Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

A climate presentati​on in your hometown …


The Climate Reality Project

We couldn’t be more excited. People from all over the world have told us they want to work in their community to help solve the climate crisis. And we are responding. Today, I invite you to join us and host a climate presentation where you live.

Our Chairman and Founder, former Vice President Al Gore, has personally trained more than 3,000 people to deliver a multimedia presentation based on our worldwide event, 24 Hours of Reality. This is a powerful story about how climate change is affecting us now and what we can do to solve it. People across the globe have asked to bring a Climate Presenter to their communities. Now, you can too.

Join us today. Host a free Climate Reality presentation where you live.

Request a Presentation

Hosting a presentation is easy. Fill out our simple online form, and we’ll contact you shortly to match you with a trained Climate Presenter in your area. You can host a presentation in your workplace, your place of worship, your local school, or another location of your choice.

When you host a presentation, you’ll hear about how climate change is affecting us around the world. You’ll engage your community. You’ll learn about the reality we face. And I think you’ll have some fun in the process.

Take action now. Click here to get started and host a Climate Reality Presentation:

http://forms.climaterealityproject.org/request

Thanks for all you do,

Maggie L. Fox
President and CEO
The Climate Reality Project

P.S. Want to learn more? Visit the Climate Reality blog and read about a few simple steps you can take to host a great presentation where you live.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Bank of America called …Jess Kutch, Change.org


Sign Molly’s petition telling Bank of America to cancel its $5 debit card fee

When Molly Katchpole found out that Bank of America would charge $5 a month to use a debit card, she was upset — so she started a petition on Change.org.

Since then, 225,000 Change.org members have signed her petition. And now Bank of America is under enormous pressure to cancel its new debit card fee. A Bank of America executive even called Molly and told her that while cancelling the fee would be “premature,” the bank was “closely monitoring customer feedback.”

More public pressure could be enough to push the bank to cancel its new $5 debit card fee. Can you sign Molly’s petition asking Bank of America to cancel its new debit card fee? Bank of America is listening to you — and other banks are, too.http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-bank-of-america-no-5-debit-card-fees?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&alert_id=CHuXxznbBT_bKwoXhePWu

In less than three weeks, Bank of America went from announcing a new $5 monthly debit card fee, to reeling under huge pressure from the media, Congress, and Change.org members. Here’s a quick review of what happened:
September 29: Bank of America announces a new $5 monthly debit card fee.
September 30: Molly creates her petition on Change.org; more than 150,000 people sign in the next 5 days.
October 5: The petition becomes a major national story. ABC News interviews Molly, then tracks down Bank of America’s CEO Brian Moynihan and forces him to respond to it.
October 6: Molly delivers 153,000 petitions to Bank of America and closes her account. She appears on ABC World News again to discuss the petition. Local media in Charlotte (where Bank of America is based) openly speculate that the growing controversy could lead to the firing of Moynihan.
October 9: Molly is featured in a major article in the New York Times as an example of the public’s frustration with big banks.
October 10: Bank of America executive Andrew Pepler calls Molly Katchpole to discuss her petition.
October 13: Molly meets with Congressman Brad Miller to discuss a bill in Congress to make it easier to switch banks. The two later appear on CNN together.
October 18: Molly’s petition reaches 225,000, as Bank of America reports a $6 billion profit. The outrage continues to grow.

Other banks are paying attention to the public reaction to Bank of America’s new debit card fee. Citibank even said its “customers made it abundantly clear” that they wouldn’t like a debit card fee.

What’s next in this campaign to cancel Bank of America’s $5 debit card fees? It’s up to you.

Please sign the petition demanding Bank of America cancel its new $5 monthly debit card fee. Click here to add your name:

http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-bank-of-america-no-5-debit-card-fees

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Jess and the Change.org team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell Senator Murray to Stop giving Big Oil subsidies


Below is an email from Katrina Rosen of Environment Washington, who created a petition at SignOn.org that is getting a lot of attention and may be of interest to people in your area. If you have concerns or feedback about this petition, click here.

Dear Washington MoveOn member,

Despite the five biggest oil companies making astounding profits of over $67 billion in just the first half of 2011, oil and gas companies continue to receive $15.6 billion each year in federal tax breaks.
We want Senator Murray to encourage the debt-reduction Super Committee to stop these wasteful subsidies to Big Oil. That’s why I created a petition to The United States Senate on SignOn.org,which says:
Despite being the cause of pollution and oil spills, even the wealthiest oil companies continue to receive billions of dollars in federal tax breaks. Please use your leadership on the debt-reduction Super Committee to protect our environment and our economy by stopping wasteful subsidies to Big Oil.

Will you sign the petition? Click here to add your name, and then pass it along to your friends:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=265307&id=32104-17809870-eDblPqx&t=2

Thanks!

