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The next Prop. 8

01/13/2011 Nativegrl77

Calling all straight allies: Marriage equality is at stake in states across America.

Plus, watch our video to learn how we’re working together for equality.

As a thank you, we’ll send you this handy USB car charger for your mobile phone or iPod.

Prop. 8 ended marriage equality in California and shocked a nation. I’m writing because New Hampshire could be next.

Right-wing lawmakers have taken over the New Hampshire legislature – and they’re already working on four distinct bills to take the right to marry away from loving, same-sex couples.

And that’s not all. Hateful groups are trying to ban same-sex marriage in Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Iowa, and West Virginia.

Equality is under attack: along with the anti-LGBT wave in the U.S. Congress, 20 state governments are now under the control of conservative legislatures and governors – twice as many as are under more pro-equality leadership.

We have staff on the ground around the country and plans to deploy even more. We’re bolstering state groups, even as we fight against hostile federal bills and amendments. But to make it work, we need 2,011 new members like you – that works out to just 17 more from Washington – to join HRC in the next week. Once you do, we’ll stop sending reminders and get back to the work of securing equality.

You already know what we’re defending against in our nation’s capital. A U.S. House led by right-wingers. A whopping 53 more anti-equality representatives and five more anti-equality senators in Congress.

But the front line in the battle for marriage equality is in the states. Conservatives now hold more state legislative seats than they have since 1928. Hateful groups like the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) are pushing their agenda in more states than ever before. But there are also some important new opportunities. Your support, right now, could tip the balance.

In Maryland and New York, we stand a strong chance of winning real marriage equality and gender identity protections. We’re counting on the support of each and every HRC member to aid our local partners and to help pay for several experienced organizers in each state.
In Florida, right-wing hate groups are plotting to overturn a landmark court ruling that allows gays and lesbians to adopt children. We can’t let it happen – and we’re working with coalition partners to make sure those extremists don’t come anywhere close.
In New Hampshire, where your support was key to winning marriage equality in 2009, we’re fighting back against those who want to repeal that right and deny loving couples the freedom to marry. We’ve already committed money and staff, and we’re working with the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition to build a rock-solid campaign.
In Hawaii and Delaware, passing civil union legislation is a very real possibility. We’ll be investing in both states to bolster local groups’ efforts and tip the balance in favor of equality.
In Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, West Virginia or any state where NOM tries to pass a constitutional ban on equal marriage, we’ll be there, exposing their lies with the help of our local “NOM Watchers.”

Just as we did with the successful campaign to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” we’re always working with leaders in both parties to achieve progress on equal rights. But we won’t ever shy away from taking on new legislators who are beholden to the most conservative wing of the Republican Party – and straight, pro-equality Americans like you are a critical part of that effort.

LGBT and straight, young and old, of all backgrounds and beliefs, HRC members aren’t satisfied with just sitting back and watching what happens. They’re willing to step up and fuel this fight for equality.

In 2011, as state battles heat up and a hostile House of Representatives plays politics with our rights, we’re going to need more members, more strength, and more resolve. State legislatures are already in session; we need you now.

Congress. State capitols. Schools. Churches. Corporate headquarters. Wherever equality and acceptance are at stake, HRC is at work – and HRC members are leading the charge.

Thank you for everything,

Joe Solmonese
President

P.S. I’m so grateful if you’ve already put a check in the mail or given to HRC through some other method. If you’ve yet to contribute, though, Your gift is critical to maintaining our fight against hate and bigotry in all its forms.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Stop TransAlta’s coal pollution in Washington State

01/12/2011 Nativegrl77

CREDO Action | more than a network. a movement.

Tell the EPA: Don’t let the TransAlta power plant off the hook.

Haze pollution from coal harms our air and our health.

Send a message to the Pacific Northwest office of the EPA:

The proposed haze pollution plan from the Washington Department of Ecology is insufficient to create significant reductions in NOx pollution.

The EPA must submit stronger regulations to hold the TransAlta plant accountable, and reduce harmful haze pollution in Washington.

The TransAlta coal power plant near Mr. Rainier is Washington’s single largest air polluter. Every year it’s responsible for 10,000 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution which causes haze damage to twelve protected public lands — and poses threats to public health.

The Clean Air Act mandates that Washington submits a plan to control haze pollution from coal fired power plants like TransAlta by January 15th.

However, the current plan proposed by the Washington State Department of Ecology fails to create meaningful pollution controls for TransAlta, and has been criticized by the National Park Service and the EPA as being unacceptably weak.

The EPA has the authority to reject the plan and enforce stronger measures by the January 15th deadline. That’s what they must do.

Send a message to the EPA: Issue a strong plan to meaningfully reduce haze pollution at TransAlta.

Haze is isn’t the only problem with NOx pollution. It can cause respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis, aggravates existing heart disease, and can contribute to premature death.

The TransAlta coal plant shouldn’t be allowed to continue pumping these levels of NOx pollution into our air.

But that’s essentially what will happen under the current plan, unless the EPA steps in and proposes a stronger regulations to reduce haze pollution.

Tell the EPA: TransAlta cannot be let off the hook. Submit a strong plan to reduce haze pollution before the January 15th deadline.

