Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

What do you do when someone hurls a homophobic slur at a hero? If you’re the National Hockey League, you turn a blind eye.

New York Rangers forward Sean Avery joined the campaign to fight for same-sex marriage in New York this spring, knowing full well he might get blowback from opponents in the NHL. Avery stood up for his beliefs, and he thought the NHL would have his back… but he was wrong.

Two days ago, Philadelphia Flyers player Wayne Simmonds called Sean Avery a “f*cking f*ggot” during an exhibition game. Avery complained to NHL officials, but the officials say they won’t fine Simmonds because “there are conflicting accounts of what transpired on the ice.” This despite the fact that Simmonds can clearly be seen mouthing the slur on video.

Gay rights activist and avid hockey fan Gloria Nieto thinks this is just plain wrong, so she started a petition on Change.org imploring the NHL to fine Wayne Simmonds for his use of an anti-gay slur. Please sign Gloria’s petition today.

Other professional sports leagues have cracked down on homophobic slurs. When Kobe Bryant used the same slur as Simmonds, the National Basketball Association fined him $100,000. Nearly a third of all Major League Baseball teams have made “It Gets Better” videos to stand up against anti-gay bullying.

The NHL’s inaction is not only a step backward in the fight to end the culture of homophobia in professional sports. It’s also a betrayal of Sean Avery, who represents the very best of how professional athletes can help the fight for gay rights.

If the NHL is allowed to ignore Simmonds’ slur, that sends a dangerous signal to other hockey players: Don’t bother supporting the LGBT community. Your league won’t have your back if you do.

NHL officials need to know that you are watching their actions closely and fully expect them to hold Wayne Simmonds accountable. Please sign Gloria’s petition asking the NHL to fine Wayne Simmonds for his use of an anti-gay slur:

http://www.change.org/petitions/nhl-fine-wayne-simmonds-for-his-homophobic-slur-against-sean-avery

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Eden and the Change.org team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Cost Estimates for the 112th Congress

09/29/2011 Nativegrl77

H.R. 2845, Pipeline Safety,
Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011
September 27, 2011 pdf
Cost estimate for the bill as
ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on
September 8, 2011

H.R. 585, Small Business Size
Standard Flexibility Act of 2011
September 27, 2011
pdf
Cost
estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the House Committee on Small
Business on July 13, 2011

S. 1547, Export-Import Bank
Reauthorization Act of 2011
September 26, 2011
pdf
Cost
estimate for the bill as reported by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing,
and Urban Affairs on September 8, 2011

H.R. 2405, Pandemic and
All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2011
September 26, 2011 pdf
Cost estimate for the bill as
ordered reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on July 28,
2011

H.R. 1165, Transportation
Security Administration Ombudsman Act of 2011
September 26, 2011 pdf
Cost estimate for the bill as
ordered reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on September 21,
2011

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Iceland, Norway, and Japan are brutally killing whales… Philip Radford, Greenpeace

09/29/2011 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

Shot by a harpoon that explodes inside of your body. Dragged backwards until you drown in your own blood. This isn’t a medieval torture scene; this is the fate of hunted whales.

It’s sickening that it still happens, but we’re so close to ending commercial whaling once and for all.

Please donate now and help us raise $25,000 by October 3 to end this terrible slaughter. We need just 15donors from Washington to make this happen.

1 800 722 6995

Just days ago, your letters led President Obama to impose diplomatic sanctions on Iceland for their fin whale hunt!

Now, the urgency to step up our pressure immediately is clear. With your help we’ll use every method possible to protect whales, push the Obama administration to impose trade sanctions on Iceland, and press for reforms in the International Whaling Commission to stop the whale hunt. Yet, we simply can’t do this without you.

Three countries: Iceland, Norway, and Japan, are flouting international agreements to kill whales for profit, even while some species are near extinction. Iceland continues to kill fin whales even though no one is eating them. Whaling has been rampant for so long that many species of whales may never recover.

