Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

On November 3rd, 2012, my friend Nikki Dudley was days away from returning from her Air Force deployment when she found out her 21-month-old son Evan was in critical care. Nikki rushed home to find that Evan was in a coma and was not expected to live. The doctors told her Evan’s condition was so severe that he would have had to fall from an 8-story building, straight down to sustain such injuries. Evan died in Nikki’s arms two days later.

Evan died 10 months ago and Nikki still doesn’t know what happened the day her son was taken to the hospital. I started a petition asking Attorney General Beau Biden’s office to complete their investigation to bring justice to my friend.

Nikki left Evan with two military families she trusted while on deployment. She received regular updates from his daycare saying Evan was doing well and she spoke to him every day on Skype. Evan was in the care of one of the families when he sustained his injuries that ultimately killed him. The person who was looking after Evan told 911 that the boy fell down eight carpeted stairs, but his death certificate indicates that the immediate cause of death was “blunt force injury to the head” and that Evan “was assaulted to death.”

An investigation into Evan’s death has been ongoing for nearly a year, and Nikki still doesn’t know how her son died.

She’s even called the attorney general’s office but is brushed off when she asks for more information in Evan’s case. Nikki’s been patient, but it’s been 10 months since Evan died and no one has been held accountable. Join me in asking Attorney General Biden’s office to complete their investigation and bring justice to my friend and her son.

By Keri Marshall

Wilmington, Delaware

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

NG Picks of the Week: Power of Photography | Photo Contest | Your Shot Assignment

10/08/2013 Nativegrl77 2 Comments

Over National Geographic’s 125-year history, the process of taking photographs has changed dramatically, but the end result remains the same; a compelling photograph has the power to make you stop and think—and even sometimes act. This month, we’re taking an inside look at the determination, patience, and vision behind some of our most iconic images—the ones that have made people act to change the world.Explore the power of photography with our featured article. Learn how camera phones have made us all part of a global visual village. Zoom in on the changing face of America. See unearthed treasures from our photo archives. Delve into our new photo blog, Proof. Then see how your own photos stack up by joining our anniversary photo assignment on Your Shot for the chance to win a National Geographic Photo Workshop and more.

Watch what photography has the power to do.

EXPLORE MORE VIDEOSWatch our photographers explain what drives them.

See Cory Richards and Sadie Quarrier explain the latest Your Shot assignment.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

GOP Rejects Own Plan to Keep Government Open

10/08/2013 Nativegrl77

By CAP Action War Room

CHART: Democrats Have Already Negotiated & Compromised

Republicans continue to falsely claim that President Obama and Democrats won’t negotiate over the budget. That’s just not true.

In fact, Senate Democrats even tried once again this afternoon to launch a formal conference committee to hash out a budget through September of 2014, but Republicans blocked their request, as they have on 19 previous occasions since the Senate passed a budget over six months ago.

What is true is that Democrats refuse to negotiate over keeping the government open and paying the bills that Congress has already racked up. Those items should be non-negotiable. They are simply Congress’ job.

As soon as the GOP brings these latest manufactured crises to an end — as they could at literally any moment if they simply allow the House of Representatives to vote on a clean government funding bill and a bill that guarantees that Congress will not allow an unprecedented and catastrophic default on our obligations — Democrats are more than happy to negotiate on the actual budget.

In fact, they have done plenty of negotiating already. The clean bill to re-open the government is already a huge compromise and agrees to the sequester spending levels that Republicans demanded and promised to bring to a vote mere months ago.

Check out this chart that shows just how much Democrats have already compromised with Republicans:

FundingLevelCharticle-1

This compromise bill was Speaker Boehner’s own idea and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) touted it as a major victory for House Republicans just last month, but now they refuse to even allow the House to vote on it. Worse, Republicans continue to threaten to unleash a “financial apocalypse” on the global economy as soon as next week unless the president and Democrats agree to their laundry list of Tea Party demands.

BOTTOM LINE: Unless Congress acts, we’ll face a global economic calamity next week. Americans across the country — including the family members of our troops killed in action — are already suffering because the GOP shut down the government in a failed effort to deny affordable health insurance to millions.

It’s time for these manufactured crises to end. Republicans just need to allow the House of Representatives to vote on a clean government funding bill and a bill that guarantees that Congress will pay our nation’s bills.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

What health and safety really mean in TX

10/08/2013 Nativegrl77

In a few weeks, the Center will return to court to fight for the rights of Texas women.

This is a familiar battleground in the ongoing war on women. Led by Gov. Rick Perry, Texas politicians are fixated on devastating reproductive health care in the state.

It’s time to let Perry know that we won’t stand for his ideological agenda.

He claims to care about the women in his state. On the day he signed the most recent restrictions into law, Perry told reporters, “This is an important day for those who…support the health of Texas women.” ¹

But the governor’s actions speak louder than words. The sweeping law he passed has nothing to do with safety, health, or supporting women.

The truth is, if his restrictions take effect, they would make essential health care services practically impossible for many Texans to access, leaving women’s health and safety at risk.

Tell Gov. Perry to stop using Texas women as political pawns—and to stay out of the very personal decisions that determine their health and future.

Thanks, as always, for all you do,