One vote could save thousands


Just one country’s vote could end whaling in the South Atlantic forever. Tell Tanzania to be that country.Take ActionAsk Tanzania’s president to ensure that his country votes for whales at September’s International Whaling Commission meeting.

Take Action

greenpeaceThe fate of South Atlantic whales hangs in the balance. Just one country’s vote could save these whales — or doom them.

I’m heading to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meetings, where nations will vote on creating a whale and dolphin sanctuary of the entire South Atlantic Ocean from the Equator to Antarctica. The last time this plan was proposed, whales lost by one vote.

In the past, Japan has put intense pressure on other nations to vote in their interest, even giving bribes. This year, we need to convince at least one of these countries that living whales are worth more than Japan’s gifts. That country is Tanzania.

Greenpeace will soon be delivering Tanzania’s president a letter, outlining all the reasons that his country should support whales. But he also needs to hear from you.

Just one country’s vote could protect South Atlantic whales from whalers. Join us in asking Tanzania’s president, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, to support whales.

Why will Tanzania listen to us? This small country benefits greatly from tourists visiting the Serengeti and whale-watching in the Indian Ocean, which is already an IWC designated whale sanctuary.

Tanzania has taken incredible steps to protect its own wildlife — but two years ago, it voted against creating a sanctuary for whales in the South Atlantic Ocean. Tanzania’s vote was all about money. But together we can show them that voting with Japan is bad for their tourism industry.

This hypocrisy could be the only thing standing in the way of the South Atlantic whale sanctuary. If the Tanzanian government chooses to side with Japan — again — it needs to know that it risks losing tourism dollars from the thousands of nature lovers who visit their wildlife preserves and go whale watching in Tanzania every year.

The South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary would protect whales from Antarctica to the Equator. Tell Tanzania to give them a chance.

Together we’ve already won many victories for whales: the current global moratorium on commercial whaling, stopping dangerous seismic testing off the coast of California, exposing Japan’s vote-buying at the IWC and just recently having the International Justice Court rule against Japan’s “scientific” whaling program in the Southern Ocean. But as long as whales can be hunted in the South Atlantic, it leaves the door open for thousands to be killed in the future. Eventually it will be too late to save them.

If we can pressure Tanzania to vote the right way, we have a chance to make history at this year’s IWC and save thousands of whales from a brutal fate. Are you with me?

Ask Tanzania to make the right choice for whales and our oceans.

Make sure your voice is heard. We can protect these whales — forever.

For the whales,

Phil Kline
Greenpeace USA Senior Oceans Campaigner

P.S.  Let Tanzania know the world is watching. Sign our letter to President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete today asking his country to vote for the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary.

Sunday shows and Senator McCain


VoteVets.org

If Senator John McCain had his way, we’d be arming ISIS in Syria and fighting them on-the-ground after they cross over the border into Iraq.

It’s enough to make you wonder why television news shows have him on so often.

Last year, as President Obama considered arming Syrian rebels fighting against President Bashar al-Assad, Senator McCain snuck into the country to meet with opposition leaders. While he was there, he paused for some photos — including some with ISIS militants.

Today, just over a year later, he wants to fight ISIS in Iraq – ostensibly against the weapons he wants to provide them in Syria.

It’s sad to say, but John McCain has exhausted his last measure of credibility.

Sign our petition calling on the Sunday talk shows to stop having John McCain on as a foreign policy guest.

 


(Pictured: Senator McCain poses for photo with ISIS Fighters)
In 2013, John McCain made twenty-five appearances on various Sunday network talk shows — often criticizing those opposed to military intervention in Syria.

After taking photos with ISIS rebels in Syria, he told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that “It was a very moving experience to meet these fighters who have been struggling now for over two years.”

It’s not that there shouldn’t be voices critical of the president on Sunday shows, but a bit of diversity from the McCain-Graham view of more war, everywhere, would be nice.

Sign our petition if you agree >>

http://action.votevets.org/mccain

We’ll deliver all the petition signatures to producers for CBS, NBC, and ABC Sunday shows. Hopefully they’re willing to listen to veterans, military family members, and VoteVets supporters on this issue.

All the best,

Jon Soltz
Iraq War Veteran & Chairman
VoteVets.org

Update about Support Fair Investigat​ions of Police Officers’ on Change.org


changeorg

Michael Bell Team : Plea for a Change

Change in the institution of law enforcement is difficult however,  50,000 of us are willing to bet it isn’t as difficult as losing a child and being barred, ridiculed and threatened for seeking an unbiased investigation and review of the death of that child.

What kind of parent wouldn’t want all stones turned?

What kind of leader would keep a parent from that information?

Anyone who claims unbiased investigations and sobriety tests make the tough job of officers even tougher should consider this:  An intoxicated or mentally unsound or dishonest officer makes a tough job, deadly.

