Monthly Archives: May 2016

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

88,200 gallons of oil


greenpeaceShell just caused an 88,200-gallon oil spill 90 miles off the coast of Louisiana.

Shell oil spill in the gulf.

Tell President Obama to stop ALL new offshore drilling in the Gulf and Arctic.

Picture 88,200 gallons of crude oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico. This didn’t happen years ago — it happened less than two weeks ago near Shell’s Brutus drilling platform.

The photos are shocking. But if you ask coastal communities in the Gulf they’ll tell you the impacts of chronic fossil fuel exploitation are nothing new. Oil companies view spills like this one as business as usual. This is not acceptable — and business as usual CANNOT continue.

The good news is there’s a clear way to prevent more spills like this one and protect our climate at the same time — and President Obama can do it with the stroke of a pen.

There are fewer than 25 days left to gather 24,000 public comments against offshore drilling, and your voice needs to be heard. Will you stand with coastal communities and demand that President Obama end ALL new offshore drilling in the Gulf and other waters today?

This recent Shell spill — just 90 miles off the coast of Louisiana — is one of the largest oil spills in the region since BP’s 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, which dumped hundreds of millions of gallons of oil into the ocean. But it’s not the only spill. Since 2010, over 10,000 spills have reported in the Gulf of Mexico alone.

Considering the devastation coastal communities throughout the Gulf still struggle with today, it’s hard to understand how the Obama administration is even considering a plan that would allow new drilling off the Gulf and Alaskan coasts.

New drilling in the Gulf and other waters is bad for coastal communities, our oceans, and the climate. But you and I have the power to prevent future oil disasters and worsening climate change. Are you in?

Please join me while there’s still time. Tell President Obama NO NEW DRILLING in the Gulf or Arctic.

Thank you,

Ryan Schleeter
Climate Team, Greenpeace USA

P.S. The opportunity to tell President Obama to stop ALL new offshore drilling is almost over — and this recent Shell oil spill shows what we are up against. Don’t miss out on this chance to make your voice heard — send your comment now.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

ACTION:Turn On The Water … it’s the right thing -reminder


Thousands of low-income Black Detroit residents have already had their water shut-off risking both public health and personal safety. What’s worse — the city plans to resume shut-offs tomorrow.
Water is a human right.ImageTell the panel: turn the water back on in DetroitTake Action

Thousands of low income Black Detroit residents have already had their water shut off, risking both public health and personal safety. What’s worse — the city plans to resume shut-offs tomorrow.1

Just weeks ago, under pressure from organizers in Detroit and thousands of supporters online, Governor Rick Snyder’s hand-picked Emergency Manager returned control of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) to the duly-elected mayor.2 While a small victory for local control, the move was ultimately a political ploy to provide cover for Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr. Mayor Duggan’s “10 Point Plan” does little more than offer better customer service while continuing the inhumane and unjust practice of shutting off water.3

The solution is the Water Affordability Program (WAP) passed by the city council back in 2005. The WAP would provide relief to thousands and create a safety net that allows low income residents to pay on a sliding scale, based on their income. A 3-judge panel is holding a hearing on August 29th during which they could order the WAP back into effect and end the shutoffs once and for all.

Sign the petition: tell the panel to turn the water back on and implement the Water Affordability Program.

While Detroiters suffer under policies implemented by an unelected emergency manager, corporations are protected and speculators are circling. Individuals with as little as $33 owed have had their water shut off without warning while the Palmer Park Golf Course which owes $437,714 still has water.4 The initial round of shutoffs were a tactic to make the city’s water rights a more attractive target to potential private investors. 5

Even with authority tenuously returned to the Mayor, his plan offers little hope to residents whose rates have risen 119% in the past decade.6 Under this scheme, relief is only available after putting down a large lump sum payment and there is no promise that the emergency manager will not seize back control and change the rules yet again.

The Water Affordability Program would provide relief to all residents living under 175% of the federal poverty line and reign in the out-of-control rates DWSD has charged.7 The WAP is the best way to restore water to thousands of residents in Detroit at reasonable rates.

Turn the water back on: Sign the petition to implement the WAP.

Water is a basic human right and denying access to water poses a dire threat to public health. To make matters worse, earlier this month there were historic floods in Detroit. A state of emergency was declared. The flooding has caused millions of gallons of sewage to back up into waterways and basements. 8 How are you supposed to clean sewage from your basement when the city has shut off your water?

Sign the petition: Turn the water back on in Detroit!

Thanks and Peace,

Aimée, Rashad, Arisha, Matt, Johnny and the entire ColorOfChange.org team.

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way.

