Stand against oil companies trying to overturn global warming legislation

With the Senate’s failure to pass an anti global-warming bill, legislation on the state level is currently our most direct answer to saving the planet.

California already passed one of the toughest anti-global warming laws in the world (AB32) back in 2006 — and its regulations will start being phased in next year.

But not if a bunch of oil companies in Texas have their way. Texas oil companies Valero and Tesoro have spent $3.5 million to fund Prop 23 in California; a deceptive initiative that, if approved by voters this November, will effectively reverse AB32.

If these Texas Oil Companies succeed in rewriting California’s global warming laws, it won’t just hurt California’s effort to curb harmful carbon emissions — it will be a giant step back for nationwide efforts to fight global warming.

So we need to tell Valero that their continued support of this proposition is going to cost them, too >

This campaign was started by our partner CREDO Action in California earlier this year with The Courage Campaign, but since then, Valero has upped the ante. With only two months until the election, they just gave another $3 million to fund the attack on AB32. There’s no telling how many more millions Valero will dump into this effort before November — but if we create a groundswell of national pressure, we can force them to reconsider their support. So we’re supporting CREDO Action in taking this boycott national.

The Senate climate fight made clear that dirty energy companies have far too much power in Washington. And now that the Citizens United case has opened the door for more corporate money in our elections, the best way to stop dirty energy from having an even bigger impact on ballots nationwide is with direct, public pressure that will be noticed by corporate executives and shareholders alike.

This type of pressure just made a big difference after Target donated $150,000 to a group backing anti-gay candidates. With Valero leading an attack on the strongest climate pollution reduction act in the country, we need to show them that their support isn’t just bad for the environment — it’s also bad for business.

Valero’s CEO needs to hear the message loud and clear. Sign the pledge and join the boycott of Valero >

Thanks for taking action,

The Change.org team

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Help save 3,600 lives a day

09/10/2010 Nativegrl77

5.7 million lives saved already – tell Pres. Obama to keep investing in the Global Fund

For the first time, a world where no one dies from malaria and no more children are born with HIV is within reach. The Global Fund, the world’s largest global health financier, is a big reason to have hope.

In less than a decade, the Global Fund has delivered life-saving treatment for AIDS to 2.8 million people, given tuberculosis treatments to 7 million people, and distributed more than 122 million insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria. In total, more than 5.7 million lives have been saved.

None of this would have been possible without funding from the U.S. and international partners. And it won’t continue without our support.

There are just a few weeks before Global Fund donors meet and the U.S. must commit to continuing to fund the life-saving program. Please tell President Obama to commit $6 billion over the next three years to the Global Fund before the meeting is underway >

Even in tough economic times, this is a very smart investment for America. The Global Fund brings in other donors who match $2 for every $1 invested by the U.S. – meaning the U.S. investment is tripled on the ground. The Global Fund has rigorous standards. Programs that work get funds and programs that don’t are eliminated.

Recipient countries are intimately involved and are often required to co-finance the programs. It’s a proven model for development that works.

This is one case where there is a direct relationship between U.S. investments and lives saved. Every dollar goes to fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and child mortality, and those dollars are working – to the tune of 3,600 lives saved each and every day.

The United States has the opportunity to maintain and accelerate amazing life-saving progress by fully funding its commitment this year to the Global Fund.

There are only a few weeks left before the big Global Fund meeting. Please urge President Obama and Congress to maintain spending on these programs in the FY2011 federal budget to build upon the life-saving success of the Global Fund >

With grassroots support for this smart investment in the Global Fund, we can create a world where no one dies from malaria and no child is born with HIV.

Thanks for taking action,

The Change.org Team

~ my 2cents ..., ~ Recent Post

wacky Wednesday &some News

09/08/2010 Nativegrl77

President Obama is in Ohio and will give a detailed speech today

The change 53% voted for has been stopped, blocked, scaled back and slowed down by the Republican Political Party.

It is up to those who do lean left of center…even our fellow independents to keep the people leaning right of center informed. It is important to challenge the crap coming out that clearly are lies, on the edge or overtly reflect a nasty rhetoric often spewing fear hate and discrimination. On 10-2-10 will March on DC to show unity as a Nation who believes in our Constitution in every way. It is a march that welcomes everyone that believes in the People, the 14^th Amendment and equality for All people regardless of the race, creed, religious or gender preference. It is a moment needed to let those who practice exclusion to hear those who believe in helping our fellow man.

