Dan O’Neill, Mercy Corps

12/05/2013 Nativegrl77

Become a Partner In Mercy and get this limited edition first aid kit ▸

Ernie Lynn knows one thing: she’s grateful to be alive — grateful that she, her husband and their one-month-old baby survived Typhoon Haiyan.
After the typhoon devastated her village, Ernie Lynn and her neighbors urgently needed food, clean water and shelter.
Mercy Corps responded immediately, providing food, clean water, blankets, shelter materials and hygiene kits to families who lost everything in the storm.
Now, families must begin the long and difficult process of rebuilding, and they need your help. Will you stand with them, and with other families in the world’s toughest places, by making a monthly pledge to Mercy Corps today?
When the storm passed, Ernie Lynn learned that the fishing boat her husband works on was severely damaged — meaning they’d lost not only their home but also their income.
Imagine the conflicting emotions Ernie Lynn must be feeling — grateful to have her baby safe in her arms, but grieving her family’s many losses… and worried about the future. Without a job, her husband won’t be able to earn enough money to repair their home. Where will they go? How do they move forward? How can they give their baby what he needs to grow strong?
Partners In Mercy monthly donors help families like Ernie Lynn’s move forward every day. They help parents get back to work, so that they can earn money to provide for their families — to prepare healthy food, get medical care, and rebuild their homes.
The ongoing monthly support of Partners In Mercy makes it possible for us to respond immediately when a crisis strikes — distributing clean water and emergency supplies to survivors of natural disasters like the typhoon, providing food to hungry children during a hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa, and giving warm clothing and blankets to Syrian refugees facing a cold winter. But your monthly gift will do so much more.
Your monthly support will fund effective, efficient programs that help communities recover and rebuild for the long term, better and stronger than they were before.
Becoming a Partner in Mercy monthly donor is quick and easy. So please take a moment to sign up today. You’ll feel good knowing that you’re providing life-changing assistance to people like Ernie Lynn and her family every day
Sincerely,
Dan O'Neill, Mercy Corps Founder
Dan O’Neill Mercy Corps Founder
P.S. Please make a life-changing difference for families in need by becoming a Partner In Mercy monthly donor. Sign up now, and you’ll receive a limited edition first aid kit — a reminder of the help you’re providing to survivors of the typhoon, and other families in the world’s toughest places.

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“We Do Not Wish to be Slaves on Our Own Lands”

12/05/2013 Nativegrl77

My name is Adelbert Gangai. I am from the Maisin tribe and work with the nine tribes from the Collingwood Bay region of Papua New Guinea. Our culture is intrinsically entwined and our livelihoods are entirely dependent on the primary forest that surrounds us.
But recently there is a threat that the palm oil company KLK will destroy the subsistence life style we have maintained since time immemorial by attempting to illegally develop over 100,000 acres of our customary lands against our will. Fortunately, KLK has a weak spot—HSBC Bank is one of KLK’s principal bankers. Will you take a moment to tell HSBC to use its influence to pressure KLK to stop expanding on our lands?
Our chiefs issued a rare joint communiqué in 2010 voicing the consensus of the residents of Collingwood Bay—who total over 7,000 people from 326 clans in 22 villages scattered across our coastline—that we do not wish to have industrial palm oil plantations established on our land under any circumstances.
Will you stand with us and send a message today to HSBC—a key banker of KLK—asking it to use its influence to urge KLK to stop these misguided plans before this controversy escalates into a full blown conflict?
RAN sponsored a colleague from Collingwood Bay and myself this past month to bring our case to the annual meeting of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in Sumatra. Thanks in large part to the pressure generated by over 12,000 RAN supporters like you, who took action to demand that KLK meet with us and that the RSPO finally take steps to address the formal complaint we filed more than a half a year ago, progress was made on both fronts.
Thank you for making this an issue that KLK and the RSPO can no longer ignore. But no real commitments have yet been made and right now, large earth moving equipment and a KLK barge containing palm oil seeds still sits just off our coastline. The anxiety this has created has driven members of our community to establish a blockade between the ship and the access route to our land.
We would now like to ask our friends and partners in the international community to take up our call and increase the pressure on KLK by asking one of its key bankers, HSBC, to use its leverage with KLK to push for a total withdrawal from our territory. For good.
We have witnessed what has happened to other communities in Papua New Guinea and around the world whose lands have been over-run by industrial palm oil plantations. They have been marginalized and become slaves on their own land. We do not wish this for the people of Collingwood Bay.
Our communities have fought and won against multinational corporations trying to develop our lands before. With your help, we will prevail in preserving this special place once again.
Thank you so much for your support,
Adelbert Gangai

