at the age of 73.
Having authored dozens of books and scientific papers, Margulis was awarded the National Medal of Science in 1999.
In 2004, she began looking into the evidence against the official account of 9/11. She not only accepted it but
also -- always known for her courage - announced her views, writing in 2007:
"Whoever is responsible for bringing to grisly fruition this new false-flag operation, which has been used to justify the wars
in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as unprecedented assaults on research, education, and civil liberties, must be perversely proud
of their efficient handiwork. Certainly, 19 young Arab men and a man in a cave 7,000 miles away, no matter the level of their anger,
could not have masterminded and carried out 9/11: the most effective television commercial in the history of Western civilization.
I suggest that those of us aware and concerned demand that the glaringly erroneous official account of 9/11 be dismissed
as a fraud and a new, thorough, and impartial investigation be undertaken."
In early 2010, she wrote an article on WTC 7 entitled
"Two Hit, Three Down -- The Biggest Lie."
Asking: "Why did three World Trade Center buildings (#1,#2 and #7) collapse on 9/11, after two (and only two) of them
were hit by 'hijacked airplanes'?", she gave the scientific answer:
"Because . . . the steel columns were selectively melted in a brilliantly-timed controlled demolition.
Two 110-story buildings (towers 1&2), plus one 47-floor building (WTC 7), were induced to collapse
at gravitationally accelerated rates in an operation planned and carried out by insiders. The apparent
hijacking of airliners and the crashing of them into the Twin Towers were intrinsic parts of the operation,
which together provided a basis for claiming that the buildings were brought down by Muslim terrorists.
The buildings' steel columns, which would have provided irrefutable physical evidence of the use of explosives,
were quickly removed from the scene of the crime."
But much more difficult than the scientific question, she said, is the "science-education problem":
"The persistent problem is how to wake up public awareness, especially in the global scientifically literate public,
of the overwhelming evidence that the three buildings collapsed by controlled demolition. . . . We, on the basis
of hard evidence, must conclude that the petroleum fires related to the aircraft crashes were irrelevant (except
perhaps as a cover story)."
The scientific world, including the 9/11 Truth Community -- she was a member of Scientists for 9/11 Truth -
has lost one of our noblest, most courageous fighters for the Earth and the Truth.
The following video of Lynn Margulis was created by Architects and Engineers for their recent documentary
production "9/11: Explosive Evidence - EXPERTS SPEAK OUT."
These Hearings, sponsored by the
International Center for 9/11 Studies,
will take place at
Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada.
While not a new investigation, the Hearings aim to present the evidence accumulated over the past 10 years, evidence that shows
the official story is incorrect and that a new investigation is warranted.
One major objective is to "submit a record and summary of the Hearings, together with signed Statutory Declarations by witnesses, to
relevant governments, groups and international agencies with the request that a full and impartial investigation be launched into the events
of September 11, 2001." Expert witnesses and scholars who will attend include David Chandler, Niels Harrit, Steven Jones, Kevin Ryan
(who is also a member of the Steering Committee), David Ray Griffin, Richard Gage, and other well-known researchers and scholars.
The Hearings will be moderated by Dr. Michael Keefer (Canada) and Dr. Matthew Witt (U.S.). The final report will be edited by attorney James Gourley.
You can support the Hearings financially by making a tax-exempt donation
toward the cost of participants' travel and accommodation expenses.
Update September 27, 2011:
The Toronto Hearings exposing the inadequacy of the official narrative of 9/11 were carried out successfully. A complete record of the hearings
will be made into a DVD which is scheduled to appear in November, 2011. There will also be a written Final Report, date not yet announced.
News Item
The Citizens' 9/11 Commission Campaign
Mike Gravel
The Citizens' 9/11 Commission Campaign
is a new activist organization founded and led by former Senator Mike Gravel (D-Alaska, 1969-1981).
Senator Gravel is widely known for having read the Pentagon Papers into the Senate record during the Vietnam war era, helping to
bring that war to an end.
This new campaign has been exploring the feasibility of filing ballot propositions in several states (Oregon, Massachusetts, and others).
When passed, this legislation would create an independent 9/11 commission that would be headquartered in the first state to pass such a law.
This powerful new investigative commission would be:
funded by the citizens via the state treasury (mandated by the law)
free of governmental interference
vested with subpoena power and the ability to take testimony under oath
enhanced legally and financially by other states and localities that pass “sister” initiatives.
The campaign's approach is the method of direct democracy as it is now practiced in 24 states using the state ballot initiative.
The cause of direct democracy
has been the principal passion of Senator Mike Gravel since his two terms in the Senate.
As Senator Gravel has stated: “The 9/11 movement’s successful decade of citizen education can now give way to an actionable
citizen’s plan for change - a plan to pass laws that will create a new investigation!”
