Monthly Archives: December 2013

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

FDA Taking Closer Look at ‘Antibacterial’ Soap

2 Comments

12/16/2013 09:00 AM EST
Will antibacterial soaps, in addition to keeping you clean, reduce your risk of getting sick or passing on germs to others? Data suggest that the risks associated with long-term, daily use may outweigh the benefits.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Does Google support ALEC


Dear MoveOn member,

Stunning news: Google supports a right-wing front group that pushes anti-environment, anti-education and anti-worker policies. That’s why I started a petition on MoveOn.org to Google CEO Larry Page. The petition says:

The anti-environment, anti-education and anti-worker agenda of ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council) is the antithesis of what Google claims to stand for.Please end your support for ALEC and its extremist policies today!

Sign Marisol’s petition

I’m Marisol Garcia, a teacher and MoveOn member in Phoenix, Arizona. I’ve witnessed ALEC’s dangerous agenda firsthand.

ALEC has repeatedly tried to dismantle our public schools by rerouting taxpayer funds toward private and for-profit institutions, attacking the reduced price school lunch program and attempting an end-run around teachers’ unions. On top of that, ALEC has repeatedly pushed voter suppression efforts, discouraged policies that would expand alternative energy use, and promoted the dangerous “Stand Your Ground” law in states across America.

Google has a great reputation and I couldn’t be happier about the recent investments my school made to bring tools like Chrome and Google Docs to my students—but that makes Google’s involvement with ALEC even more disappointing. Please join me in asking Google to end its support for ALEC.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

–Marisol Garcia

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Don’t let them scare Scientists into silence


Union of Concerned Scientists

We can’t let politicians or ideologues scare scientists into silence.

Give scientists the tools to stand strong. Make a tax-deductible gift today.

 

When Dr. Shaun Marcott published a groundbreaking paper showing the world is warmer today than it has been for thousands of years, climate deniers started a smear campaign.1 They sent him hate mail and spread misinformation—which some reporters bought into.

When Dr. Joseph Skorupa found that phosphate mines were poisoning fish, his supervisors at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service threatened repercussions if he took his research on The Daily Show. Skorupa says they told him agency leaders would “make your life hell” and even punish his colleagues.2 He declined the show’s invitation.

As you’re considering your year-end charitable giving, think about the researchers who will be targeted in 2014. Think about the critical research that will be suppressed. And know that a gift you make today can help provide scientists the support to fight back. It’s not an easy job, but UCS members know what’s right isn’t always easy.

Help us defend science and scientists! Make a tax-deductible year-end gift today to reach our ambitious $400,000 goal for December.

Your gift today will help equip scientists to dive into the most pressing policy debates of our time—our ailing food system, dirty energy production, and a changing global climate. Because of you, more scientists will be able to fight the misleading rhetoric of industries and front groups.

Our Science Network gives 20,000 scientists and technical experts the chance to connect with policy makers and directly impact laws and policies that affect our families and our planet. We teach scientists how to clearly communicate their research to the public. And how to respond to attacks.

Please make a tax-deductible gift now and help defend scientists from attacks.

When you donate today, you’re making a wise investment.

UCS has received Charity Navigator‘s esteemed 4-star rating for the last seven straight years—an honor shared by only 2 percent of charities, and we were named one of the most effective organizations working on climate change by Guidestar‘s Philanthropedia.

UCS supporters are people from all walks of life—parents and businesspeople, biologists and physicists, teachers and students—more than 350,000 citizens and scientists who are committed to defending science, year in and year out. Thank you for being part of this powerful community.

Kathleen Rest Sincerely, Kathleen Rest Kathleen Rest, PhD, MPA Executive Director

1. http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2013/03/response-by-marcott-et-al/ 2. http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/vergano/2013/04/06/hansen-federal-scientists-communication/2053077/
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

don’t Deport

 ICE: Please Don’t Deport My Mother, Gloria Pedroza 
  By joe sotelo
                                                San Antonio, Texas

My Mother came to this country to give us a better future, but is being prosecuted and will be deported in February 2014. On top of that they want to give her a 10year no entry into the U.S . As a 6 1/2 year service vet with 2 deployments to Afghanistan I find this appalling. I was born here in the U.S, server my country, and they wont let my mother stay.

The only crime here is her not being allowed to stay after she raised us to be the best that she could, which she accomplished. We all have successful jobs as Managers, History majors, Pottery/Art teachers and even in the Military.

But now they want to deport her because she dose not have papers after 26 years of being in this country, which was founded on immigrants who came to this new world in hopes of a better life. She even has a Daughter who depends on her due to having Liver failure cause by a UCLA Hospital due to them giving her the wrong medication. My sister needs my mother for moral and finacial support. She even has grandkids, and still they wont consider this as sufficient to let her stay.

So I’m asking for your help to help me fight this and help keep my mom here so she can watch her grandkids grow and see them have kids of there own.

Thank you for your time. Spc. Sotelo, Joe