Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

A US marine reserve the size of Mexico!

08/13/2014 Nativegrl77

Right now, President Obama is receiving public comments on whether or not to create the world’s largest Marine Protected Area in the Pacific Ocean. But he’s under enormous pressure from a powerful, federally-funded fishing lobby to water down the plan.

We can’t let that happen — majestic whales, turtles and fish stocks are all disappearing. Scientists say the best way to save our oceans is to protect large swaths from exploitation so that marine life can recover. Four years ago, we played a pivotal role persuading the UK government to create a massive marine sanctuary in the Indian Ocean, and the UK Foreign Ministry cited our campaign in its announcement. Now, if we all speak out, our own government could create a reserve the size of Mexico – or California and Texas put together!

If we send an avalanche of supportive messages to the White House consultation process right now, we will empower President Obama to counter opposition and help save our oceans for generations to come. Click the link below to send a message, and tell everyone — let’s deliver 100,000 American voices before the official consultation closes in days:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/ocean_of_hope_usasam/?biEWLbb&v=43694

The reports are dire: in less than four decades, our oceans could be completely fished-out and coral reefs might be dead within our grandchildren’s lifetime! This new plan alone won’t be enough to fix the problem, but it could start turning the tide against global ocean destruction — it will not only double the worldwide oceanic area that is fully protected, but also encourage other governments to follow suit.

President Obama says he is willing to use executive action to implement the plan, but a powerful fishing lobby is trying to block it saying the sanctuary will hurt their business. But in fact 95% of the fishing they’re talking about happens outside of the protected zone. Other interests want to keep the area open for future drilling and mining, which could be disastrous.

The consultation is only open for a few more days and on August 11 the government will consult with local interest groups in Hawaii to scope out the plan. If 100,000 of us send strong messages of support to the nationwide consultation, and our community turns out in force at the Hawaii town hall meeting, we can drown out the special interests.

With the greatest ownership of ocean in the world, the US now has a tremendous opportunity for global leadership. Let’s lay the foundation for protecting our oceans from exploitation. Click below to send a message to the consultation process, and forward this to friends and family:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/ocean_of_hope_usasam/?biEWLbb&v=43694

Our oceans are being decimated by a myriad of threats. But time and again Avaaz members have rallied to save our precious marine life. Around the world we have helped secure massive ocean sanctuaries and plans to protect tuna and whales. Now we can do it at home. Let’s win this!

With hope,

Danny, Luis, Lisa, Andrea, Ricken, Ana Sofia and the whole Avaaz team

MORE INFORMATION:

Pacific fishing interests oppose Obama’s plan to expand marine reserve (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/30/pacific-fishing-interests-oppose-obamas-plan-to-expand-marine-reserve/

Several Nations Announce Massive Marine Reserves in the Pacific (National Geographic)
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/06/140617-pacific-marine-reserves-ocean-environment/

Obama Calls For Major Expansion Of Pacific Ocean Preserve (Law 360.com)
http://www.law360.com/articles/548854/obama-calls-for-major-expansion-of-pacific-ocean-preserve

Mr. Obama’s Ocean Monument (NYTimes)
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/18/opinion/mr-obamas-ocean-monument.html

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tracy Newman, Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility

08/13/2014 Nativegrl77


	Which do you want first — the good news, or the bad? Here’s the bad: One third of the voters who support universal background checks ALSO support the gun lobby’s ballot measure that would prevent Washington from having universal background checks. Crazy, right? Now, the good news: We know how to beat this. We know exactly what voters need to hear to clear up this confusion, and we are ready to have hundreds of thousands of conversations with voters all across the state. We just need the resources to fuel our campaign — and one of our supporters has agreed to match every grassroots donation between now and Au‌g‌ust 1‌5, up to $20,000. Click here to chip in $3 right now, and make it worth $6! It’s that simple — we need to have a conversation with hundreds of thousands of our friends and neighbors to clear things up. And we need your help to do it. Will you help us fight the gun lobby’s attempt to trick our voters? Chip in $3 right now, and it’ll be DOUBLED. Thanks for your help, Tracy Newman Finance Director Yes on 594

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Billions and Billions Wasted

08/12/2014 Nativegrl77

By CAP Action War Room

Conservative States Rejecting Medicaid Expansion Are Sacrificing Billions of Dollars And Leaving Millions Uninsured

The fight over Medicaid expansion continues, with 24 conservative states still refusing to expand health care to low-income working residents simply because of politics. As we have documented before, these political games have real consequences: Charlene Dill, a 32-year-old working mom with three small children, died in late March because she fell into Florida’s Medicaid coverage gap and wasn’t able to access the care she needed.

