Richmond, CA 2 – Wall Street 0.

Richmond, CA struggling families 2 – Wall Street criminals 0! With your help, we did it! We beat back the Wall Street-led campaign of threats, litigation, and a full-scale election-style campaign to end Richmond, CA’s program to help underwater homeowners in that city, using eminent domain if necessary.

On Tuesday night (well, really Wednesday morning), the City Council voted 4-3 to move forward with the Richmond CARES program despite the huge attacks from Wall Street bankers against it. That was the first victory this week and it is a really big deal.
The importance of this victory cannot be overstated. If the lies and fear mongering of Wall Street bankers had been allowed to intimidate Richmond’s City Council into backing down, the entire Local Principal Reduction idea would have collapsed. Instead, the movement is spreading. This week, San Francisco Supervisor Campos announced a resolution standing in solidarity with Richmond and exploring a similar program there. And in Seattle, more than 30 groups came together in the Reset Seattle Coalition and packed the Seattle City Council to launch an LPR campaign there, too.
For the first time since they destroyed our economy, Wall Street bankers have had a significant defeat and more cities are gearing up to join in. The Home Defenders League has set up a page to raise funds for these fights. Can you chip in $20 to help us take this fight to new cities around the country?

The second big victory from this week came on Thursday, when US District Court Judge Charles Breyer declined to grant an injunction – filed by Well Fargo and Deutsche Bank – to stop Richmond CARES before it even got started.
Your help in this fight has been critical. Nearly 25,000 of you signed petitions supporting LPR and Richmond and over 250 of you called Wells Fargo’s CEO to tell him to drop his lawsuit against the city. 300 people showed up at the vote on Tuesday, including over 150 from Action for the Common Good and HDL partner the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), and the vast majority of them praised the Council for taking this bold step and urged them to move forward with the program.
Can you chip in $20 so we can work with other cities ready to stand up for their struggling families as well?
We’re really proud of how you, the Home Defenders League and ACCE were able to beat back the bankers’ attack and ensure that Richmond did the right thing. Thank you for standing up to Wall Street and being a part of this historic week of victories.
In Solidarity,

Brian Kettenring, Executive Director, Action for the Common Good

PS. Here’s a great description of the City Council vote and victory from Prof. Peter Drier writing in the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/california-defies-wall-st_b_3909022.html
And here’s the Los Angeles Times on the court case: http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-eminent-domain-20130912,0,5887953.story
http://www.campaignforfairsettlement.org/

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Put coal exports On Trial in Washington ~~

09/17/2013 Nativegrl77

Help put coal exports on trial in Washington.

Make a public comment today to stop the proposed Longview, WA coal terminal.

Big coal is trying to force through the largest coal export terminal in the U.S. right here in Longview, WA.
Sending coal exports through Longview would damage everything from our fragile ecosystem, to our health, to our climate.
We can’t let this facility get permitted. And now we have a chance to stop it. The public comment period has opened for the Longview proposal – giving us an official public opportunity to say NO to coal exports by voicing our concerns about its impacts.
And speaking up makes a difference. When Washingtonians like you submitted over 124,000 comments last fall on a coal export proposal just north of Bellingham, the agencies listened. We can do it again.
Please submit a comment today. Absolutely everyone needs to comment to help stop these terminals from moving forward.
If we allow these terminals in our state, we’ll be seen as one of the world’s largest exporters of climate-disrupting coal.
This is not us. We’re pioneering the clean energy revolution – building a stronger regional economy and developing clean energy solutions that work for the long haul. Let’s stand up against these dirty plans and demand a better, cleaner future for our children and our communities.
We must make it clear that we don’t want coal in Northwest or Southwest Washington. We don’t want it in Oregon. We don’t want it. Period. Please comment today.
Stopping coal exports isn’t just crucial for the Northwest. Around the globe, we must stop major new fossil fuel projects in order to prevent catastrophic climate change. That’s why Greenpeace is working to halt Arctic drilling, the Keystone XL Pipeline and coal export projects that threaten our planet’s future.
With your help, we can put the brakes on the coal industry’s plans for Washington.
Thank you for standing up for our state and our climate,
Kim Marks Greenpeace Washington Organizer
P.S. Don’t let coal exports threaten our health, our environment and our climate. Submit a comment against the Longview, WA coal export facility today.

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UCS ~~ Tell UPS: Stop Supporting Big Oil’s Front Group!

09/17/2013 Nativegrl77

Tell UPS: Send a message to UPS

Tell UPS to lead the way on oil savings solutions and drop their support for Big Oil’s front group.

Take Action Today!

Dear Activist,

As one of the nation’s largest delivery companies—with more than 96,000 vehicles in its fleet—United Parcel Service (UPS) is making a difference in reducing oil use by improving the efficiency of its trucks. Yet UPS continues to support Fueling California, an oil-industry funded effort to derail California’s clean fuels policy.

