~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Slave labor linked to palm oil

07/25/2013 Nativegrl77

Tell Cargill CEO Gregory Page you’re outraged his company is importing palm oil made with child and slave labor

Businessweek has released a groundbreaking article connecting Indonesia‘s palm oil industry to widespread cases of forced and child labor. The stories are truly terrifying, including workers, many of whom are children, being defrauded, abused, and held captive on palm plantations. All to grow a plant and extract its oil for use in junk food, lipsticks and other household items in our supermarkets.
As the Businessweek piece put it: “…[B]ecause palm oil companies face little pressure from consumers to change, they continue to rely on largely unregulated contractors, who often use unscrupulous practices.” The power is ours to change this story. TODAY. It’s time to tell Cargill, the leading supplier of palm oil in the country, that we will not stand for child and slave labor in our food.
The Businessweek piece was instigated by a nine-month investigation of the palm oil industry by the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism. The investigation focused on one of the world’s most significant palm oil suppliers, Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK), a major Cargill supplier. KLK workers—men, women and children—were lured thousand of miles away from their homes with promises of good work. What they found was that they wouldn’t be paid for two years, but only loaned up to $16 a month for health care and company-owned food. Many workers were locked into “stifling, windowless barracks” at night, and their national identity cards and school certificates were confiscated to prevent them from escaping.
So what did Cargill have to say about the practices of its corporate partner KLK? According to Businessweek: “Cargill defended its supplier. ‘At this time, KLK is not in violation of any labor laws where they operate nor are we aware of any investigation of KLK’s labor practices,’ says Cargill spokeswoman Susan Eich in an e-mail.”
This makes me furious. Let’s make sure Cargill doesn’t get away with using a PR flack to dodge its huge role in subjecting laborers and children to horrifying working conditions.
Please take the time today to tell Cargill to get conflict palm oil and slave and child labor out of our food.
Let’s face it, news breaks every day and then disappears into the background. In fact, companies like Cargill count on it. But we’ve all seen stories that break through and facilitate epic changes. The internet really does make it possible for our communities to amplify the news we care about—news that would otherwise go unseen. Today we have the opportunity to make sure palm oil plantation workers are not alone.
In too many ways, Cargill is right at the center of palm oil’s controversial web. Cargill must adopt comprehensive safeguards to prevent palm oil connected to slave and child labor, human rights abuses and rainforest destruction from tainting the world’s food supply.
Please tell Cargill today that you demand the company have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to slave and child labor.
You’ve told us that together we need to do everything in our power to get conflict palm oil off our grocery store shelves. This article needs to become our ammunition for educating our communities and going after the companies most responsible. When you’re done writing to Cargill today please take the time to encourage your friends to do the same. Let’s not let this issue fade from the front page.

		Thanks for all that you do,
		Robin Averbeck Senior Forests Campaigner

More info: Bloomberg Businessweek: “Indonesia’s Palm Oil Industry Rife With Human-Rights Abuses” Understory: “BREAKING: Despite New Evidence, Cargill Denies Its Palm Oil Is Being Made By Slave Laborers”

Black History

the Senate S1243 CONGRESS the House HR2218 & HR1582

07/25/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:30am on Thursday, July 25, 2013.
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 11:00am with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. The Majority will control the first 30 minutes and the Republicans will control the second 30 minutes.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1243, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
We will continue to work through amendments to the THUD Appropriations bill on Thursday.

The Senate is in a period of morning business until 11:00am. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1243, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Senator Murray will continue to work through the amendments with Senator Collins.

We also hope to vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #186, the nomination of Derek West, of California, to be Associate Attorney General, today. Under the previous order, there will be up to 1 hour for debate equally divided in the usual form. Upon the use or

Morning business has been extended until 11:30am. At 11:30am, the Senate will turn to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #186, the nomination of Derek West, of California, to be Associate Attorney General. There will be up to 1 hour for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. If all time is used, the vote on confirmation of the West nomination would occur at approximately 12:30pm.

12:27pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #186, the nomination of Derek West, of California, to be Associate Attorney General;

Confirmed: 98-1

Senator Toomey moved to recommit S.1243 (THUD Appropriations bill) to the Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report back with such changes as may be necessary such that total budget authority provided in the bill for fiscal year 2014 is not greater than $45,455,000,000. Senator Murray may move to table the Toomey motion at approximately 3:15pm.

3:17pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Murray motion to table the Toomey motion to recommit the bill.

Tabled: 56-42

The Toomey motion to commit was tabled 56-42. The Senate is in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. We expect to resume consideration of the THUD bill shortly. Senator Paul would like to offer an amendment #1739 regarding aid to Egypt. Senators are discussing a path forward.

