Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

A Better Balance

12/04/2014 Nativegrl77

Dear Friend,

Today is Giving Tuesday–a day dedicated to giving back. Charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity during the holiday season.We hope you’ll join us for this special day of giving back. Your generous support helps us make a difference for workers like:

Sonica Smith

Sonica Smith, whom we helped to get the water and bathroom breaks she needed to stay healthy while pregnant and working the retail floor.
A security guard, who called us when his employer failed to pay him for a sick day under the New York City Earned Sick Time Act. Armed with our advice about his rights and backed by our promise of legal assistance, he went back to his employer and got paid what he was owed.
And millions of others who no longer have to make impossible choices between their jobs and their families, thanks to new laws we helped to enact guaranteeing paid sick leave, pregnancy accommodations and paid family leave in states and cities across the nation.

As one of our clients recently wrote:

“Knowing that organizations like ABB exist, I feel more confident in my role as a pregnant worker and a soon-to-be working mother. I am proud and relieved that I will able to excel in my growing career and also provide for my son who will be here in just a few months. I thank ABB for their incredible work and hope to help them to advocate for the rights of working parents long into the future.”

You can also help A Better Balance advocate for families by posting an #UNSelfie to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter saying why these issues are important to you and tagging @ABetterBalance.

Thank you as always for your support!

The A Better Balance Team,

Sherry, Dina, Phoebe, Jared, Elizabeth, Risha, Morenike, Rachel, Jake, Molly & Lynn

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Not Again

12/04/2014 Nativegrl77

By CAP Action War Room

Grand Jury Won’t Charge Officer Who Killed Eric Garner With Illegal Chokehold

This afternoon, a grand jury voted not to file any charges against David Pantaleo, the New York Police Department officer who took the life of Eric Garner. The decision comes just a few weeks after a grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri voted not to indict officer Darren Wilson for shooting and killing unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.

Here are some of the facts of the case. The fatal encounter started with allegations that Garner had committed the very minor offense of selling untaxed cigarettes. Garner died after Pantaleo put him in an chokehold — a maneuver banned by the police department. The medical examiner ruled Garner’s death as a homicide. The entire encounter was recorded on video by a witness. Garner’s last words were “I can’t breathe,” which he repeated 11 times.

Still, that was apparently not enough for the grand jury to find evidence of a crime. Now, Pantaleo may never face a public trial unless he is charged by federal or other authorities later. The Department of Justice is opening up a criminal civil rights investigation into the case.

We’ve put together a round up of some key stories to read on the topic:

Grand Jury Won’t Charge Cop Who Killed Eric Garner With Illegal Chokehold.
New York Members of Congress Call for Federal Investigation Into Eric Garner’s Death. “We want to make it clear this is not a black problem,” Rep. Charlie Rangel said. “This is a problem we have in our great country.”
Social Media Erupts After Grand Jury Decision Not To Indict Cop Who Killed Eric Garner On Camera. It took no time at all.
Fox Reacts To Garner Decision: ‘Hope Nothing Happens In NYC… We’ve Got The Tree Lighting Ceremony’. Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson expressed her deep concern about the outcome: not concern that the police killed Garner, but concern that anger over the decision could impact a “the tree lighting ceremony” scheduled for that evening at Rockefeller Center.
The Gentle Giant Cut Down by Cops. Eric Garner’s final moments were captured on camera as he was held down by police officers. Mourners at his funeral wore T-shirts bearing his last words: “I can’t breathe!”
The Guy Who Filmed Eric Garner Being Choked To Death Was Indicted By The Grand Jury. Despite his testimony, grand jury indicted Ramsey Orta, chokehold filmer, on gun charge.
Beyond Body Cams: Emerging Technologies That Could Help Make Police More Accountable. Body cams are a great start, but there is other emerging technology that can help curb police abuse.
If It Happened There: Courts Sanction Killings by U.S. Security Forces. How would the U.S. media cover the Eric Garner case if it happened in another country?