The cliché, “When the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” is an important statement right about now because big corporations made big bets against the people for other folks who were definitely rich or getting richer but ran out of luck; the government in our case had to step in and up to help All Americans because free trade was not going to correct the bets because the casino shut itself down. The economic collapse that happened was an opportunity to change the failed way things were done in order to move into the 21^st Century

I have been listening, reading and hearing comments about President Obama having taken great first steps toward change but hasn’t gone far enough to sedate or fulfill the promises he made to special interest groups during his campaign. First, what special interest groups is the Media talking about that is upset because libs are definitely apart of the Democratic Party. The negative comments are becoming bold, louder and more frequent but they are coming from the right, the more extreme of our society the group of people being stirred to cause physical damage. We can blame the Media for the selective misinformation they all give viewers. It is now quite obvious that ratings are so important that reports leave out parts of a story instead of giving all angles or even having a guest to rebut the opinions of the host, commentators.

Change takes time… It takes a Congress with courage to create and pass laws that should be for the greater good that covers all Americans.

**Environmentalist… like Phil Radford, exec director/Greenpeace USA stated among other things,” Obama is missing in action” as it relates to global warming …in an article written by Bryan Walsh from Time Magazine. I am willing to say that Congress is a partner that President Obama has had to fight with since coming into office and those who have been paying attention it was not just with Republicans it was, has and still is with democrats. This President and his administration needs support to move the US into the 21^st Century to a Green economy… It takes courage to admit we need to do what is right for our children and generations to come by keeping and or voting more democrats into office in November people.

**Immigration/SB1070 …Do you “look” undocumented? This week, the Arizona state legislature approved an anti-immigrant bill that essentially gives police the right to profile people based on race. It will also give natives the right to sue local law enforcement if, in their opinion, not enough is being done to hunt down undocumented immigrants.

Reasonable Suspicion, what does that mean?

Any legislation forth coming needs to be comprehensive immigration reform. The public needs to accept the complicit relationship of the past and correct it and move into the 21st Century; this can only happen if we vote more Dems into office -November is a national election as far as i am concerned. What happens in November will impact the future of All Americans

read the article by Prernal Lal…stay informed

**Gay/Lesbian leaders… are starting to make comments about Obama not going far enough on don’t ask/don’t tell but today he announced he will enact federal benefits for same sex couples …moving too slow? too little too late? come on, People of colour know what being impatient means. This is yet another issue that will be stopped in its tracks if we do not vote more Dems into office people. If do not get Dems out to Vote in November the progress made thus far; even if some feel it is not enough, just think what will happen if Republicans gain control and do what they have threatened all along. We all know republicans feel they have the corner on what “family values” are and push this as apart of their agenda if they gain control. The governing they plan will definitely not include same sex marriage contrary to what most Democrats feel should be an issue of equality.

**Health-care -liberals… are impatient and talking about how they put Obama in office and threatening a change in 2012 … this is unacceptable for me because the new law covers those with children up to 26 which is college age and will save money for so many parents; it is not a welfare program. It stops discrimination against women and allows those who have debilitating deceases the right to see a doctor without their insurance companies saying you are not worthy of being helped. Health Care Reform is in itself is a Jobs Bill and who would not be for a new law that gives more access to health care while creating more jobs to the public. It will and that is something more members of the Democratic Party in Congress should be letting the public know.

**Wall Street … flexed their muscles to show Obama who really is in charge of the market … bad behavior needs to be regulated with a big R and ten months the Obama Admin and Congress passed legislation to regulate Wall Street that should continue to be adjust to hold those who still place bets against the people of the United States.

The fact is change will happen. The President can’t do it all himself, we need to call, write and March 10-2-10 to let Congress know what We the People voted for a change we can believe in but some folks left of center just do not understand that this change will take time, support and pushing our Congress to get the job done.

The notion that the President is to blame for the scaled back legislation that was passed in the Senate is ridiculous. It is a combination of the 60rule, filibuster and the lack of Political will of the Democratic Party to push the envelope. I think conservadems need to be shoved into a box but the real solution to the inability to get substantial bills through that will not only help ALL Americans and our economy is simply getting out and voting for the Mid-term elections.