The Senate continues to be in a period of morning business and we will not resume consideration of the THUD appropriations bill today. The managers said they will be on the floor next week to continue to process amendments. We are working on a path forward to consider several nominations. Until we have an agreement from the Republican side we can’t announce no more votes for today.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #186, the nomination of Derek West, of California, to be Associate Attorney General; Confirmed: 98-1

2) Murray motion to table the Toomey motion to recommit the bill; Tabled: 56-42

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.200, Designating July 26, 2013 as “United States Intelligence Professionals Day”.

Adopted S.Res.201, Designating the first Wednesday in September 2013 as “National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day”.

No additional EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Senator Reid filed cloture on the following items in the following order:

– Executive Calendar #208, the nomination of James B. Comey, Jr., of Connecticut, to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations,

– Executive Calendar #223, the nomination of Kent Yoshiho Hirozawa, of New York, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board,

– Executive Calendar #224, the nomination of Nancy Jean Schiffer, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board, and

– Executive Calendar #104, the nomination of Mark Gaston Pearce, of New York, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board.

If cloture is invoked on any of the nominations, there would be up to 8 hours of post-cloture debate time on each nomination. Upon disposition of each nomination, the Senate will proceed to a cloture vote on the next nomination in the order listed above.

The cloture vote on the Comey nomination will occur at 5:30pm on Monday, July 29.

—————————————————————————————————————————————

July 2013
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

Last Floor Action:
9:18:00 A.M. -H.R. 2218
GENERAL DEBATE
– The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R.
2218.

9:00:00 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:01:06 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:02:18 A.M.		POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Speaker announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Gosar demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Speaker announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Gosar objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Speaker postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the approval of the Journal until a time to be announced.
9:02:51 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Kelly of IL to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:03:07 A.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.
9:17:02 A.M.	H.R. 2218	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 315. H.R. 2218 — “To amend subtitle D of the Solid Waste Disposal Act to encourage recovery and beneficial use of coal combustion residuals and establish requirements for the proper management and disposal of coal combustion residuals that are protective of human health and the environment.”
9:17:07 A.M.	H.R. 2218	Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2218 and H.R. 1582.
9:17:38 A.M.	H.R. 2218	House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 315 and Rule XVIII.
9:17:38 A.M.	H.R. 2218	The Speaker designated the Honorable Rob Bishop to act as Chairman of the Committee.
9:18:00 A.M.	H.R. 2218	GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2218.

10:12:21 A.M.	H.R. 2218	An amendment, offered by Mr. Connolly, numbered 1 printed in Part A of House Report 113-174 to require States to update their certification documents with EPA and to include in those documents a State emergency action plan for responding to spills or leaks.
10:12:23 A.M.	H.R. 2218	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 315, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Connolly Part A Amendment No. 1.
10:17:26 A.M.	H.R. 2218	On agreeing to the Connolly amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
10:17:47 A.M.	H.R. 2218	An amendment, offered by Mr. Waxman, numbered 2 printed in Part A of House Report 113-174 to ensure that state permit programs are protective of human health and the environment.
10:17:49 A.M.	H.R. 2218	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 315, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waxman Part A Amendment No. 2.
10:27:43 A.M.	H.R. 2218	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Waxman Part A Amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Waxman demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
10:28:48 A.M.	H.R. 2218	An amendment, offered by Mr. Tonko, numbered 3 printed in Part A of House Report 113-174 to require the EPA Administrator to find a State coal combustion residual permit program deficient if the implementation of the program threatens human health or the environment in any other State. Any State could request that the EPA Administrator review another state’s coal combustion residuals permit program for deficiency.
10:28:50 A.M.	H.R. 2218	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 315, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tonko Part A Amendment No. 3.
10:36:34 A.M.	H.R. 2218	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Tonko Part A Amendment No. 3, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Tonko demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
10:37:02 A.M.	H.R. 2218	UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on adoptopn of amendments which were debated earlier and on which further proceedings were postponed.
11:07:41 A.M.	H.R. 2218	On agreeing to the Waxman amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 185 – 231 (Roll no. 415).
11:12:19 A.M.	H.R. 2218	On agreeing to the Tonko amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 176 – 239 (Roll no. 416).
11:12:28 A.M.	H.R. 2218	The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2218.
11:13:11 A.M.	H.R. 2218	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
11:13:23 A.M.	H.R. 2218	The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
11:14:45 A.M.	H.R. 2218	Ms. McCollum moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce.
11:15:00 A.M.	H.R. 2218	DEBATE – The House proeeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McCollum motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion to seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to require that the implementing agency of any coal ash permit granted under the bill ensure that all wet disposal structures meet criteria for design, construction, operation, and maintenance sufficient to prevent contamination of groundwater and sources of drinking water, including the Great Lakes pending reservation of a point of order. Subsequently, the reservation was removed.
11:23:27 A.M.	H.R. 2218	The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
11:31:27 A.M.	H.R. 2218	On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 192 – 225, 1 Present (Roll no. 417).
11:41:13 A.M.	H.R. 2218	On passage Passed by recorded vote: 265 – 155 (Roll no. 418).
11:41:14 A.M.	H.R. 2218	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
11:41:25 A.M.		On approving the Journal Agreed to by voice vote.
11:43:26 A.M.		The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 1092.
11:45:22 A.M.		COLLOQUY ON HOUSE SCHEDULE – The Chair recognized Mr. Hoyer for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with Mr. Cantor on the expectations regarding the legislative schedule for the House during the upcoming week.
12:29:54 P.M.		Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10:00 a.m. on July 26. Agreed to without objection.
12:29:58 P.M.		Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Friday, July 26, 2013, it adjourn to meet at 12 Noon on Tuesday, July 30, 2013, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.
12:30:46 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
12:41:52 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
2:08:02 P.M.		Mr. King (IA) moved that the House do now adjourn.
2:08:26 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
2:08:27 P.M.		The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on July 26, 2013.

