Black History

Congress:

01/06/2012 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business conducted on the following dates and times:

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 11:00am

Friday, December 23, 2011 at 9:30am

Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 12:00pm

Friday, December 30, 2011 at 11:00am

Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 12:00pm, during which the 2^nd Session of the 112^th Congress will convene

Friday, January 6, 2012 at 11:00am

Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 11:00am

Friday, January 13, 2012 at 12:00pm

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 10:15am

Friday, January 20, 2012 at 2:00pm

When the Senate adjourns on Friday, January 20^th, it will adjourn until Monday, January 23^rd at 2:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 4:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #438, John M. Gerrard, of Nebraska, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska with up to 90 minutes of debate, 60 minutes equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley, or their designees and 30 minutes under the control of Senator Sessions or his designee.

Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on confirmation of the Gerrard nomination.

As a reminder to all Senators, cloture was filed on the Reid motion to proceed to Calendar #70, S.968, a bill to prevent online threats to economic creativity and theft of intellectual property and for other purposes on Saturday, December 17^th. By unanimous consent, this roll call vote will be at 2:15pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JANUARY 6, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

-The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 4(c) of H. Res. 493. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on January 10, 2012.10:04:00 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Edwards to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.10:03:42 A.M. -JOURNAL APPROVED – The Chair announced that pursuant to section 4(b) of H. Res. 493, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings is approved.10:02:25 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Clete Kiley, Archdiocese of Chicago.10:01:53 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Jeff Denham to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.10:00:38 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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Charlotte 2012

01/05/2012 Nativegrl77

Dear Charlotte in 2012 supporter,Four years ago, the Iowa caucus started President Obama’s historic journey to the White House. This year, his journey will take him through Charlotte, North Carolina in September for the 2012 Democratic National Convention.Every day until September is important. We are relying on people like you to help any way you can – starting by watching this short video.

I’m going to say it a million more times before September — we are funding this Convention unlike any of its predecessors. We are starting a grassroots movement with the help of thousands of people just like you. I’m asking you today to give what you can, every month, between now and the convention. Is that $5 or $10? Next September is what we make it. Please give today.

Let’s make this convention a success together. Please watch.

Sincerely,

Anthony Foxx
Mayor

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Where should Avaaz go in 2012?

01/05/2012 Nativegrl77

Happy New Year!! It’s going to be a big one.

Democracy is on the march across the world, and our community is at the heart of the struggle, but to win we’re going to need to choose our course wisely. Click below to take the annual Avaaz all-member poll, and let’s decide together where to focus our energies in 2012.

The poll takes a few minutes to complete, but the more of us take it, the wiser our course will be:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/january_poll_2012/?vl

And if you don’t have time to take the poll right now, we can all see the results as they come in here:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/january_poll_2012_people_power/?bv11891

Last year we ran hundreds of campaigns and played a key role in dozens of victories, including:

• Putting a wrench in Media-Mogul Rupert Murdoch’s march to world domination
• Breaking the Syria media blackout and supporting courageous democracy movements across the Middle East
• Taking on Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi at every turn until his corrupt regime fell
• Blocking the Gay Death Penalty Bill in Uganda
• Stopping a mega highway that sliced right through indigenous protected lands in Bolivia
• Building a massive anti corruption movement in India that has repeatedly forced the government to back down
• Building a global movement for Palestinian independence
• Saving the Kyoto Protocol and UN climate process from polluting powers determined to wreck it
..and much, much more.

With the world undergoing profound change, and our community twice the size it was last January, imagine what this year’s list could look like. The challenges may be coming thick and fast, but when we stick together, we can transform them into opportunities to build the world we all dream of. Here’s to building dreams in 2012.

With hope,

Ricken, Alice, Benjamin, Diego, Emma, and the whole Avaaz team

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Chevron found guilty… Again by Ginger Cassady, Rainforest Action Network

01/05/2012 Nativegrl77

Help Chevron come up with its next absurd excuse

A court of appeals in Ecuador has upheld the $18 billion ruling of a lower court, confirming what 30,000 Ecuadoreans suffering from Chevron’s oil pollution in the Amazon and activists the world over have known for decades: Chevron is guilty.

There is no question of Chevron’s responsibility for dumping some 18 billion gallons of toxic oil waste in the Ecuadorean Amazon. The only question, at this point, is what ludicrous talking point Chevron will roll out this time to explain away its refusal to pay to clean up its mess.

Chevron spokespeople have claimed that oil is no more toxic than women’s makeup and that just because their company bought Texaco in 2001 doesn’t mean Chevron has to clean up its mess. They have vowed to fight against paying to clean up until hell freezes over, and then to “fight it out on the ice.” It’s clear the company could use a little help in crafting its excuses. Why don’t you help Chevron out by coming up with the next absurd talking point to justify putting profits before people?

The real reason Chevron won’t take responsibility for its mess in Ecuador is, of course, unbridled greed. And a complete disregard for human life. More than 1,400 Ecuadoreans have died from Chevron’s oil pollution in the Amazon, but it’s all about money for the Big Oil behemoth.

Everyone from oil industry analysts to Chevron shareholders are calling on the company to rethink its endless litigation strategy in Ecuador. What excuse can the company possibly come up with this time for refusing to clean up its mess? Why not help them out. Go to this page, pick your favorite Chevron spokesperson, enter your ludicrous excuse, and we’ll post it to our “Excuse Gallery” on ChevronThinksWereStupid.org.