		Thank you,
		Adelbert Gangai Collingwood Bay

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 12/05 the House

12/05/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, December 9, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 4:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1197, the National Defense Authorization to allow the Chairman and Ranking Member to provide a status update on the bill.

At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #327, the nomination of Patricia Ann Millett, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, post-cloture. There will be up to 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form. At 5:30pm, all post-cloture time will be expired and there will be a roll call vote on confirmation of the Millett nomination.

=======================================

Last Floor Action:
2:49:45 P.M. – The House adjourned
pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00
p.m. on December 9, 2013.

Last Floor Action:
9:15:37 A.M. -H.R. 3309
GENERAL DEBATE
– The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R.
3309.

9:00:22 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:00:31 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Virginia Foxx to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
9:00:51 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:02:04 A.M.		POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF JOURNAL – The Speaker announced that she had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Daines 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. Daines 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 Speaker’s approval of the Journal until a time to be announced.
9:02:36 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Fudge to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:02:54 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.
9:15:05 A.M.	H.R. 3309	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 429. H.R. 3309 — “To amend title 35, United States Code, and the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act to make improvements and technical corrections, and for other purposes.”
9:15:07 A.M.	H.R. 3309	For H.R. 3309, resolution provides one hour of general debate; bill is considered read; specified amendments are in order; and one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. For H.R. 1105, resolution provides that an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee print 113-29 shall be considered as adopted; one hour of debate; makes in order an additional specified amendment; and one motion to recommit, with or without instructions.
9:15:29 A.M.	H.R. 3309	House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 429 and Rule XVIII.
9:15:30 A.M.	H.R. 3309	The Speaker designated the Honorable Virginia Foxx to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.
9:15:37 A.M.	H.R. 3309	GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3309.
10:33:37 A.M.	H.R. 3309	An amendment, offered by Mr. Goodlatte, numbered 1 printed in Part A of House Report 113-283 to makes a few technical and clarifying changes. Specifically, under Section 3(d), it clarifies that the exception in paragraph one applies to biosimilars, it also adds an exception for actions seeking relief based on competitive harm, and ensures that the provision is not subject to reverse gamesmanship. Under Section 6(d) it makes clarifying changes that ensure that foreign courts cannot terminate licenses to US IP. Extends time required by the agencies to complete the various studies and reports required in the bill.
10:34:10 A.M.	H.R. 3309	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 429, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Goodlatte Part A amendment No. 1.
10:45:40 A.M.	H.R. 3309	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Goodlatte amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Goodlatte demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
10:46:07 A.M.	H.R. 3309	An amendment, offered by Mr. Watt, numbered 2 printed in Part A of House Report 113-283 to bring the fee shifting provision in the underlying bill more closely aligned with the Equal Access to Justice Act. Allows a judge to consider dilatory or other abusive tactics by the prevailing party in determining whether to reduce or deny a fee award.
10:46:59 A.M.	H.R. 3309	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 429, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Watt Part A amendment No. 2.
10:57:04 A.M.	H.R. 3309	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Watt amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Watt demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
10:58:07 A.M.	H.R. 3309	An amendment, offered by Mr. Polis, numbered 3 printed in Part A of House Report 113-283 to require claimants to provide additional disclosure information in any pre-suit notification to establish a willful infringement claim.
10:58:13 A.M.	H.R. 3309	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 429, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Polis Part A amendment No. 3.
11:09:52 A.M.	H.R. 3309	On agreeing to the Polis amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
11:10:10 A.M.	H.R. 3309	An amendment, offered by Mr. Massie, numbered 4 printed in Part A of House Report 113-283 to strike section 5, the “Customer-suit exception” provision.
11:10:20 A.M.	H.R. 3309	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 429, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Massie Part A amendment No. 4.