The campaign's steering committee consists of Senator Mike Gravel, executive director Byron Belitsos,
one of the founders of 911truth.org, Ken Jenkins, a pioneering 9/11 activist and video producer, as communications director,
and George Ripley who was an aide to Senator Gravel’s 2008 presidential campaign, and also a supporter of Doris "Granny D"
Haddock who walked across the USA at age 90 for federal and state election campaign finance reform.
To contribute to the 9/11 Commission Campaign, visit the Donate section on the
campaign website.
Update September 07, 2011:
The 9/11 Commission Campaign applied for a citizen ballot initiative in Massachusetts
on August 3rd, and received certification from the Mass.
Attorney General’s office on Sept 7th. By Massachusetts law, there is now two months to collect 100,000 signatures (a goal which exceeds
the legal requirement). This will require the services of a ballot access professional. To succeed, the campaign needs to raise $40,000 a week
for the next 6 weeks! Please help with a donation as indicated above.
Update September 11, 2011:
Mike Gravel gave the closing
speech at the Toronto Hearings.
Update November 2, 2011: Initiative campaign to target Colorado and North Dakota
After weeks of careful research, the Citizens' 911 Commission Campaign has decided that Colorado and North Dakota
will be its target ballot-initiative states for the 2012 election cycle. "Colorado has a very favorable political climate and
profile, and North Dakota offers an easier and less costly signature-gathering process," said the Campaign's new general
manager, Ken Freeland. "Also, the filing and signature-gathering timelines in both states are favorable,"
"Colorado is the overall the best state and will be our key focus," said Campaign founder Senator Mike Gravel. "North
Dakota provides a back-up strategy in case we can't fund Colorado. But our hope is to fund signature-gathering campaigns
in both states and to pursue two winning initiative campaigns next year."
After winning certification in Massachusetts in early September, the Campaign launched its first signature-gathering effort
in that state. The Campaign decided to postpone this effort to a later election cycle because of the very short window
provided in Massachusetts initiative law for gathering the required 82,000 signatures. "By contrast, the requirements in Colorado
and North Dakota are easier to meet, and the funding required in each case is relatively modest," said Gravel.
News Item
TIME Magazine Publishes Proof that the World Trade Center Towers were Destroyed by Explosives,
May 20, 2011
Impaled Steel Columns at 20th Floor of World Financial Center Building 3 (WFC3)
In a special report titled “The End of Bin Laden” (05/20/11), Time Magazine provides indisputable photographic evidence that
the Twin Towers, WTC1 and WTC2, were destroyed by explosives, rather than by plane impacts and fires. Independent
researchers have long maintained that some form of controlled demolition destroyed the Towers.
Scientists point to a two-page photograph on pages 48 and 49 of Time’s special report. The
photograph,
taken in the vicinity of WTC1 by James Nachtwey, shows a maze of sections of exterior steel columns. Exterior columns
were installed in sets of three, connected by spandrel plates. These units, about 30 feet in height, weighed 4 tons each.
The short lengths of steel debris, suitable for hauling away, and pulverization
of other components of the building, are themselves signs of controlled demolition
But the indisputable evidence is seen at far left. Impaled in nearby World Financial Center Building 3
(WFC3), at the 20th floor, are two exterior columns connected by spandrel plates. A close up of this portion
of the Time photograph is shown at right.
Simple physics is used to calculate the minimum horizontal velocity with which the impaled columns were ejected from WTC1,
the nearest tower, to hit the 20th floor of WFC3. The velocity is about 43 mph minimum. Other researchers have examined
similar debris that hit the adjacent Winter Garden, deriving horizontal ejection velocities of 55 mph
(Josef Princiotta). Some tower
debris plumes and objects have been clocked at 70 mph
(David Chandler).
In reaching this value of 43 mph for the minimum horizontal velocity, we have used these numbers:
Floor in WTC1 where columns were ejected: 95th or lower
Height of WTC1 95th floor: 1179 ft
Height of WFC3 20th floor: 280 ft
Horizontal distance from point of ejection to point of impact: 468 ft
For the method of calculation, see
Ejection of Steel Beams and Aluminum Cladding. If the columns had been examined,
it might have been determined from which floor they emanated, since the
thickness of the steel decreased as the height increased. Princiotta did identify some wall units that hit the Winter Garden as coming from
floor 76.
This identification was possible because of the taller windows used for the mechanical floor at floor 76.
If the columns stuck at floor 20 of WFC3 originated below floor 95 of WTC1, the velocity of ejection would be greater,
so 43 mph is a minimum velocity. The effects of air resistance would increase this minimum value.
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Towers collapsed under gravity with the top portion
crushing the lower portion of the building after a short period during which fires weakened the structures.