————————————————————————————————————————————-

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Insurer promised to pay for their son’s hearing aid

07/24/2013 Nativegrl77

United Healthcare: Cover Brantlee's hearing aid and care.

Petitioning UNITED HEALTH CARE

This petition will be delivered to:

UNITED HEALTH CARE

United Healthcare: Cover Brantlee’s hearing aid and care

My son Brantlee failed his initial newborn hearing screen in April. Tricare/United Healthcare referred us off post to an audiologist. While at that appointment, we found out my son has unilateral sensionueral hearing loss with is moderate sloping. It was recommended that we give him a hearing aid so he has a fair shot at speech and quality of life. So that is what we did! United Healthcare said they would cover this. We recieved the aid on 5/8/13 and on 6/26/13 we rieceved a letter from United saying it was denied. On 7/8/13 we recieved an almost $3000 bill from his provider for the hearing aid. When I called UHC, they stated, this was not covered because the provider was inactive…yet they referred us to her! One representative even had the nerve to say “your son isn’t deaf enough.” Now though we are back to where we originally were that the provider is inactive all though they sent us there and we have our slip showing they sent us there and would cover these codes, they refuse to pay.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Help Make Sarayaku’s Victory a Reality!

07/24/2013 Nativegrl77

Português | Español | Deutsch | More

Help Make Sarayaku’s Victory a Reality!

This Thursday is the one-year anniversary of the historic court decision for Sarayaku and indigenous rights. It’s also the deadline for the government to apologize and pay reparations. Sixty members from the community will be traveling to Quito to hold the government accountable and to make sure that what happened in their territory is not allowed to occur again. Join the Cause to show your support for Sarayaku today!

Last July the Kichwa of Sarayaku, an indigenous community from Ecuador’s Amazon, won a landmark legal victory against the Ecuadorian government at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The decision, which the Correa administration said it would respect, establishes new guidelines on the right to consultation of indigenous peoples and has widespread implications not only for governments of Latin American countries but also for multinational companies operating there.

Amazon Watch and our allies are doing all we can to support the community’s journey from the Amazon to the National Assembly in Quito, but we need your help to make it a reality. Please support Sarayaku in the culmination of their fight for justice and accountability for indigenous rights in the Amazon and beyond. Join and support the Cause today!

For the Amazon,

Adam Zuckerman
Environme

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

$1,500

07/24/2013 Nativegrl77

By CAP Action War Room

Compromise Set to Lower Student Loan Interest Rates

Student loan rates for undergraduates doubled on July 1 from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, threatening to further increase college costs for millions of already-strained students.

Fortunately, a bipartisan deal has emerged in the Senate that looks set to lower interest rates before students head back to campus. Here are the main elements of this compromise:

It immediately and significantly lowers interest rates, giving students the certainty they need to make borrowing decisions.
It ties student loan interest rates to the market, allowing students to immediately take advantage of today’s low rates.
It caps overall rates to help protect students from interest rate increases in the years to come.
It sets the interest rate at a fixed rate for the entire life of the loan in contrast to a GOP proposal that would’ve allowed the rate to change every single year the loan remained outstanding.

You can find out more details about this plan and why it matters HERE.

This can all be a little confusing, but the immediate impact is pretty simple. Here’s what will happen as soon as this compromise becomes law:

BOTTOM LINE: 11 MILLION students will save an average of $1,500 as a result of the student loan compromise the Senate is going to vote on tomorrow. Young people need Congress to act right away to pass this deal.