These whales need our help now. Please make an urgent donation by our midnight October 3 deadline to save these whales and protect our planet. Just 15 gifts from Washington will ensure that we reach our goal to raise $25,000 by Monday.

The tides are turning, and the countries that perpetrate these atrocities must be stopped.

How? Together we are able to expose these practices on an international scale like few others. Our efforts – including investigative research, activists on the ground, demonstrations, videos, and more – draw the attention of millions, rally public pressure, and force governments and organizations to act.

We know from recent victories that our vision is achievable, but the broad scale of our battle takes significant financial resources. None of us can end whaling on our own, but together, people power makes incredible things possible.

Please make a donation to help stop the slaughter of remaining whales today. 1 800 722 6995

Together, we can end the senseless killings once and for all.

Thank you for all you do,

–Philip

P.S. We need just 15 supporters from Washington to reach our goal. Please make your donation to save whales by midnight October 3 on our secure website or by calling 1-800-722-6995. Thank you!

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress: – the Republican led House – the Senate …Meeting only on pro forma basis so President Obama cannot apply recess appointments – in case you forgot, 3yrs later Republicans&some DEMS are still blocking Presidents nominees!

09/29/2011 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene for a pro forma session only on Thursday, September
29, 2011 at 1:45pm.

Following the pro forma session, the Senate will adjourn until 2:00pm on
Monday, October 3, 2011.
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until
3:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the
motion to proceed to S.1619, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act
with the time until 4:30pm equally divided and controlled between the two
Leaders or their designees.
At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the
following nominations:
- Cal #113 Henry F. Floyd, of South Carolina, to be US Circuit Judge for the
  Fourth Circuit
- Cal #171 Nannette Jolivette Brown, of Louisiana, to be US District Judge for
  the Eastern District of Louisiana
- Cal #172 Nancy Torresen, of Maine, to be US District Judge for the District
  of Maine
- Cal #173 William Francis Kuntz, II, of New York, to be US District Judge for
  the Eastern District of New York
- Cal #184 Marina Garcia Marmolejo, of Texas, to be US District Judge for the
  Southern District of Texas
- Cal #357 Jennifer Guerin Zipps, of Arizona, to be US District Judge for the
  District of Arizona
With one hour of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators
Leahy and Grassley or their designees. Calendar numbers 171, 172, 173, 184 and
357 will be confirmed by unanimous consent.
At 5:30pm, there will be 2 roll call votes in relation to the following:
- Confirmation of Calendar #113, Henry F. Floyd, of South Carolina, to be US
  Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit, and
- Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #183, S.1619,
  the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

11:00:00 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
11:01:07 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Harris to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
11:01:19 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
11:02:45 A.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
11:02:49 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Culberson to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
11:03:20 A.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on September 27, 2011 at 10:54 a.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 2017, with amendments; and that the Senate passed H.R. 2608, with an amendment.
11:04:02 A.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on September 27, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.: That the Senate passed S. 1280; that the Senate passed H.R. 2005, without amendment; that the Senate agreed to S.J. Res. 22, without amendment; and that the Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 81, without amendment.
11:05:00 A.M.	H.R. 2017	Mr. Culberson asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendments.
11:05:23 A.M.	H.R. 2017	On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.
11:05:24 A.M.	H.R. 2017	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
11:05:25 A.M.		Mr. Culberson asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Thursday, September 29, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 3, 2011. Agreed to without objection.
11:06:00 A.M.		Mr. Culberson moved that the House do now adjourn.
11:06:10 A.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
11:06:11 A.M.		The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on October 3, 2011.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Official Google blog … Clean Power Finance- Green blog

