~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

NMAAHC

12/24/2012 Nativegrl77

As we gather with family and friends to share old memories and make new ones, everyone at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture wishes you and yours the happiest of holidays.We also offer our prayers and hopes for good health and prosperity for the New Year.

Since we broke ground in February of this year, the construction at our site is proceeding full-steam ahead. In early 2013, the steel will start to rise,forever changing the landscape of the National Mall in Washington, DC. In the days ahead I promise to keep you fully informed of our progress.

Finally, let me thank you for the support and commitment you have made to the Museum. You helped make 2012 a truly exciting year. I believe 2013 will surpass it, as together we speed toward the Museum’s grand opening in 2015.

Thank you again. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

All the best,

Lonnie Bunch Director

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Walmart: Bah, humbug

12/24/2012 Nativegrl77

We stand on the side of Walmart workers. Humbug

Please share this image to show your support.

Just like the workers toiling thanklessly for Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol, Walmart employees are rewarded for their efforts with insults and disrespect. Walmart’s notoriously poor wages and working conditions — designed to squeeze every last dollar of productivity out of its “associates” — mean workers struggle to survive on poverty wages while executives and the Walton family rake in record profits.¹

On Black Friday, workers across the country told Walmart loud and clear: enough is enough. Historic protests held at over 1,000 Walmart stores demonstrated the powerful need for real change at the company.²

You and nearly 55,000 ColorOfChange members are helping us take the fight for good jobs to the next level, by demanding that Walmart’s Board meet with workers and take immediate steps to improve working conditions. Now, with the holiday shopping season in full swing — and Walmart scrambling to avoid any more negative publicity³ — it’s time to further expose America’s biggest Scrooge.

Please share this image with your friends and family: show Walmart that we demand respect for all workers.

The odds are stacked against low wage workers — many of whom are Black women. Service sector jobs continue to dominate the post-recession labor market, and they’re not going anywhere.⁴ This is why it’s essential we make companies like Walmart a better place to work and shop.

At the end of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge learns the importance of treating people well, and if Walmart ever hopes to be embraced as a good company, it needs to learn the same lesson. Walmart can start by ensuring that its employees work reasonable hours, have adequate health care and can support their families.

Please share this Humbug image to show Walmart workers that you support them and their demands for respect in the workplace. And when you do, please ask your friends and family to do the same.

Thanks and peace,

— Rashad, Matt, Arisha, Aimée, Kim, Johnny and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team December 21st, 2012

P.S. Click here to download either the full-size version or the Facebook cover photo size of the image.

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way.

References

1. “Corporate Profits Just Hit An All-Time High, Wages Just Hit An All-Time Low,” Business Insider, 06-22-12 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2021?t=7&akid=2762.1174326.evKS2S

2. “Walmart impoverishing and endangering workers,” The Hill, 12-07-12 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2022?t=9&akid=2762.1174326.evKS2S

3. “Hold Walmart accountable to Black workers,” ColorOfChange.org, 11-15-12 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2023?t=11&akid=2762.1174326.evKS2S

4. “A Fast Food Nation Fights for Living Wages — Against Long Odds,” Colorlines, 12-07-12 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2024?t=13&akid=2762.1174326.evKS2S

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Campaign 2013 ::: the Arctic

12/24/2012 Nativegrl77



What a year! As 2012 comes to an end, I want to take a minute to look back on an amazing first year for our global campaign to save the Arctic. A year that wouldn’t have been possible without your support. It all started in March when Greenpeace activists (including Xena Warrior Princess star Lucy Lawless) occupied one of Shell’s drillships in New Zealand. The outpouring of support for that activity let us know that we had something big on our hands. From there the movement only grew. Over two million people joined the likes of Paul McCartney and Jude Law by adding their names to our Arctic Scroll, we sent ships to the Alaskan and Russian Arctic, fought Shell in court, organized a global week of volunteer action, had some fun with the Yes Men that exposed millions more to our campaign and…the list goes on. It all added up to more than we could have imagined. Shell didn’t drill this year and your support was a big reason why. This is why I work for Greenpeace. I believe our campaign to save the Arctic will be one of the defining environmental fights of this generation. I’m so proud of everything we accomplished together this year, and expect even bigger things in 2013. From my family to yours, thank you. Philip Radford Greenpeace Executive Director P.S. We have even bigger plans for our Arctic campaign in 2013 and for all our work to protect the environment, but they all depend on your support. Can you chip in today?

~ Recent Post

CONGRESS: House Republicans ::: Senate Dems

12/24/2012 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene at 12:00pm on Monday, December 24, 2012 for a pro forma session only with no business conducted.

The next roll call vote will be at 5:30pm on Thursday, December 27th in relation to the FISA bill or the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.

————————————————————————

12:00:32 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:54 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Mac Thornberry to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:01:07 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
12:01:48 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:01:51 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:03:11 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on December 21, 2012 at 4:04 p.m. stating that that body had agreed to the conference report accompanying H.R. 4310.
12:03:36 P.M.		The Chair announced that, without objection, when the House adjourns on Monday, December 24, 2012, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 27, 2012.
12:03:56 P.M.		>EXTENSION OF FILING AUTHORITY – The Speaker announced that, without objection, committees may have until the end of the second session to file the final report pursuant to clause 1(d)of rule 11, and the chair of a committee in consultation with its ranking minority member, before filing such report, may update the report to reflect committee or House action taken after the report was ordered reported or made available to the members of the committee pursuant to subparagraph (d)(3), provided that the chair promptly notifies members of the committee.
12:04:27 P.M.		The House received a communication from David Russell, District Liaison, U.S. Representative David Price. The House received a communication from David Russell, District Liaison, Office of Representative David Price. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Russell notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena for documents and testimony in a civil case, issued by the District Court of the State of North Carolina, Wake County and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he will make the determination as to whether compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.
12:04:46 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on December 27, 2012.