Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Here’s my prediction: Women are going to make the difference in this election.

There’s a simple reason — we have the most on the line, especially when it comes to health care and our ability to make our own health decisions. From increased access to coverage, to free preventive services, to lower prescription drug costs, and, soon, ending discrimination against women when it comes to health care premiums — the Affordable Care Act protects and benefits American women.

As women, it’s up to us to protect and build on the kind of progress that prevents insurers from discriminating against our daughters, mothers, and friends. We can’t afford to see that legislation repealed.

It’s our health on the table — and it’s our vote to cast. That’s why it’s absolutely critical that we start building right now. The second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act is this Friday, March 23rd, so we’re holding a Women’s Week of Action from March 23rd to March 30th to get the conversation going among our friends. We’ll be meeting up, organizing, and making phone calls to get the word out about how the Affordable Care Act helps women.

First Lady Michelle Obama wants you to be a part of it — so she recorded a special message. Watch this video, then say you’ll take part in a Women’s Week of Action, starting on Friday:

Here’s how women benefit from the Affordable Care Act:

    — By 2014, health reform will completely prohibit an insurance practice called “gender rating” that charges women more than men for the same coverage.
    — Already, young women who would otherwise be uninsured have access to coverage through their parents’ plans. In the future, even more young adults will gain coverage due to the Affordable Care Act’s reforms.
    — In 2011, the President’s law saved women on Medicare more than $1.2 billion on the cost of prescription drugs in the “donut hole” gap — by 2020, the gap will be completely closed.
    — Women with pre-existing conditions will soon gain access to coverage that — without reform — would have been out of reach. Children with pre-existing conditions are now protected.
    — Women have better access to critical preventive care like mammograms and cervical cancer screenings — and in the future, well-woman visits and domestic violence screenings will be included.

All of this will be on the line in November — that’s why we need your help, starting now.

Sign up to be a part of a nationwide Women’s Week of Action. By next Friday, let’s make sure we’ve done all we can to educate our friends, our moms, and our daughters about exactly what we’re voting to protect this fall.

It’s our health and our vote. Let’s make sure we’re the ones making the difference:

http://my.barackobama.com/Join-the-Womens-Week-of-Action

Thanks,

Kate

Kate Chapek
Women’s Vote Director
Obama for America

P.S. — We put together an app that figures out exactly how health reform benefits you. Check it out and find out how the Affordable Care Act is working for you right now — then pass it on.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Support Jay Inslee for Governor of Seattle, WA

03/23/2012 Nativegrl77

On Sunday, Jay Inslee made an exciting announcement.

Effective March 20, Jay Inslee will step down from my seat in Congress to devote myself full-time to my race for governor and to talking to voters throughout Washington about creating jobs and building a new economy for our state.

In the coming years, we have a chance to seize our own destiny, build our own industries, and create our own technological revolutions right here at home.

And because that chance is so important to me, I am going to give everything I have to the cause of building a working Washington, and I am going to hold nothing back.

I am traveling everywhere in our state, and I am going to listen to everybody. If you have an idea, I want to hear it. If you have a problem, I want to know it. If you have a business, I want to help you grow it.

I am getting up every morning, seven days a week, to go out and listen to the people of Washington about their needs, their ideas, and their dreams.

This has not been an easy decision to make. I’ve enjoyed every day of my work representing the people of Washington’s 1st Congressional District. But I have not shied away from hard decisions before.

I did not shy away from the decision to vote against the deregulation of Wall Street. Nor did I shy away from the hard decision to vote against the Iraq war.

I was fully confident in those difficult decisions, and I am fully confident in this one.

THIS is the place where our destiny will be decided. THIS is the place jobs will be created. THIS is the place I can make a real difference getting 290,000 of our neighbors back to work.

I’m excited about what the coming months will bring, and I hope you are too. Thank you to the people of the 1st Congressional District for the honor of representing you all these years. And thank you to all those who have already given so much by helping me in this race.

I’m excited about being able to focus full time on talking to voters. I’m putting it all on the line.

Will you contribute $3 and help us reach as many voters as possible about building a working Washington?

The best is yet to come. Let’s go get ’em!

Jay Inslee

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Al Jazeera English presents- History of the Occupy Movement

03/22/2012 Nativegrl77

Hello,

I would like to share with you the first episode of this season’s Fault Lines, Al Jazeera English‘s award-winning U.S. current affairs show.

In the first of a two part series, Fault Lines tells the definitive history of Occupy Wall Street, looking at how it went from a small group of New York protesters to a broad people’s movement. Despite police repression and media ridicule, the movement mobilized thousands of people fed up with the deep economic divide in the US. Within two months hundreds of Occupy Wall Street camps swept across the country changing the political discourse in the US.

Watch the first episode here:

Fault Lines- History of an Occupation

Stay tuned for upcoming Fault Lines episodes this season on voter rights and immigration detention in the U.S.

New episodes air Tuesdays at 2230 GMT/630 EST, and are available the next day on our YouTube page and website.

