Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

a message from Alan Grayson



Member of Congress?

Members of Congress can claim expertise in two things: getting elected, and getting re-elected. But they legislate on everything that the Constitution allows. So you have lawyers and businessmen conducting hearings on space exploration, lawyers and businessmen drafting legislation on mining, lawyers and businessmen voting on foreign policy resolutions.

Wouldn’t it be nice to support a candidate for Congress who is a true expert in something other than campaigning? Well, you can; his name is Dr. Lee Rogers, in California’s 25th Congressional district.

Dr. Rogers is a podiatrist and an award-winning medical researcher. He runs the Amputation Prevention Center in Los Angeles, and he teaches medicine. He pioneered a new protocol for diabetes patients that reduced amputations by 72%.

If you want to see a person like that in Congress, click here.

Back in the 1990s, I worked with someone who had a severe case of diabetes. I watched his health deteriorate over the years. The circulation in his legs weakened to the point where a foot was amputated.

It was terrible.

But if my friend were alive today, Dr. Rogers probably could save that foot.

Healthcare is now one-sixth of the US economy. Imagine how good it would be to have someone in Congress who knows it so well.

A doctor who would be in a position to improve healthcare in America? What a concept!

I’m happy that Dr. Rogers is a solid progressive. I’m happy that a Rogers victory means the defeat of Buck McKeon, who has been called the most corrupt Member of Congress. But I’m especially happy that Dr. Rogers knows something about something – a quality that Congress sorely needs. For the good of Congress, and our health, I’d like to see Dr. Lee Rogers in Congress.

California is holding its “jungle primary” next Tuesday, where Democrats and Republicans are lumped together. To have a chance against Dirty Buck in November, Dr. Rogers has to do well on June 5. Please show your support.

Courage,

Alan Grayson

CARE …Helene D. Gayle, MD, MPH President and CEO, CARE


CARE -- In the pounding mid-day African sun ... what is the weight of water many women in Africa carry on their head for up to five miles a day?
Schoolchildren have become agents of change in Kenya to help bring some relief to their mothers shouldering this daily burden. Learn how here.

Sincerely, Helene D. Gayle, MD, MPH President and CEO, CARE 

The Amazon and Oil Contamination … Rainforest Action NetWork


Rainforest Action Network

How can you help the communities of the Amazon fighting oil contamination and a historic health crisis?
With water.
Specifically, you can help spread the word about ClearWater, a community-led project that is providing immediate relief to the people of the Ecuadorean Amazon. The same powerful communities that have been waging a 19-year battle to bring Chevron to justice for its toxic legacy in the Amazon are now building safe drinking water systems for themselves. Can you help spread the word by sharing this video with your friends and family?

For nearly two decades, 30,000 Indigenous and rural Ecuadoreans have been fighting to hold Chevron accountable for its oil pollution in the Amazon. What’s more, they’ve kept up the fight even while the absence of readily available clean water has contributed to a health emergency for their communities, including an epidemic of cancer, miscarriages, birth defects, and other ailments.
That’s why these rainforest communities have teamed up to launch ClearWater — a project that is providing safe drinking water to the people of the Ecuadorean Amazon while they continue to hold Chevron accountable for its oily mess.
Please share the video now.

Ginger Cassady
Ginger Cassady             Change Chevron

CEO John Watson … Wake Up


Rainforest Action Network
Send Chevron CEO John Watson a wake up call now!
BoA AGM Image
Take Action

RAN activists will be joining a large coalition of labor groups, community organizers, climate activists, and other environmentalists tomorrow at a protest outside of Chevron’s annual shareholder meeting. While protesters call out Chevron for putting profits ahead of people and planet outside, I’ll be going inside the meeting with people from communities impacted by Chevron operations from Nigeria to Brazil.
Two of the brave Ecuadoreans suing Chevron to clean up of its massive oil contamination in the Amazon — Luz Trinidad Andrea Cusangua and Robinson Yumbo —  will travel to San Ramon, CA to take their calls for justice directly to the company.
Chevron needs to know that for every person like Luz and Robinson inside the meeting and for every protestor outside the meeting, there are thousands more who stand with us. Can you call Chevron CEO John Watson and ask him to take responsibility for his company’s oily mess in Ecuador?
We’ve set up a page that has everything you need to send a wake-up call to Watson: Phone number, sample call script, and a form so you can report back to us how the call went. Send Chevron’s CEO a wake up call now!
Even a large number of Chevron shareholders feel the company’s executive team has badly mismanaged the Ecuador lawsuit. One recently wrote: “Chevron’s actions are hurting shareholders as well as the indigenous people of the rainforest.” You can be sure Chevron shareholders will make their voices heard at the meeting, just as Luz and Robinson will be making their calls for justice in Ecuador loud and clear.
Chevron CEO John Watson needs to hear from you too.

Ginger Cassady

For a cleaner future,

Ginger Cassady             Change Chevron

Fifty years after Vietnam


The White House

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Fifty years after VietnamIn his speech at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., President Obama did more than just mark Memorial Day; he began the 50th commemoration of that conflict and those who served in one of America’s longest wars.Fifty years ago, American forces stepped up operations in Vietnam. During the conflict, more than three million Americans served in the Vietnam war, and more than 58,000 American patriots gave their lives. And when U.S. forces returned home, too many never received the hero’s welcome they deserved.

Yesterday, President Obama told their story as it should have been told all along — a story of patriotism, honor, and courage. Here’s a short video to mark this important moment that you can share to help set the record straight and honor the service of Americans who fought in Vietnam:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/vietnam-war-50th

Watch the video

P.S. — To learn more about what you can do to support all America’s veterans and military families, become a part of the Joining Forces initiative.

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