But in a gravity-driven collapse, the only force present (gravity) acts vertically downward. Air expelled between pancaking floors
could not eject columns and other debris weighing tons with horizontal velocities of 43 to 70 mph. There were, in fact,
no pancaking floors, since most of the concrete and floor contents were pulverized. A theory that buckling steel columns
were severed and ejected with a spring action, a very unlikely occurrence, is not supported by the uniform debris fields
and lack of observed rotation of steel beams seen in mid flight on videos. Extensive debris fields with ejected steel
columns and sections of aluminum cladding surrounded the demolished towers on all sides for hundreds of feet.
A very large proportion of the steel was projected outward. Only explosive force can explain the debris fields.
For a visual explanation of WTC1's destruction, see David Chandler's
video.
For more information and background on the U.S government's recent announcement about Osama bin Laden, see, for example,
911Truth and
911Blogger.
News Item
Niels Harrit, Victoria, B.C., Canada, February 26, 2011
Dr. Niels Harrit's lecture tour of six Canadian universities took place in February and March, 2011.
Capacity crowds included university faculty members, students and other professional people. An excellent
account of the entire lecture tour
has been written by Mike Bondi.
News Item
White House Releases Long-Awaited Science Guidelines December 17, 2010
John P. Holdren
The long-awaited
guidelines for government scientists
promised by President Obama in response
to controversies that arose during the administration of President George W. Bush, were released
on December 17, 2010 by John P. Holdren, the President’s science adviser. In March 2009, Mr. Obama
stated that his aim was to “guarantee scientific integrity throughout the executive branch” and he added,
“We make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology.”
While some scientists have praised the new guidelines, others, such as Dr. Francesca T. Grifo,
director of the scientific integrity program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, have expressed
concern over one guideline in particular. This guideline states, “Federal scientists may speak to
the media and the public about scientific and technological matters based on their official work,”
but then adds a caveat: “with appropriate coordination with their immediate supervisor and their
public affairs office.” “I don’t like the ambiguities,” Dr. Grifo said. “I don’t like the discretion it
gives to the agencies.”
For more information on John P. Holdren, see, for example, the
article
from "Who Runs GOV" by the Washington Post.
News Item
Mark Basile Interview: 9/11 Explosive Testimony Exclusive, 10/26/2010
Mark Basile, a chemical engineer and a member of Scientists for 9/11 Truth,
has studied the World Trade Center dust and confirmed the findings of the scientists
who previously reported the discovery of nanothermite in the dust (see
paper
by Niels Harrit, et al, “Active Thermitic Material Discovered in Dust from the
World Trade Center Catastrophe” in our Papers section).
Today, in press conferences occurring simultaneously in New York City and Los Angeles, leaders of the 9/11
Truth Movement announced the debut of three new and independent Truth websites:
Present in New York at 2 PM at City Hall, Manhattan, were Dr. Mark Crispin Miller, Dr. Niels Harrit
(scientist), Lt. Col. Shelton Lankford, (military officer), Daniel Sunjata, (actor), and Tom Chelston
(singer/songwriter).
Those in Los Angeles included David Chandler (scientist), Dr. Robert M. Bowman (scientist and military officer),
Lt. Col. David Gapp (military officer), and John Heard, Penny Little, Jim Haynie, and Robert Culp (actors).
In addition to individual statements by those present, the event organizers provided the following statement:
The attacks of Sept 11, 2001 happened nine years ago. Since that time numerous explanations have been put forth
by various organizations, including our own government entities, FEMA and NIST -- the National Institute of Standards
and Technology. We will, here today, present compelling new information which clearly, and unfortunately,
refutes what these official sources have told us.
However, despite all previous refutations, the mainstream media has continued to promote the official story.
We, as members of the 9/11 Truth movement, seek the truth. We are here to say that the American people, indeed
the people of the world, deserve better. We stand here today representing the three most recent professional
groups to join forces with the worldwide 9/11 Truth Movement. We are actors, artists, scientists, and military
officers. We are not professional criminal investigators.
However, from the evidence that has come to light over the years, and in light of new evidence which we have
chosen to share with you today, it is clear that aspects of the attacks required intimate knowledge of the inner
workings of the US Defense Department, the Federal Aviation Administration, and even the security measures in
place at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Given the growing list of inconsistencies within even the
official accounts, we stand here today before you to urge you to join us in supporting a new and independent
investigation.
We do not know who committed this heinous act. We do not know how they did it. We do know that there is more
than sufficient evidence to show that what our official government entities have told us is false. For this reason,
we plan to continue our campaign to reopen the investigation so that we
may, once and for all, fully understand what happened, why, and how.
Then and only then will justice be done. To make matters worse, in view of
the falsity of the explanations we've been given, it is all the more
unacceptable that innocent people should continue to die in otherwise
unjustified wars, fought in the name of 9/11.
Finally, the American people at large no longer support the war in Afghanistan, as seen by a new Associated
Press poll released August 20th, with only 38% support for the war – down from 46% in March. The question is:
does this 38% know about the evidence we are about to present?