1. “Duggan, DWSD to release updated plan on water shutoffs Thursday; moratorium extended until Aug. 25,” Metro Times, 8/4/14,
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3787?t=8&akid=3599.1174326.1Q65qP

2.”Detroit’s drought of democracy,” New York Times, 7/29/14,
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3789?t=10&akid=3599.1174326.1Q65qP

3.”Orr Dumps ‘Hot Mess’ of Water Shut-offs in Duggan’s Lap,” People’s Water Board, 7/29/14
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3790?t=12&akid=3599.1174326.1Q65qP

4. “Detroit water department now sending shut-off crews to commercial customers,” Detroit Free Press, 7/14/14
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3798?t=14&akid=3599.1174326.1Q65qP

5.”Detroit shuts off water to thousands of broke residents,” Think Progress, 6/20/14,
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3791?t=16&akid=3599.1174326.1Q65qP

6. See reference 3.

7. See reference 3.

8. “Snyder declares flood disaster for southeast Michigan,” Detroit Free Press, 8/20/14,
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3792?t=18&akid=3599.1174326.1Q65qP

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Celebrating Paid Family Leave with Governor Cuomo, and other news from ABB
Headlines from the Front Lines—May 2016
Celebrating paid family leave in New York
On May 12th, advocates and officials from across New York State gathered to celebrate passage of the strongest paid family leave law in the country. The law, enacted earlier this year as part of the state budget, will provide 12 weeks of job protected paid family leave to workers in New York regardless of the size of their employer. ABB Co-President Dina Bakst introduced Governor Andrew Cuomo, a critical leader in the fight for paid family leave. The governor praised ABB’s work, thanked the entire paid family leave coalition for their efforts, and emphasized that New York’s leadership will boost the paid family leave movement around the country. Governor Cuomo also spoke passionately about the concrete personal impact this law will have for working New Yorkers, saying “paid family leave will change people’s lives.” In honor of his invaluable contributions to the passage of paid family leave, Governor Cuomo received the “Champion for Working Families and Children” award from the New York Paid Family Leave Insurance Campaign.

Outside the new ABB offices in Nashville
We’ve got a new address in Nashville!
This month, under the leadership of Elizabeth Gedmark, Director of the Southern Office, ABB opened a new office space in Nashville, Tennessee, where Elizabeth and new Staff Attorney Cara Suvall will continue ABB’s efforts to build partnerships, raise awareness about the needs of Southern women and families, and replicate our successful model for advocacy to empower communities. Please join us in welcoming Cara, as well as the Southern Office’s summer legal intern, Lauren Barter.
Improving the lives of young women and girls in NYC
Last fall, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the New York City Council launched the Young Women’s Initiative to identify gaps in services for young women ages 12 to 24, with a focus on women of color. On May 16th, the leaders and organizers charged with crafting policy recommendations to address racial, gender, and other disparities released their findings. Among a variety of other recommendations, the #SheWillBe reportemphasizes the need to expand outreach to low-wage workers regarding their rights to paid sick days and pregnancy accommodations in the workplace. ABB proudly joined fellow advocacy groups on the steps of City Hall to celebrate this important step towards improving the lives of young women and girls in New York City.
Spreading the word about workplace protections for pregnant women and family caregivers
On May 18th, ABB Co-President Dina Bakst joined Commissioner and Chair of the New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), Carmelyn Malalis, and Executive Director of the New York City Commission on Gender Equity, Azi Khalili, to discuss legal protections for pregnant women and caregivers in New York City. After opening remarks from the panelists, participants broke into discussion groups to ask questions about recent guidance from the CCHR on pregnancy discrimination, and learn more about new amendments that prohibit discrimination in employment based on caregiver status, and housing discrimination based on status as a survivor of domestic violence.  Participants discussed ideas for outreach and community education in all three areas.
Raising up workers’ voices with the White House
On May 6th, ABB attended the White House and the Department of Labor’s Worker Voice Regional Summit. Various local leaders spoke, including Gale Brewer, Manhattan Borough President, and Cecilia Muñoz, the Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, delivered keynote remarks.
Among various issues affecting workers, participants discussed New York’s Paid Family Leave law in a breakout group led by Eric Williams of the New York State Paid Leave Coalition. Workers from the region shared their thoughts on how to educate the public about the law, and asked questions about how the law will work when it goes into effect in January 2018.
Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the Senate ** CONGRESS 5/26 ** the House


Obama Launches DNC Campaign Tour At Illinois State Capitol

Schedule for Thursday, May 26, 2016

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2943, the National Defense Authorization Act, post-cloture. All time during adjournment, recess, and morning business will count post-cloture. Unless an agreement is reached, all post-cloture time will expire at approximately 6:00pm.

It is also possible that the Senate reaches an agreement on TSCA during Thursday’s session.

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Last Floor Action:
9:13:09 A.M. -H. Res. 751
DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 751.

9:00:27 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:00:33 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:02:06 A.M. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Hultgren demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Hultgren objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
9:02:31 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Hultgren to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:02:52 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.
9:12:24 A.M. H. Res. 751 Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 751 — “Relating to consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2577) making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes.”
9:13:09 A.M. H. Res. 751 DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 751.

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