Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Help us give the gift of life

12/31/2013 Nativegrl77

Thank you for your support this year. Because of you we are closer to metting our goal of planting ten million trees within the next five years.

In the new year, you can give the gift of a sustainable future by donating to plant trees in the world’s poorest communities.

Trees bring joy and festivity into people’s homes, it’s a symbol of new life.

But for many people, trees aren’t just about joy and celebration. They’re about providing food for their children, securing their land from erosion and feeding their livestock. They’re about providing long-term economic and environmental sustainability.

Each dollar you donate will help plant one tree.

Now, through Earth Day Network’s Canopy Project, you can even donate to plant a plot of trees in someone’s name and send it as a gift.

Your gift will help people and the planet we share.

Give the gift of trees today!

-The Earth Day Network Team

P.S. – Check out the special gifts from our partner

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Top 10 2013: least and most expensive places to live

12/30/2013 Nativegrl77

COLI Release Highlights, Quarter 3 2013

<!–This report represents the sixth edition of a new format for the Cost of Living Index. Starting in 2007, C2ER has published an Annual Review of data for the preceding year. The data contained within the report represents unweighted average prices submitted for the first three quarters of the year, with new index numbers calculated using the modified weights for the upcoming year applied to these average prices. For further details on the annual average methodology, please visit our website at http://www.coli.org/Method.asp.

–>Among the 306 urban areas that have participated the third quarter 2013 Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan) to just over 19 percent below the national average in Norman, OK. The Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by C2ER – The Council for Community and Economic Research.

The Ten Most and Least Expensive Urban Areas in the Cost of Living Index (COLI) Third Quarter 2013 National Average for 306 Urban Areas = 100
Most Expensive			Least Expensive
Ranking	Urban Areas	COL Index	Ranking	Urban Areas	COL Index
1	New York (Manhattan) NY	221.3	1	Norman OK	82.4
2	New York (Brooklyn) NY	175.6	2	Pueblo CO	82.5
3	Honolulu HI	167.5	3	Harlingen TX	83.4
4	San Francisco CA	159.9	4	Memphis TN	84.9
5	New York (Queens) NY	151.4	5	Youngstown-Warren OH	85.5
6	Hilo HI	149.1	6	Covington KY	85.7
7	San Jose CA	148.8	7	Tupelo MS	85.8
8	Stamford CT	143.3	8	Augusta-Aiken GA-SC	85.9
9	Washington DC	141.6	9	Birmingham AL	85.9
10	Orange County CA	140.7	10	Sherman-Denison TX	86.2

The Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. It is based on more than 90,000 prices covering almost 60 different items for which prices are collected three times a year by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations or university applied economic centers in each participating urban area. Small differences in the index numbers should not be interpreted as significant.

The composite index is based on six components – housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services.

www.coli.org

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Season’s Greetings … NMAAHC

12/30/2013 Nativegrl77

National Museum of African American History of Culture

As you reunite and celebrate with your loved ones this holiday season, I want to thank you for all that you have done to help build the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
With your support, 2013 has been a great year for the Museum. The future museum site is a frenzy of activity as we continue to raise the walls and support columns. To date, we’ve collected over 23,000 artifacts including two large pieces — a Southern Railway railroad car (segregated) and a guard tower from Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola — that will be a part of our inaugural exhibition on segregation. All of this progress is thanks to friends like you.
I wish you and your loved ones peace and joy this holiday season and into the New Year.

Sincerely, Signature

Lonnie G. Bunch Director

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Harassing scientists needs to stop — now

12/30/2013 Nativegrl77

The Virginia Supreme court just agreed to hear a disturbing case. The question: whether to hand over the private emails of climate scientist Dr. Michael Mann to people who have been trying to destroy him professionally for a decade—all because they disagree with his research.¹

When Dr. Mann’s scientific findings angered the oil industry, an industry “think tank” sued for access to Dr. Mann’s private correspondence.² Another “think tank” compared him to a convicted child molester.³ His research has been twisted again and again by the media.