BOTTOM LINE: Eric Garner’s case highlights a troubling reality. Too often equal justice under the law has a different meaning in communities of color. We need to do more to ensure that we have a country in which everyone, no matter what the color of their skin or whether they are in position of authority, is treated equally by the criminal justice system. Only then can we strengthen the trust between our communities and law enforcement.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Iran … it’s working

12/04/2014 Nativegrl77

Last week, the United States agreed to extend nuclear talks with Iran for an additional seven months.

Congress should support that decision and refrain from passing any new sanctions that would encourage Iran to resume its uranium enrichment program.

The initial deal reached last November resulted in the dilution of Iran’s stockpile of uranium that could be easily converted into weapons-grade fuel, and an agreement that they would not install any new centrifuges.

Last week’s extension is proof that the process is working. To give into the John McCain’s of the U.S. Senate now would be a grave mistake.

Send a message to the U.S. Senate telling your senators that you support a diplomatic approach to disabusing Iran of their nuclear ambitions.

The purpose of sanctions was always to open the door to negotiations with Iran — now that we’re making progress it would be counterproductive to ratchet up the punitive measures even further.

And if it turns out that Iran is not serious about the talks, there’s always time to revisit sanctions.

During President Obama’s first campaign, he pledged to enter into a dialogue with Iran about halting their nuclear ambitions.

He’s done that … and it’s working.

Thanks for making your voice heard,

Jon Soltz
Iraq War Veteran & Chairman
VoteVets.org

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

_-_Orangutan.png Protect their home

12/04/2014 Nativegrl77

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

NFL: Stand UP for Women

12/03/2014 Nativegrl77

Tell NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell:
“The shamefully insufficient two-game suspension of Ray Rice for his documented assault of Janay Palmer sends a terrible message about how the NFL views violence against women. You need to take a strong stand and implement guidance–including appropriate discipline–for how the league will handle domestic violence, sexual assault, and any other violence against women in the future.”

Add your name:

Earlier this year, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was arrested for the aggravated assault of Janay Palmer, his fiancee. The assault was especially newsworthy because video of Rice dragging an unconscious Palmer off an elevator went viral, but it’s hardly the only incident of violence against women involving NFL players.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has complete discretion in punishing players who violate the league’s personal conduct policy. Last week, he gave Rice a two-game suspension and a $58,000 fine. His decision to dole out such a weak punishment, which is lighter than what players who smoke marijuana receive, has sent shockwaves through the league and the media. On Monday, the NFL doubled down when NFL senior vice president of labor policy Adolpho Birch went on the radio and defended Goodell’s decision as “appropriate.”

The NFL’s leadership is sending a clear but terrible message that violence against women doesn’t matter to the league.

Enough’s enough: Join over 50,000 CREDO activists to tell NFL Commissioner Goodell to take violence against women seriously. Click here to sign the petition.

Violence against women is an obvious, long-term problem facing the NFL.¹ But as high-profile arrests of players for domestic violence and sexual assault continue, the league has done little or nothing. Most players involved in domestic violence incidents have received suspensions of one to three games. Commissioner Roger Goodell has issued longer suspensions for pot smoking, taking Adderall, DUI’s, illegal tattoos, and dogfighting.²

The commissioner has unilateral authority to punish people whose behavior is viewed as “detrimental to the welfare” of the league. But while players who are caught using marijuana or performance enhancing drugs are routinely issued serious punishments of four or more games, the NFL has consistently shied away from meaningful punishments for domestic abuse, sexual assault, and violence against women in general.

What does it tell young men and women about women’s value when players receive harsher punishment for smoking pot than for violence against women? The “boys will be boys” culture that spawned the Steubenville tragedy and many a rape and abuse case in football programs around the country is reinforced by a ruling like this.

When the NFL fails to deal seriously with incidents of violence against women, it sends a message to every league employee and fan that violence against women is OK. Tell Commissioner Goodell it’s time for a change. Click the link below to sign the petition.

http://act.credoaction.com/sign/NFL_women?t=5&akid=11311.5370530.j3BLbi

Thanks for standing up for women.

Heidi Hess, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets

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