Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
Diamonds Are Nice but Conflict Minerals Are Forever
“In America, it's bling-bling, but here in Africa, it’s bling-bang,” says a cool Leonardo Di Caprio in a very well done South African accent. The 2006 drama Blood Diamond set in Sierra Leone features a South African mercenary turned blood diamond smuggler played by Di Caprio and follows his quest for the “largest diamond he’s ever seen.” The intent of the film was not to draw attention to the blood diamond industry but the writer, Charles Leavitt, decided that he wanted to portray the diamond industry accurately. In particular, he managed to piss off global diamond industry giant De Beers, a company that specializes in jewelry, diamond exploration, and diamond mining. For those who don’t know, De Beers quite literally invented the engagement ring. The film managed to actually use De Beers as the “greater evil” that would eventually purchase the diamond sought by Di Caprio’s character. In order to really appreciate the film, you must first understand the subject matter, blood diamonds.
By Chris Vanderburgh8 years ago in The Swamp
UN Votes 128-9 Against U.S. Embassy's Move to Jerusalem
On Thursday's General Assembly (December 21, 2017), the United Nations voted 128 to 9 overwhelmingly condemning Presendent Donald Trump's decision to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv in Israel to Jerusalem which means recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
By Otis Colon8 years ago in The Swamp
Best Trump GIFs of 2017
Politics aside for a second: Donald Trump has terrible posture and even worse body language. His suits don't fit. His ties are too long. His eating habits are awful. This has led to some incredibly awkward and clunky interactions, and if we table some of his cruel and divisive policy proposals for a bit, these moments are pretty funny.
By Joseph Farley8 years ago in The Swamp
Inside Out
Is it too late to say you're sorry America? When Ben Franklin stated when asked what kind of government was created, his reply was "a republic if you can keep it." Profound, yes, and yet all indications today point that we have lost sight of what Ben Franklin said. When government becomes to self-serving in a way that is counter-productive for the greater good of all, that government ceases to be democratic. And, like Ben Franklin has said over 250 years ago ,"if you can keep it," somehow over the course of six decades, we have lost the democracy out of our government.
By Dr. Williams8 years ago in The Swamp
The Culture of Illusion
First I would like to introduce myself. My name is Evan Allen. I was born in Canada. My family became legal Permanent Residents in the USA in 2008. I currently reside in Las Vegas. In this article I will share with you the difference in each country in a number of topic. Most in which the people that run the USA will tell you isn't true. Why? Well if Americans knew the truth they might just like it.(Information may vary state to state or province to province.)
By Evan Allen8 years ago in The Swamp
What's The Story, Working Class Tory?
There have been a number of commentators recently that have ridiculed people who vote for things that are bad for them, e.g. working-class Tory or Republican voters. The focus is sometimes on politicians and the media misinforming the uneducated masses. Of course, this is part of the problem, not just in terms of informing voting decisions, but in all areas of politics that affect the everyday citizen.
By Katy Preen8 years ago in The Swamp
Conditioned to Cocoon
When I was six, I told my sister I wanted to buy a castle in Europe and have a summer home on the beach. She told me that I needed to get a high paying job. “I’ll just become a singer, an actor, and a model!” She told me that should cover it. That was in the late 1990s, a time when people didn’t carry an unlimited supply of media in their pocket.
By Josh Contreras8 years ago in The Swamp
Political Sex Scandals That Nobody Will Forget
They say that power is the ultimate aphrodisiac—so perhaps that's why so many politicians have had sex scandals throughout their careers. Politics can be sexy, and it's almost inevitable that the power they wield will end up having them act out some vices.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart8 years ago in The Swamp
'Add Trump Ruin An X-Mas Song' Trends on Twitter
Christmas is around the corner and all over social media as well and while Christmas is in the air, so are politics as people react to nearly everything to do with President Donald Trump. In recent weeks, there was the passage of the tax bill, the seeming end of Net Neutrality, and various other notable and, at times, meme-worthy moments from President Trump and the ongoing investigation of his Presidential campaign ties to Russia.
By Sean Patrick8 years ago in The Swamp
Canada Has a Major Bread Scandal. Top Story - December 2017.
Canada is currently experiencing a major bread scandal. I know that may sound absurd and slightly dramatic, but hear me out; recent revelations have exposed collusion amongst the country’s supermarket giants that have cost Canadians millions. At the centre of the scandal is Canadian grocery giant Loblaw and one of its subsidiaries, George Weston, which reportedly engaged in price-fixing between 2001 and 2015 on brands such as Dempster’s, Wonder, Villagio, Weston, Stonemill, and D’Italiano. Statistics Canada, cited by CBC, noted that during this timeframe, the consumer price index on bread products in Canada rose 96 percent, compared to an 45 percent for all other foods. Loblaw says they fired all involved employees and turned themselves in to the Competition Bureau in 2015, but in being the first to come forward and cooperating with the bureau, are immune from criminal charges. This is convenient given that price-fixing can be met with punishment as severe as $25 million in fines and 14 years in prison.
By Logan Carmichael8 years ago in The Swamp
Against All Odds
Throughout history it has been proven that where there is acute poverty there is corruption in governments. Where there is corruption in governments there is only a perpetuating vicious cycle of economic depravation within that society. In recognizing this fact, it is a beginning to fuel the resources that are needed for solving man's afflictions that are the cause of the most acute crisis of the 21st century.
By Dr. Williams8 years ago in The Swamp