11:21:34 A.M.	H.R. 3309	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Massie amendment No. 4, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Massie demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
11:21:58 A.M.	H.R. 3309	An amendment, offered by Ms. Jackson Lee, numbered 5 printed in Part A of House Report 113-283 to expand covered customer definition to all small businesses so long as their annual revenue does not exceed $25 million.
11:22:01 A.M.	H.R. 3309	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 429, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee Part A amendment No. 5.
11:33:57 A.M.	H.R. 3309	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 5, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Goodlatte demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
11:34:35 A.M.	H.R. 3309	An amendment, offered by Ms. Jackson Lee, numbered 6 printed in Part A of House Report 113-283 to require the Director to conduct a study regarding the economic impact of the changes in current law resulting from Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the bill on the ability of individuals and small businesses owned by women, veterans, and minorities to assert, secure, and vindicate their constitutionally guaranteed exclusive right to their inventions and discoveries.
11:34:38 A.M.	H.R. 3309	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 429, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee Part A amendment No. 6.
11:40:52 A.M.	H.R. 3309	On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
11:41:06 A.M.	H.R. 3309	An amendment, offered by Mr. Rohrabacher, numbered 7 printed in Part A of House Report 113-283 to strike 9(a) from the bill and reorder the remaining subsections of Section 9.
11:41:10 A.M.	H.R. 3309	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 429, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rohrabacher Part A amendment No. 7.
11:52:54 A.M.	H.R. 3309	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Rohrabacher amendment No. 7, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Rohrabacher demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
11:53:11 A.M.	H.R. 3309	An amendment, in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Conyers, numbered 8 printed in Part A of House Report 113-283 to promote transparency in patent ownership; prote cts customers who are targeted in infringement suits; directs the PTO to develop educational resources for small businesses; instructs the PTO and others to prepare reports on several issues including the use of deceptive demand letters.
11:53:22 A.M.	H.R. 3309	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 429, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Conyers Part A Substitute amendment No. 8.
12:16:46 P.M.	H.R. 3309	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Conyers Substitute amendment No. 8, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Conyers demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
12:17:07 P.M.	H.R. 3309	UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
12:43:20 P.M.	H.R. 3309	On agreeing to the Goodlatte amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: 341 – 73 (Roll no. 623).
12:47:39 P.M.	H.R. 3309	On agreeing to the Watt amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 199 – 213 (Roll no. 624).
12:51:50 P.M.	H.R. 3309	On agreeing to the Massie amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 119 – 296 (Roll no. 625).
12:54:50 P.M.	H.R. 3309	On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 144 – 266 (Roll no. 626).
12:58:32 P.M.	H.R. 3309	On agreeing to the Rohrabacher amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: 260 – 156 (Roll no. 627).
1:02:25 P.M.	H.R. 3309	On agreeing to the Conyers amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 157 – 258 (Roll no. 628).
1:02:45 P.M.	H.R. 3309	The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3309.
1:03:02 P.M.	H.R. 3309	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
1:03:17 P.M.	H.R. 3309	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.
1:13:21 P.M.	H.R. 3309	On passage Passed by recorded vote: 325 – 91 (Roll no. 629).
1:13:22 P.M.	H.R. 3309	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:13:27 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the Speaker’s approval of the Journal.
1:13:47 P.M.		On approving the Journal Agreed to by voice vote.
1:16:47 P.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.
1:46:16 P.M.		Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That when the House adjourns on Thursday, December 5, 2013, it adjourn to meet at 12 p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2013, for Morning-Hour debate and at 2 p.m. for legislative business. Agreed to without objection.
1:46:46 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
1:55:09 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
2:49:31 P.M.		Mr. Gohmert moved that the House do now adjourn.
2:49:44 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
2:49:45 P.M.		The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on December 9, 2013.

=============================

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Does Dogma Destory Our Oceans

12/04/2013 Nativegrl77

Oceans are being put at risk by anti-government dogma. We need all federal agencies to be fully involved in ocean planning efforts to ensure coastal communities are prepared for natural disasters.