California’s policies serve as a model for reduced oil use across the nation—encouraging reductions in global warming emissions for every gallon of fuel used, helping ensure that less fuel is burned for each mile driven, and guiding the development of “smart” cities that allow people to drive less.

The oil industry is doing everything it can to slow down a transition to cleaner fuels in an effort to protect their bottom line, and they’re betting they can fool Americans by hiding behind companies like UPS. UPS shouldn’t tarnish its fuel-efficient image by being a member of Fueling California.

UPS needs to hear from citizens like you who support companies that take reducing their oil use seriously. Tell UPS to live up to its reputation as a fuel-efficient leader and stop supporting efforts to derail progress for California and the rest of the country.

Take Action Today!

Sincerely,

Rachel Cohen National Field Organizer Clean Vehicles Program Union of Concerned Scientists

Black History

the Senate S.1392,Energy Savings&Industrial Competitiveness Act CONGRESS the House HR2775,ACA stipulations

09/17/2013 Nativegrl77

Bipartisan Legislation Would Strengthen Background Checks

At a press conference on Thursday, April 11, 2013, Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) unveiled bipartisan legislation to strengthen and enhance background checks for new purchasers of firearms. “Failed”

The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am Tuesday, September 17, 2013. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until noon with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the Majority controlling the first 30 minutes and the Republicans controlling the next 30 minutes.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1392, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act.

At 10:00am there will be a moment of silence to pay tribute to the victims of the tragic mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard.

At 11:00am today the Senate will turn to Executive Session to consider the following nominations:

– Executive Calendar #175, the nomination of Patricia E. Campbell-Smith, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims and;

– Executive Calendar #176, the nomination of Elaine D. Kaplan, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims.

There will be up to 30 minutes for debate prior to votes on confirmation of the nominations. We expect a voice vote on the Campbell-Smith nomination and a roll call vote on the Kaplan nomination.

Following the vote on the Kaplan nomination, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

When the Senate reconvenes at 2:15pm we will resume consideration of the S.1392, the Energy Efficiency bill. We are trying to reach an agreement on a finite list of amendments to move forward on that legislation. Senator Vitter has an amendment dealing with the Affordable Care Act and certain congressional and administration staff. We would have a side by side or second degree amendment to his amendment. In order to reach an agreement to vote on Vitter’s amendment we would need a finite list of amendments to complete action on the bill.

12:02pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Elaine D. Kaplan, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims;

Confirmed: 64-35

The Senate stands in recess until 2:15pm. Following recess, the there will be a period of morning business to allow Senators Udall (CO) and Bennet to talk about the flooding in Colorado.

At 2:30pm, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1392, Energy Efficiency.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #176, the nomination of Elaine D. Kaplan, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims; Confirmed: 64-35

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.2775, the No Subsidies without Verification Act.

Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.2009, the Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1513, the High Technology Jobs Preservation Act of 2013. (Wyden/Murkowski)

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1514, the Saving Coal Jobs Act of 2013. (McConnell)

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed the following:

Executive Calendar #175, the nomination of Patricia E. Campbell-Smith, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims by voice vote.

Executive Calendar #335 Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr. – to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana for the term of four years.

Executive Calendar #336, Jon T. Rymer, of Tennessee, to be Inspector General, Department of Defense.

Executive Calendar #337, Steve A. Linick, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of State.

**************************************************************

Last Floor Action: 9/17
7:30:51 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES –
The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded
to Special Order speeches.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on September 17, 2013

Last Floor Action: 9/17 12:03:08 P.M

. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess.

The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

Last Floor Action: 9/16
2:02:47 P.M. – The Speaker announced that
the House do now adjourn.

12:00:12 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:26 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable David G. Valadao to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:00:42 P.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour Debate, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
12:03:08 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

2:00:10 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 17.
2:00:16 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
2:01:46 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
2:01:48 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Sablan to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:02:17 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:09:28 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 4:00 P.M. today.
4:00:37 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 17.
4:01:48 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
4:02:10 P.M.	H.R. 1410	Mr. Gosar moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 1410 — “To prohibit gaming activities on certain Indian lands in Arizona until the expiration of certain gaming compacts.”
4:02:57 P.M.	H.R. 1410	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:02:59 P.M.	H.R. 1410	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1410.