A new report from the Urban Institute and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation details the scope of these consequences in the number of people going without insurance and the economic losses to states. Both of these outcomes are the result of conservative lawmakers’ decision to reject federal funds to expand health care in their states. Here are the key findings, by the numbers:

6.7 million: The number of residents that would have been eligible for affordable coverage projected to remain uninsured in the 24 states that have not expanded Medicaid.
$423.6 billion: The amount of money that states are sacrificing in federal Medicaid funds from 2013-2022. These are billions that would not only go to help make sure people have the health care that they need, they would also heighten economic activity and spur job growth in the states.
$167.8 billion: Amount of money from additional Medicaid funding that hospitals in these 24 states are projected to lose. This funding was intended to offset cuts the Affordable Care Act made to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates: more people covered could mean lower rates. But without the bigger pool of insured residents through Medicaid expansion, hospitals lose out big time. Some hospitals, especially in rural areas, are even being forced to shutter their doors.
32.3 percent: The increase in Medicaid payments that hospitals in non-expansion states would see in 2016 if these states decided to go ahead with Medicaid expansion.
$13.41: The amount of federal funds, for every $1 the state invests, that would flow into these 24 states if they chose to go forward with Medicaid expansion. The study projects that states would have to pay a combined $31.6 billion and receive $423.6 billion from the federal government. The report also mentions that even these costs to the state would be offset: “Every comprehensive state-level budget analysis of which we know found that expansion helps state budgets, because it generates state savings and additional revenues that exceed increased Medicaid costs.”
38 percent: How much the uninsured rate has dropped in states that have expanded Medicaid since September 2013, from 16.2 to 10.1 percent.
9 percent: How much the uninsured rate has dropped in states that have refused to expand Medicaid since September 2013, from 20.0 to 18.3 percent.

BOTTOM LINE: The latest analysis underscores why conservative lawmakers need to put people over politics and expand Medicaid in their states. By denying health care to low-income working people, they are only hurting their citizens and their state economies.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

An Update on the Iraq Crisis

08/12/2014 Nativegrl77

President Obama gave an update Saturday morning about the situation in Iraq, detailing the progress of current American operations in the country:

First, American forces have conducted targeted airstrikes against terrorist forces outside the city of Erbil to prevent them from advancing on the city and to protect our American diplomats and military personnel. So far, these strikes have successfully destroyed arms and equipment that ISIL terrorists could have used against Erbil. Meanwhile, Kurdish forces on the ground continue to defend the city, and the United States and the Iraqi government have stepped up our military assistance to Kurdish forces as they wage their fight.

Second, our humanitarian effort continues to help the men, women and children stranded on Mount Sinjar. American forces have so far conducted two successful airdrops — delivering thousands of meals and gallons of water to these desperate men, women and children. And American aircraft are positioned to strike ISIL terrorists around the mountain to help forces in Iraq break the siege and rescue those who are trapped there.

“Ultimately, only Iraqis can ensure the security and stability of Iraq,” the President said. “The United States can’t do it for them, but we can and will be partners in that effort.”

Watch President Obama’s full statement here:

Airstrikes in Iraq: What You Need to Know

The President takes no decision more seriously than the use of military force. So it’s worth taking a few minutes to make sure you understand exactly what is happening in Iraq right now, who is involved, and why we are taking action.

It’s that time of year again! We’re bringing back the Summer Mailbag edition of West Wing Week. If you’ve got a question about President Obama’s policies, what it’s like to work at the White House, or really anything you’ve been meaning to ask about his day-to-day life or his Administration, we want to hear from you.

Today, the Administration is formally launching the U.S. Digital Service — a small team made up of our country’s brightest digital talent that will work with agencies to remove barriers to exceptional service delivery and help remake the digital experience that people and businesses have with their government.