Researchers are often ill-equipped to deal with media or politicians. That’s where we come in—to help them defend their science in the court of public opinion. Thanks to you, UCS is the first place many scientists turn when they’re targeted.

There are only a few days left, and we need you with us to help provide scientists the training and resources they need to stand up to attacks and effectively counter misinformation in 2014. Make a tax-deductible donation today.

Sadly, Dr. Mann is just one of many scientists under threat. Luckily, they can count on UCS members to have their backs. In fact, thanks to you, we’re often the first group scientists turn to when dragged into court or defamed in the media:

Climate scientist Dr. Katharine Hayhoe was called a “babe” by Rush Limbaugh and sued by a Koch-affiliated group for access to her emails.⁴ We provided Dr. Hayhoe with extensive media training in order to handle the firestorm she faced.
Researcher Dr. Shaun Marcott was sent hate mail and online bloggers twisted his groundbreaking findings to obscure the facts.⁵ We helped Dr. Marcott overcome the misreports and take his actual findings directly to Congressional leaders.

For Dr. Mann, we were able to fact check the court filings in his case. We’re here to support researchers as they defend their work—and these scientists are counting on you to stand with them.

Help do even more for scientists in 2014—make your year-end gift before December 31!

The climate deniers aren’t resting—so neither can we. Almost every day, there’s a new need to stand up for scientific facts or to expose the money and influence behind a lobbyist, ideologue, or corporation out to undermine scientists in pursuit of their own private interest. That won’t change in the New Year, so I’m glad you’re on our side.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Rest, PhD, MPA Executive Director

P.S. I wanted to share something Dr. Hayoe told us: “I received a lot of advice about how to respond to the attacks, but the Union of Concerned Scientists was the group that had my best interests as a scientist at heart.” Hearing that scientists value our work always inspires me, and I hope you understand the powerful impact you have as a part of this community. Thank you for considering a year-end gift today.

1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/local/wp/2013/10/09/prince-william-foia-case-on-global-warming-headed-for-virginia-supreme-court/ 2. http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/abuses_of_science/va-ag-timeline.html 3. http://blog.ucsusa.org/cei-compares-climate-scientist-to-a-child-molester 4. http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2012/01/newt-dumps-leading-climate-scientist 5. http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2013/03/response-by-marcott-et-al/

The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet’s most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

They murdered my son

12/30/2013 Nativegrl77

Protect Wisconsin Families and Honest Police: Support Fair Investigations

By Michael Bell Team : Plea for a Change

Madison, WisconsinI will never forget the day I lost my son at the hands of 4 police officers who betrayed the honor and trust of the badge they wore. Our family’s tragedy was only made worse when the officers were cleared of all wrongdoing, after being investigated by their peers instead of an independent panel. The sworn testimony of each officer directly opposed irrefutable forensic evidence provided by the medical examiner. Still, no fault. As we struggled to understand this miscarriage of justice we discovered we were not alone, many families were denied an independent investigation when their loved ones were taken. We decided that together we could make their deaths mean something.

Families who have lost loved ones at the hands of officers are coming together across the nation to demand unbiased investigations. Nationwide, officer involved deaths are routinely investigated by their coworkers resulting in an impossible record of perfection. In Wisconsin alone, an “unjustified” ruling by an officer’s department or commission cannot be found in 125 years.

The people of Wisconsin have before them a Bill to bring independent review to all officer-involved fatalities in addition to drug testing of all officers involved.

Please help Wisconsin set a much-needed precedent for all states across the nation with AB 409, the Citizens and Law Enforcement Safety Act.

Police depend on community trust in order to succeed at their jobs. Yet an antiquated system allows bad cops to avoid accountability and tarnish the image of all law officers. AB 409 is designed to build and strengthen community trust via transparent review by experienced and independent professionals. If we come together and make AB 409 law, the public will have rock-solid confidence that their police force is being held to uniform and consistent standards and law enforcement will be protected from speculation and suspicion.

The entire bill can be seen on the state website: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2013/proposals/ab409

Please sign this petition to ensure independent and fair investigations for all officer-involved fatalities!