–Katrina Rosen

The text above was written by Katrina Rosen, not by MoveOn staff, and MoveOn is not responsible for the content. This email was sent through MoveOn’s secure system, and your information has been kept private. Environment Washington did not pay for this—we never sell or rent the MoveOn list.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

She came out, they told her to leave school


She was a model student and a star athlete – an honest young woman in her final year at a private Christian high school, The Master’s School, in Connecticut.

But when school administrators asked her about her sexual orientation, she answered courageously and honestly that she is a lesbian.

And then those same administrators told her to withdraw or she would be kicked out.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students across the country are back in school, many facing bullying from peers. The last thing these students need is a school administration that refuses to protect them from unfair treatment.

Thousands of equality supporters like you have already sent letters to officials at The Master’s School calling on them to make it right and protect all of their students. Will you send a letter now, too?

Tell The Master’s School: Your LGBT students deserve protection – not expulsion. Now’s the time to enact a non-discrimination policy so that all students feel safe to be who they are.

National Coming Out Day was just last week and Spirit Day is Thursday – it’s a time each year when we celebrate openness and speak out against bullying. Together, we’re striving to create a world where no student, no soldier, no employee – no one – has to fear coming out.

In too many places around this country, LGBT students risk expulsion, bullying, and harassment that jeopardizes their academic futures and their emotional well-being.

The Master’s School in Connecticut has a chance to make it right with the student they asked to leave. They have an opportunity to lead by example – to institute modern-day policies, and to bring their model student back into their community.

Will you take one minute to send a letter to The Master’s School right now? Tell them to update their policies and treat all their students fairly.

The path to equality has taken us together on a lot of twists and turns. The Master’s School, with HRC‘s help, can become a model environment for diversity and tolerance in education, but they need to take the first step now and make things right.

Thanks for standing with us now and always.

Warmly,

Joe Solmonese
President, HRC

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress: the Republican led House – the Senate


the Senate Convened at 9:30amET October 19, 2011

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business for one
    hour with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the
    Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final
    half.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of
    H.R.2112, the Agriculture, CJS, and Transportation/HUD Appropriations bill.  The
    time until 12:00pm will be equally divided and controlled between the Leaders or
    their designees.  At approximately 12:00pm, the Senate will conduct a roll call
    vote in relation to the McCain amendment #739 (critical surface transportation).
  • Additional roll call votes are expected during WednesdayThe following amendments are pending to H.R.2112, the Agriculture, CJS, and
    Transportation/HUD Appropriations bill:

    • Inouye substitute amendment #738 (text of the 3 appropriations bills)
    • Webb amendment #750, as modified (National Criminal Justice Commission)
    • Kohl amendment #755 (spending plan)
    • Murray amendment #772 (reconstruction of highway facilities damaged by
      natural disasters or emergencies)
    • McCain amendment #741 (ethanol blender pumps and storage facilities)
    • Sanders amendment #816 (energy efficiency programs for small businesses)
    • Landrieu amendment #781 (farmer program loans)
    • Vitter amendment #769 (drug reimportation)
    • Coburn amendment #791 (prohibit funds for direct payments to individuals
      with income over $1M)
    • Coburn #792 (end payments to slumlords)

     

The previous order has been amended to consider 3 District Judges at noon.
There are now 2 roll call votes expected at approximately 12:10pm in
relation to the Mariani nomination and the McCain amendment #739.  The
details of the agreement are below.

At noon, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the
following nominations with 10 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled
between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees:

  • Calendar #272, Mark Raymond Hornak to be US District Judge for the Western
    District of Pennsylvania
  • Calendar #273, Robert David Mariani, to be US District Judge for the Middle
    District of Pennsylvania
  • Calendar #274, Robert N. Scola, Jr., to be US District Judge for the
    Southern District of Florida

The Hornak and Scola nominations will be confirmed by unanimous consent; the
Mariani nomination will require a roll call vote.  The Senate will then resume
Legislative Session and consideration H.R.2112 with two minutes of debate
equally divided and controlled between Senators McCain and Boxer or their
designees prior to the vote in relation to the McCain amendment #739.

Senator Harkin asked unanimous consent the HELP Committee be authorized to meet
in Executive Session today for the consideration of a bill to reauthorize the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  Senator Paul then objected to Senator
Harkin’s request.

