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Why We Need to Modernize Our Power Plants

06/04/2014 Nativegrl77

This morning, the Environmental Protection Agency set the first-ever national carbon emissions limits for our country’s existing power plants. Modernizing our power plants will help Americans live healthier lives, while reducing carbon pollution that contributes to climate change.

Find out how limiting carbon emissions from power plants will make our communities healthier:

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Weekly Address: Reducing Carbon Pollution in Our Power Plants

In the President’s weekly address, he discussed new actions by the Environmental Protection Agency to cut dangerous carbon pollution, a plan that builds on the efforts already taken by many states, cities, and companies.

In the White House Rose Garden on Saturday evening, President Obama spoke about the recovery of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl — an American solider who spent nearly five years in captivity during the war in Afghanistan.

READ MORE

My Brother’s Keeper: 90 Days In

Three months ago, President Obama launched the My Brother’s Keeper initiative — aimed at expanding opportunities for America’s boys and young men of color, and ensuring all young people can reach their full potential. On Friday, the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force issued their 90-day progress report to the President.

a message from POTUS …

06/04/2014 Nativegrl77

I just proposed a plan that cuts carbon pollution from existing power plants 30 percent by 2030.

That’s a responsible, common-sense step to address climate change.

But we’re already getting intense opposition from polluters and special interests who like things the way they are.

OFA is fighting back to show there’s broad support for these new EPA standards.

If you want action to combat climate change, you can add your name today.

Climate change is happening, and it’s happening now. As a president and as a father, I feel a moral responsibility to do something about it. The world our children grow up in depends on what we do today.

Carbon pollution is threatening our health right now. Over half of all Americans already live in areas where air pollution too often makes it unhealthy to breathe — it’s time to cut carbon pollution the same way we already regulate toxic chemicals in our air.

Modernizing our power plants so they pollute less will also spark homegrown clean energy innovation, creating jobs and growing our economy.

I’m not going to wait to take action on this.

Right now, big polluters are going to do everything they can to derail this momentum. They’ve been fighting these EPA standards since before they were even announced.

Your voice on this issue is the most powerful thing you’ve got in this fight. I need you to use it.

OFA is stepping up and gathering names in support of these EPA standards — you can add your name:

http://my.barackobama.com/Support-Carbon-Pollution-Standards

Thanks,

Barack Obama

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

$65 airline tickets that actually cost $750?

06/04/2014 Nativegrl77

By Charles Leocha, Travelers United

Boston, Massachusetts

Sign Charles’ Petition

Congress wants to remove regulations that protect you from deceptive airline ticket advertising. Don’t let it.

The House Transportation Committee acted with alarming speed last week to move its bill out of committee. Airline lobbyists are working hard, as you read this, to find sponsors for this bill in the Senate Commerce Committee. We need a groundswell of consumer outrage about this airline-engineered congressional attack on truth in advertising.

I’m Charlie Leocha and I have been running Travelers United (formerly Consumer Travel Alliance) in Washington, DC, for the past five years. I collaborated closely with the Department of Transportation (DOT) on shaping the current full-fare advertising rule. I was appointed to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections as the consumer representative by the Secretary of Transportation. I have been working inside the system with congressional staff, testifying before both houses of Congress, coordinating with the aviation industry and working with regulators.

Remember when airlines advertised $19 fares — which, after taxes and mandatory fees were added, cost almost $50. And, international tickets once advertised for $65 actually cost $750 after taxes and fees? That ended a few years ago when government regulators added a reasonable full-fare advertising rule.

Now, Congress wants to void that rule.

Airlines have already bulldozed a proposed bill, bizarrely called the Transparent Airfare Act of 2014, through the House Transportation Committee with no comments, no debate and no consumer input.

Make no mistake: there’s nothing “transparent” about this bill. It would effectively legalize airline bait-and-switch pricing, especially online, where most airline tickets are bought.

If the full-fare advertising rule goes “buh-bye,” you lose. You’ll think your airfares are cheaper than they are. You’ll have a harder time comparison-shopping. And what’s worse, these price shenanigans could spread to other businesses. Imagine being quoted $2 a gallon for your fuel but paying $4, instead?

Tell Congress to keep the current truth-in-advertising rule. Airlines shouldn’t be allowed to lie about their prices. We like knowing how much something we buy actually costs — that’s real transparency.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Reducing Carbon Pollution in Our Power Plants …

06/04/2014 Nativegrl77

Climate Change

And President Obama’s Action Plan

President Obama has announced a series of executive actions to reduce carbon pollution, prepare the U.S. for the impacts of climate change, and lead international efforts to address global climate change.

Modernizing Our Power Plants

Watch President Obama explain why we need to cut carbon pollution from power plants

On June 2, the EPA released a proposal that will set the first-ever national carbon pollution standards limits for America’s existing power plants.

Find out how the rules will make our communities healthier, and learn more about the President’s plan to cut carbon pollution in America.

The National Climate Assessment

On May 6, the Administration released the Third U.S. National Climate Assessment, the most authoritative and comprehensive source of scientific information to date about climate-change impacts across all U.S. regions and on critical sectors of the economy.

Explore the report

Watch the Video above

learn more about the effects of climate change and President Obama’s plan to combat and prepare for it.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Walmart Moms on Strike!

06/04/2014 Nativegrl77

Moms who work at Walmart are fed up! And this week, in more than 20 cities across the country, they’re going on strike to protest the company’s retaliation against its employees who have spoken up about inequality.

Can you stand with them at a store near you?

Find an event »

Thanks for stepping up at this important moment, Smiley Director of Campaigns, Jobs With Justice

P.S. If you can’t make it to an action, check out this powerful video on how we’re all living in the Walmart Economy.