09/28/2011 Nativegrl77

Taking in more sun with Clean Power FinancePosted: 27 Sep 2011 09:00 AM PDT

(Cross-posted from the Green Blog)This morning, at the Renewable Energy Finance Forum (REFF-West) in San Francisco, I announced a new $75 million investment to create an initial fund with Clean Power Finance that will help up to 3,000 homeowners go solar. This is our second investment in residential solar, and we’ve now invested more than $850 million overall to develop and deploy clean energy.As we said when we made our first residential solar investment, we think it makes a lot of sense to use solar photovoltaic (PV) technology—rooftop solar panels—to generate electricity right where you need it at home. It greens our energy mix by using existing roof space while avoiding transmission constraints, and it can be cheaper than drawing electricity from the traditional grid.Purchasing a solar system is a major home improvement, but the upfront cost has historically been one of the biggest barriers for homeowners. Solar installers across the country don’t always have the resources to find financing for customers, or the capital to provide it themselves. And for investors like Google, banks and others, it can be difficult to enter a fragmented solar market with many companies, and get connected to individual homeowners.

That’s where Clean Power Finance comes in. They’ve developed an open platform that connects installers with investors like Google to provide financing to homeowners. Solar installers sign up with Clean Power Finance to get access to the company’s comprehensive sales solutions, including consumer financing from investors, like the Google fund. This enables installers to sell more systems and grow their business. The installer builds the system, the investor (in this case, Google) owns it, and homeowners pay a monthly payment for the system, at a price that’s often less than paying for energy from the grid. Maintenance and performance are taken care of by Clean Power Finance and its network of installers.

Owned by Google, operated by Clean Power Finance and installed by American Vision Solar, the Colin family of Santa Clarita, Calif. has a 4.14 kW solar system

This innovative and scalable model makes business sense for Google, Clean Power Finance, solar installers and homeowners too. We’re excited to be one of the first investors to partner with Clean Power Finance and enable the company to continue forging strong relationships with solar installers (like the ones they announced last week with SunLogic, California Solar Systems, American Vision Solar—learn more on Clean Power Finance’s website). By making financing more readily available, the Clean Power Finance platform has the potential to lower costs and accelerate adoption of solar energy.

We’ve already installed a 1.6MW rooftop solar installation at the Googleplex back in 2007. Now, through Clean Power Finance and our previous investment this year, we’re hoping to have an even larger impact. We look forward to watching our funding help more than 10,000 homeowners generate clean electricity from the sun.

Posted by Rick Needham, Director of Green Business Operations

European Commission President Barroso takes your questions on YouTubeWorld ViewPosted: 27 Sep 2011 03:12 AM PDT

(Cross-posted on the YouTube Blog)Tomorrow, September 28, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso will deliver his annual State of the Union Address. In these turbulent times, we wanted to give people a chance to make their voices heard and ask their questions about the EU. So we teamed up with broadcaster Euronews and invited President Barroso to answer your questions in a special, live YouTube World Viewinterview that will take place on Thursday, October 6 at 10:00am Central European Time.Starting today, we invite you to submit your questions for President Barroso via youtube.com/worldview. Questions can be on any topic, from the Euro crisis and austerity measures to growth and jobs, from foreign policy and immigration to ethnic minority issues, human rights and the environment. You can ask written or video questions—and view and vote on other people’s questions—in any of the European Union’s languages, thanks to Google Translate.During the interview on October 6, hosted by Euronews anchor Alex Taylor, the President will answer a selection of the most popular questions, as determined by your votes. The interview will be streamed and broadcast in multiple languages on both YouTube and Euronews.

President Barroso’s interview will be the first multi-lingual livecast in the World View series, which gives anyone with an Internet connection the ability to pose questions, vote on what’s most important to them and get answers directly from senior politicians and world leaders. President Barroso’s interview follows interviews with U.S. President Obama, President Kagame of Rwanda, U.K. Prime Minister Cameron, Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Whatever your question, President Barroso wants to hear from you. Be sure to submit your question via the World View channel before midnight CET on Wednesday October 5.

Posted by Al Verney, Head of Communications, Google Brussels