The Senate has reached an agreement that the next first degree amendments in order to be called up and made pending to H.R.2112 and the substitute amendment #738 be the following:

– Ayotte #753 (prohibit funds for coastal and marine spatial planning);

– Crapo #814 (implementation of provisions of title VII of Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform);

– Moran #815 (Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act);

– Coburn #793 (Transparency in federally attended and funded conferences);

– Coburn #798, as modified, with the changes that are at the desk (prohibit funds for purchase of new passenger motor vehicles);

– DeMint #763 (prohibit funds to implement regulations regarding removal of essential-use designation for epinephrine);

– DeMint #764 (Eliminate increase in funding);

– Grassley #860 (accountability in federal grant programs administered by DOJ);

– Sessions #810 (prohibit funds to allow categorical eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance program);

– Lautenberg #836 (additional funding for Economic Development Assistance Programs);

– Brown #874 (increase funds to carry out section 561 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987, with offset);

– Merkley #879 (limit appropriations for freight and rail transportation unless products used are manufactured in US);

– Bingaman #771 (funds to investigate trade violations);

– Gillibrand #869 (increase funding for emergency conservation/emergency watershed protection programs);

– Feinstein #855 (Farm Service Agency must enforce certain average adjusted gross income limitations); and

– Menendez #857 (extend loan limits for FHA, VA and others).

Further, that a motion to recommit from Senator Lee be in order; that, if offered, the motion be set aside and the Senate return to the consideration of the pending amendments.

The Ayotte amendment #753 (prohibit funds for prosecutions of enemy combatants in Article III Courts), the Crapo amendment #814 (implementation of title VII of Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform) and the Merkley amendment #879 (limit appropriations for freight and rail transportation unless products used are manufactured in US) are now pending to H.R.2112, the Agriculture, CJS and Transportation/HUD Appropriations bill.

Additionally, Senator Vitter modified his amendment #769 (drug importation) with the changes at the desk.

The Moran amendment #815 (Watershed Protection and Flood Protection Act) and the Bingaman amendment #771, as modified with the changes at the desk (funds to investigate trade violations) are now pending to H.R.2112, the Agriculture, CJS, and Transportation/HUD Appropriations bill.

The following amendments are pending to H.R.2112, the Agriculture, CJS, and Transportation/HUD Appropriations bill:

  • Inouye substitute amendment #738 (text of the 3 appropriations bills)
  • Webb amendment #750, as modified (National Criminal Justice Commission)
  • Kohl amendment #755 (spending plan)
  • Murray amendment #772 (reconstruction of highway facilities damaged by natural disasters or emergencies)
  • Sanders amendment #816 (energy efficiency programs for small businesses)
  • Landrieu amendment #781 (farmer program loans)
  • Vitter amendment #769, as modified (drug reimportation)
  • Coburn amendment #791 (prohibit funds for direct payments to individuals with income over $1M)
  • Coburn amendment #792, as modified (end payments to slumlords)
  • Ayotte amendment #753 (prohibit funds for prosecutions of enemy combatants in Article III Courts)
  • Crapo amendment #814 (derivatives – Dodd-Frank)
  • Merkley amendment #879 (freight and rail products made in the US)
  • Moran amendment #815 (spending levels for Watershed Protection)
  • Bingaman amendment #771, as modified (funds to investigate trade violations)
  • Grassley amendment #860 (DOJ Federal Grants)
  • Menendez amendment #857 (extend loan limits for FHA, VA and others)
  • Lee motion to recommit H.R.2112 (FY11 levels)
  • Sessions amendment #810 (prohibit funds to allow categorical eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance program)
  • DeMint amendment #763 (epinephrine)
  • DeMint amendment #764 (eliminate increase in funding)
  • Lautenberg amendment #836 (Economic Development Assistance Program)

The following amendments have been considered and voted on

  • Cornyn amendment #775, as modified (Operation Fast and Furious); Agreed to: 99-0
  • McCain amendment #740 (eliminate TAA funding for firms); Not Agreed to: 44-55
  • Collins amendment #804 (vegetables in school meal programs); Agreed to by Voice Vote
  • McCain amendment #739 (critical surface transportation); Tabled: 59-39
  • McCain amendment #741 (ethanol blender pumps and storage facilities); withdrawn

VOTES

12:10pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Robert David
Mariani to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of
Pennsylvania; Confirmed: 82-17

The following amendments and motion are now pending to H.R.2112, the Agriculture, CJS, and Transportation/HUD Appropriations bill:

  • Grassley amendment #860 (DOJ Federal Grants)
  • Menendez amendment #857 (extend loans limits for FHA, VA and others)
  • Lee motion to recommit the bill (FY2011 levels)
  • Sessions amendment #810 (prohibit funds to allow categorical eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance program)

Additionally, Senator Coburn modified his amendment #792 with the changes at the desk.

During Wednesday’s session of the Senate, Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #204, S.1723, the Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act.

Senator McConnell then filed cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #205, S.1726, the Withholding Tax Relief Act.

Additionally, Senator Reid announced there will be no further roll call votes during today’s session of the Senate.

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed Calendar #125, S.894, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011

Adopted S.Res.299, designating October 2011 as “National Work and Family Month”.

Adopted S.Res.300, supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

———————————————————————————————-

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on October 21, 2011.