4:39:21 P.M.	H.R. 1410	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:40:08 P.M.	H.R. 2449	Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 2449 — “To authorize the President to extend the term of the Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Korea Concerning Civil Uses of Nuclear Energy for a period not to exceed March 19, 2016.”
4:40:14 P.M.	H.R. 2449	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:40:17 P.M.	H.R. 2449	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2449.
4:59:21 P.M.	H.R. 2449	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
4:59:42 P.M.	H.R. 301	Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 301 — “To provide for the establishment of the Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia.”
4:59:58 P.M.	H.R. 301	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:00:00 P.M.	H.R. 301	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 301.
5:20:53 P.M.	H.R. 301	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
5:21:34 P.M.	S. 793	Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. S. 793 — “To support revitalization and reform of the Organization of American States, and for other purposes.”
5:21:54 P.M.	S. 793	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:21:55 P.M.	S. 793	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 793.
5:34:06 P.M.	S. 793	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
5:35:01 P.M.	H.R. 3092	Mr. Guthrie moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 3092 — “To amend the Missing Children’s Assistance Act, and for other purposes.”
5:35:30 P.M.	H.R. 3092	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:35:32 P.M.	H.R. 3092	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3092.
5:50:34 P.M.	H.R. 3092	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
5:50:54 P.M.		The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting an Agreement on Social Security between the United States of America and the Slovak Republic (the “United States-Slovak Republic Totalization Agreement”). – referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 113-62).
5:53:36 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for approximately 6:30 P.M. today.
6:30:00 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 17.
6:30:04 P.M.		Mr. Bishop (UT) filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 347.
6:30:55 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
6:31:17 P.M.	H.R. 3092	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3092 — “To amend the Missing Children’s Assistance Act, and for other purposes.”
6:57:45 P.M.	H.R. 3092	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 – 2 (Roll no. 460).
6:57:52 P.M.	H.R. 2449	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2449 — “To authorize the President to extend the term of the Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Korea Concerning Civil Uses of Nuclear Energy for a period not to exceed March 19, 2016.”
7:04:18 P.M.	H.R. 2449	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 – 0 (Roll no. 461).
7:05:00 P.M.		MOMENT OF SILENCE – The House observed a moment of silence in memory of the victims at the Navy Yard in Washington DC.
7:08:15 P.M.	S. 793	Considered as unfinished business. S. 793 — “To support revitalization and reform of the Organization of American States, and for other purposes.”
7:16:18 P.M.	S. 793	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 383 – 24 (Roll no. 462).
7:16:57 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:30:51 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

9:14:52 P.M.		Mr. Johnson (OH) moved that the House do now adjourn.
9:15:08 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
9:15:09 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 18, 2013.

——————————————————————————————–

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Gemma Tillack, Rainforest Action Network

09/16/2013 Nativegrl77

Call out companies using “Conflict Palm Oil”

Today, I’m excited to announce Rainforest Action Network‘s ambitious new campaign to save some of the world’s most important rainforests and the last remaining wild orangutans from “Conflict Palm Oil.”
It’s called The Last Stand of the Orangutan, and it’s one of the biggest campaigns we’ve ever launched. We’re going after not one, not two, but 20 of the companies most responsible for putting Conflict Palm Oil into our food. We’ve dubbed these companies The Snack Food 20. They are the makers of some of the top name brands in the world, companies like PepsiCo, The Hershey Company and Kraft Foods Group, and they are using Conflict Palm Oil in their products. (See full list of companies below.)
We need your help right now to make sure this campaign starts with a bang that the Snack Food 20 can’t ignore.
Tell the Snack Food 20 that you demand they remove Conflict Palm Oil from our food.
Our campaign launched this morning in grand RAN style at the Chicago Board of Trade, the primary trading center for agricultural commodities, including palm oil. We publicly named the 20 snack food companies that RAN’s campaign will focus on and unfurled a 15-foot banner reading, “Cut Conflict Palm Oil, Not Rainforests.” Several RAN supporters wore orangutan masks and held signs displaying the logos of the Snack Food 20 companies.

Today’s demonstration was accompanied by the release of our new report, entitled Conflict Palm Oil: How US Snack Food Brands are Contributing to Orangutan Extinction, Climate Change and Human Rights Violations, which exposes the increasingly severe environmental and human rights problems caused by industrial palm oil production in Indonesia and Malaysia.
The demand for palm oil is skyrocketing—its use in the United States has grown nearly 500 percent in the past decade. And no wonder, since palm oil is in roughly half of all products on grocery store shelves. But this gives us, as consumers, incredible power to make change, too. If you speak up loudly enough, the Snack Food 20 will have to change the way they do business. The power is in your palm.  
This really is the last stand for the world’s remaining wild orangutans. Only 60,600 orangutans remain in Sumatra and Borneo. Will you stand up with them?
After we convince the Snack Food 20 to cut Conflict Palm Oil from their products, it will have a cascade effect: The Snack Food 20 will have to demand truly responsible palm oil from their suppliers, and, in turn, palm oil suppliers like Cargill will have to demand that palm oil producers in Indonesia stop destroying rainforests, stop driving the orangutan to extinction, and stop trampling on human rights.
In the weeks ahead you can expect to hear a lot more from us about the ways you can plug in to The Last Stand of the Orangutan campaign both online and in the real world. We’re traveling across the US with our The Power Is In Your Palm Tour, visiting the hometowns of many of the Snack Food 20 companies and spreading the word about the critical problems with Conflict Palm Oil. We’re building a movement too loud to ignore.
Together, we will change the way palm oil is made and make sure no more orangutans are killed for snack foods. We have reached The Last Stand of the Orangutan, but it’s not too late. Stand with orangutans now by telling the Snack Food 20 to get Conflict Palm Oil out of their products.