Nothing chips away at the honor of the police profession than negligent oversight.  AB409 would protect the honor of the police profession in an honest way.

Please help us continue to get this petition before people.   AB409 makes sense.

Thank you so much and Happy New Year!

The Michael Bell Team

This message was sent by Michael Bell Team : Plea for a Change using the Change.org system. You received this email because you signed a petition started by Michael Bell Team : Plea for a Change on Change.org: “Protect Wisconsin Families and Honest Police: Support Fair Investigations.” Change.org does not endorse contents of this message.

View the petition

freedom paved with struggle


The World is watching … a repost

World

While the fight for Democracy breaks out all over the World, we are seeing the marches the violence against protesters who have had enough. We also see a World in transition, a few men, dictators who want to hold tight onto their empires ruling regardless of how many of their own call for Sovereignty while others want  21st Century living are killed.  Now, we have to include Governors, Mayors and Police Officers using excessive force who are supposedly hired take an oath to serve and protect.  However, there seems to be a growing movement of citizens who have begun to question and challenge dictators and clerics who have ruled with iron fists and have engaged in outdated ancient practices for centuries. Who knew Americans would need to question leaders of cities states and counties or be enduring policing that appeared in the days before people of color were legally given civil/humane rights.  It is important that the people never forget American history and to always remember there is strength in numbers.

Always remember strength in numbers

It is so hard to understand, believe, accept, or fathom that we are in the 21st Century, yet, there are people on the Continent of Africa dying at the hands of their own … in the what is called the Arab World for wanting to be heard, for wanting to be participants in their own futures and yes, this is not new. There are mothers with children, older men women and students coming out in droves protesting to tell these dictators/clerics it is time for a change. In a desperate move to control the truth, dictators have tried to cut off all connections to the outside world or insist and expect them to believe that the U.S. is at fault, meddling in the process of change, which they claim should happen slowly. When Protesters did not leave, most if not all these tyrants offered up some concessions to the people like crumbs while trying to divert responsibility until their patience ran out; replaced with tantrums, threats, crackdown, using extreme force, and death to those who refuse to obey. It is my hope that while the people rise up against these despots and we watch in horror, they know the efforts will help the next generation though the backlash seems hardly worth the effort in the moment. I wonder if anyone has had or even allowed himself or herself a chance to stop and consider what personal freedom would mean for them and their families. If they feel they deserve to be happy let alone an opportunity, a change from the old ancient ways to a life with the freedom to speak, better wages, human rights, to actually be a participant in the process of life. Then stop to think of how we Americans have issues with our leaders use the 1st Amendment and realize that the militarization of our police departments are quite possibly taught in the realization that our country is becoming more brown …that brown and black men are the enemy at large while we had the first person of colour in the White House the fear or fear mongering reached ugly levels …

We all know that the demand to be heard these days is great and how amazing it is to see people on two different continents with similar reactions by those who control, who truly are working for an agenda that is one of great self-interest. This seemingly symbiotic thing going on, though we are worlds apart is one that must be met without fear of evil to get the change needed and wanted. The big difference is … for them it means that any action toward independence or right to speak is not only a risk to life and family but the fear of authority may not be an option in many cases knowing the inevitability of death, for Americans, freedom to be is or used to be the possibility of death, though the last few cases of men and women of color dying by the use of extreme force has caused great concern

The journey toward freedom is sometimes paved with danger

Climate Change ~~~ the movement & struggle is real … join us


AvaazpixDearAvaazers,


Click to pledge so our movement to save the world can hit the streets on September 21st: $4    $6    $9    $14    $23

Pledge another amount

Scientists are screaming from the rooftops that climate change isn’t just a bit of warming and some more storms. No exaggeration, our actual *survival* is at risk — this is a fight to save the world.

Our biosphere is in a fragile balance. Warm it a bit, and feedback loops start to kick in. Warming melts the arctic ice that reflects sunlight, which means more sunlight absorbed, which means more warming, which melts more ice etc. etc. These feedback loops have begun, and they’re approaching ‘tipping points’ where they spin out of our control, threatening everything we love.

The UN understands this, and they’ve called an emergency summit of world leaders in New York to discuss action, even inviting our movement into the meeting! The problem is, our heads of state are politicians, not scientists, and they respond to public pressure. They see the polls, but they ask, “where are the protests?” Sept. 21st is our answer.

With thousands of organisations from unions to faith groups, and hundreds of thousands of people already signed up, we’re about to launch the biggest climate change mobilisation in history, with marches from New York to Paris to Rio. On September 21st, we need to shake the world. To get there, we need to mobilise thousands of organisers, saturate subways and airwaves with ads, and mount an effective media operation.

If 50,000 of us contribute just a small amount in the next 5 days, we can make it happen. It’s time to save the world, let’s launch the movement that can do it.