This is a moment that is just as important as the 2008 elections people because without more Dems in Congress the change we all want will continue to be scaled back by Republicans.

Other News …

CSPAN …

Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen (Ret.) Briefing on Gulf Oil Spill

C-SPAN Local Content Vehicle: Pennsylvania 7th Congressional District Race

Islamic Society of North America News Conference on U.S. Attitudes Toward Muslims

White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

it’s time to get to work …

09/08/2010 Nativegrl77

We’re teaming up with 350, 10:10, and a global coalition of folks doing something about climate change to create a global day of action: the 10/10/10 Global Work Party. Help us make October 10th the biggest single day of action against global warming that the world has ever seen.

The Gulf oil spill, the breaking up of Arctic ice sheets, the wildfires sweeping through Eastern Europe — these are just a few impacts of our addiction to fossil fuels. The good news is that most Americans have begun to do their part, making small changes in their own lives in the hopes of helping create a more sustainable planet.

But while you and I have tried to make changes in our homes and communities, our leaders in Washington D.C. are letting fossil fuel companies off the hook instead of holding them accountable. They claim it’s just too hard to take on Big Coal and Big Oil.

Well on October 10th, we’re getting together with our friends at 350.org, 10:10, and many others, to show them what hard work looks like.

It’s called the “10/10/10 Global Work Party.” The goal of the day is to send a message to our political leaders: If we can get to work, you can get to work too — on the legislation and the treaties that will protect this planet for our children and grandchildren.

There are already over 1,700 events in 140+ countries, and we’d love for you to join us wherever you live.

Check here to see if there is an event already planned in your area or to create your own.

What you do at your work party is up to you. But don’t worry, we’ll help you get started and have a few ideas to help get your creative juices flowing. As long as it benefits your community and helps cut carbon emissions, it will matter — and it will help get the point across to our politicians.

Let’s inspire our political leaders on October 10th to take the bold action necessary to save the planet. It’s time to get to work.

For the planet,

Ben Kroetz
Greenpeace Online Organizer

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Dems can beat them

09/08/2010 Nativegrl77

From the day President Obama took office, Democrats have worked to rebuild our country’s economy, put into place the basic financial reforms needed to empower and protect consumers, and lay down a new foundation for growth.

Republicans made a different choice: They locked arms with the special interests and voted to protect the insurance companies, credit card lenders, and bankers on Wall Street.

The GOP embraced a singular goal: opposition to the President’s agenda.

Now Republicans are scheming to win back Congress. With a majority, they’ll do everything they can to reverse the progress Democrats have made. They’ll turn back the clock on behalf of their special interest friends, their big donors, and the extreme right-wing elements that have taken over their party.

But we have a plan to beat the GOP.

Since May, we’ve been focused on an unprecedented push to elect Democrats who will fight alongside President Obama. With the help of supporters like you, we’ve launched the strongest, most sophisticated effort this party has ever put together for an election like this.

The special interests don’t fund it — our Vote 2010 campaign relies entirely on supporters like you.

Can you chip in $5 or more to power this work?

Republicans have promised to repeal health insurance reform and roll back new consumer protections — but it won’t stop there. Across the country, the GOP has nominated a set of right-wing ideologues who are vowing to undo the victories won by our parents and grandparents — the promises those generations made to the future.

Republicans are supporting candidates like Nevada Republican Senate nominee Sharron Angle who believe the United States should leave the United Nations and that we should shut down the Department of Education.

They’re working to elect conservatives like Alaska Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller who argue that unemployment benefits are “not constitutionally authorized” and that we should end Social Security.

They’re fighting for people like Kentucky Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul who believe that civil rights should be up for debate in this country because they think that businesses should have the right to discriminate based on race, gender, disability, or any other factor.

We all understand the consequences of this election.

That’s why grassroots Democrats are knocking on thousands of doors every week. That’s why we have a goal of reaching out to 15 million voters by November 2nd.

Americans have a choice to make with this election, but from now until November, we’re going to work to make our case.

Can you help out? Donate today:

http://my.democrats.org/OurCase

Thanks,

Governor Tim Kaine
Chairman

P.S. — At 12:30 ET today, I’ll be giving a major address in Pennsylvania to talk more about what this election means. Click here to watch live.