Fault Lines on Twitter:

@AJFaultlines

Fault Lines on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/AJFaultLines

Sophia Qureshi

Al Jazeera

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Stop Shell from drilling in the Arctic

03/22/2012 Nativegrl77

Shell responded to our opposition around its plans to drill in the Arctic by filing for one of the broadest and most restrictive injunctions in US history against Greenpeace USA. It’s exactly the kind of anti-democratic reaction you would expect from a major oil company.

Regardless of what happens in court, Greenpeace is going to continue to oppose Shell’s plans. But we’ll only win if we have your support. Join 300,000 people from around the world and demand that Shell stop its plans to put the fragile Arctic at risk.

WWW.greenpeaceusa.org

~Dan

—————————————————————————————————–

From: Dan Howells, Greenpeace webmaster@greenpeaceusa.org

Subject: Save the Arctic

Right this minute a global fleet of Arctic destroyers is speeding towards one of the last unspoiled places on earth.

Shell plans to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean this summer.

Take action and demand Shell stop its plans to drill in the Arctic.

The ships are part of oil giant Shell’s mission to drill the very first wells in the pristine waters off the coast of Alaska. It’s insane, but melting sea ice from global warming has made it a reality. If Shell finds oil, the Arctic oil rush will be on.

It’s not over yet though. People are pushing back. In New Zealand, Greenpeace activists (including Xena Warrior Princess star Lucy Lawless) occupied a drill ship and prevented it from leaving for the Arctic for several days. And just last week activists occupied two icebreakers in Finland.

But to stop Shell for good, we eventually need the public support of millions around the world. Carmen, that means you.

Join the 250,000 people from around the world who have already taken action and demand Shell stop its plans to put the fragile Arctic at risk.

WWW.greenpeaceusa.org

Widespread public opposition here in the US is going to be the key to stopping Shell. The US government is responsible for giving Shell the green light to drill. Greenpeace will be delivering these messages to the company soon. Our goal is to add the names of at least 40,000 Americans to that list before we do. Your message matters.

Shell isn’t prepared for a disaster in the Arctic Ocean. No one is. The Arctic Ocean makes the Gulf of Mexico look like a flat, calm lake. With constant high seas, icebergs and massive waves, there’s no way to effectively cleanup an oil spill in the Arctic Ocean. Even the head of the US Coast Guard has publicly admitted that his agency would have little chance of dealing with a spill in the frozen Arctic on their own.

The plan Shell has submitted actually includes using things like shovels, brooms and a sniffer dog called “Tara” to cleanup a potential spill. It would be funny if there wasn’t so much at stake.

All Shell cares about is its corporate bottom line. Polar bears and unspoiled natural beauty are just obstacles to making ever greater profits. Together we can create a public obstacle Shell can’t overcome — but it’s going to take millions of us.

Add your voice to the growing list of people who will not stay quiet as one of the last wildernesses on earth is destroyed and help save the Arctic.

Sincerely,

Dan Howells
Greenpeace USA Deputy Campaign Director

P.S. Last year, Shell reported it had over 200 spills. It will only be a matter of time before a spill happens in the pristine polar bear habitat of the Arctic. Take action today and help save the Arctic before Shell ruins it forever.

WWW.greenpeaceusa.org

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

MEDICARE MADNESS – Republicans plan to end Medicare

03/21/2012 Nativegrl77

Republicans plan to End Medicare as we know it … Get the Facts – Tell your Legislators to Put PEOPLE before Party and Profit

They’re back at it again. Today, GOP Budget Chairman Paul Ryan launched his campaign to re-brand the Republican plan to end Medicare.

Don’t fall for it — and don’t let your friends and family fall for Ryan’s smoke-and-mirrors either. Get the facts:

Paul Ryan’s new Republican budget will still replace the Medicare guarantee with vouchers for seniors. When your voucher runs out, it runs out. Seniors are left on the hook to pay any additional health care costs. (1)
While seniors pay more (2), the Republicans’ budget protects tax breaks for millionaires, billionaires, and Big Oil companies. (3)

Forward this e-mail to 3 friends right now so they have the facts.

Then, join the fight at our Medicare Madness 2012 Action Center: Help us reach 100,000 strong demanding that Republicans stop putting Millionaires before Medicare >>

You can also share your Medicare story, write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, and share the facts on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Budgets are about priorities, and the Republicans’ priority is that millionaires come first and seniors’ Medicare comes last.

The American people rejected Republicans’ extreme scheme last year. With your help, they will do it again.

http://MedicareMadness2012.com

Thanks for standing strong.

Steve

Rep. Steve Israel
DCCC Chairman

(1) LA Times: “[Republicans’ plan] would still give future seniors a fixed amount, but it would allow them to use the money to stay in the traditional Medicare program. They would have to pay out of pocket if the costs of the program were higher than the government subsidy — or buy an alternative plan.”

(2) Center for Budget and Policy Priorities: “[Republicans’ plan] would shift substantial costs to beneficiaries rather than protect them from such cost increases, could lead to the demise of traditional Medicare over time rather than preserve it and likely would produce few savings.”

(3) LA Times: “Now Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman, is returning to center stage as the GOP doubles down on his conservative budget priorities — including tax cuts for the wealthy and a new version of his plan for major changes in Medicare.”