Thanks for fighting for clean air.

Elijah Zarlin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

How to save the whales once and for all

01/12/2011 Nativegrl77

Tell President Obama to end commercial whaling once and for all by reforming the IWC. Click the button below to take action.

As you read this, the Japanese whaling fleet is busy killing whales in the Southern Ocean. Just like they did last year and just like they will again this time next year if nothing changes at the International Whaling Commission (IWC). But there’s hope.

Not only does President Obama have the power to make those changes; he’s already promised he would. Here’s what he told Greenpeace back in 2008:

“As president, I will ensure that the U.S. provides leadership in enforcing international wildlife protection agreements, including strengthening the international moratorium on commercial whaling. Allowing Japan to continue commercial whaling is unacceptable.”

It’s time for President Obama to keep his word and save the whales. Tell him to end commercial whaling once and for all by reforming the IWC.

Yesterday, I personally paid a visit to the White House to drop off a letter from Greenpeace that outlined the results of a recent poll we conducted. The results speak for themselves. An overwhelming amount of Americans — 83%! — want the President to stand by his campaign pledge to strengthen the international ban on commercial whaling.

I thought it was important for the President and his administration to know just how strongly the American public feels about this issue. This isn’t something that can be ignored or that is going to go away.

You have an important role to play in this. The President has to hear your voice and the voices of everyone who wants to save the whales. Help make yesterday’s delivery even more powerful by sending the President a message today.

We have to break this cycle. To save the whales once and for all we need to end whaling once and for all. That means no Japanese whaling fleet heading to the Southern Ocean next year and that means reforming the IWC. President Obama has the power to make that happen. And, together, we have the power to hold him to his word.

It’s time to make the IWC work for whales and not whalers.

For the whales,

John Hocevar
Ocean Campaigns Director

P.S. Last spring, we got the President’s attention. We can do it again but it is going to take the same type of effort. Please forward this on to everyone you know who loves whales after you take action.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Thoughts & Prayers in Arizona

01/12/2011 Nativegrl77

Share This Message:

A senseless tragedy
Our thoughts & prayers are with them.

Where were you when you heard the news on Saturday?

In an act of unspeakable violence, Jared Lee Loughner shot Representative Gabrielle Giffords at point-blank range, and turned his gun on the crowd gathered to meet the local lawmaker at a Tuscon supermarket.

The event left 6 people dead – including a Federal Judge and a nine year old girl – and 14 injured. It also left an entire country stunned.

While we work to move forward, take a minute to send the victims and their families our prayers, our encouragement and our words of support in this difficult time. We will be sure that they receive your messages directly.

Send prayers and condolences to the victims & families in Arizona

Violence has no place in our democracy. We pray for the return of civility to our nation’s public discourse.

Thank you,
Marissa Graciosa

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Debate, not hate

01/12/2011 Nativegrl77

While we may never know what exactly motivated the shooter in Arizona—and while there are many lessons to draw from this tragedy—one thing is clear: Our country must turn away from the culture of violent, hateful rhetoric that has been pervading our political discourse for too long.

Nearly 200,000 people have signed our “Debate, not hate” petition. It calls on politicians and the media to stop spreading hateful rhetoric and implicit appeals to violence. Can you sign the petition today?

Just click here: http://pol.moveon.org/debatenothate/?id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=1

And please share this important message on Facebook and Twitter, or just forward this email.

Thanks for all you do.

–Justin

“I call for an end to all overt or implied appeals to violence in American politics. We must debate, not hate.”

Sign the petition

Dear MoveOn member,

The tragedy in Tucson has shaken us all to the core. Facts are still coming in, and we all must be careful not to jump to premature conclusions.

But in the wake of this disaster one thing is clear: We must put an end to the rhetoric of violence and hate that has exploded in America over the past two years.

That’s why we’re launching a petition calling on every member of Congress, as well as the major TV and cable news networks, to put an end to the hateful rhetoric and all overt or implied appeals to violence. Click here to sign the petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/debatenothate?id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=6

Here’s what the petition says: “I call for an end to all overt or implied appeals to violence in American politics. We must debate, not hate.”

After you sign, please forward this email to the people in your email address book and post on Facebook and Twitter to keep it going. With a large enough response, this petition can help focus the debate on the urgent need to end the rhetoric of violence and hate that has become so widespread over the past two years.

We don’t know what motivated the individual or individuals who committed this atrocity. And, if reports are true, it’s deeply troubling that the suspected shooter displayed so many signs of serious mental illness, and our public health institutions failed to respond.¹

But the terrifying fact is that this act of violence falls into a pattern that has emerged over the past two years in America and in Gabrielle Giffords’ district in particular.

Windows were smashed at Representative Giffords’ district office last March just a few hours after the House vote on health care reform.² At one of the infamous town hall events in August 2009, a man attending the event accidentally dropped a handgun on the floor that he had been hiding under his arm.³

And violent tendencies have been inflamed by the careless and irresponsible rhetoric of certain political leaders. Sarah Palin‘s infamous “target list” displayed Democratic districts, including Rep. Giffords’, in crosshairs, as if viewed through a gunsight.⁴

In addition, violent imagery was prominently featured during the last election. For instance, a rally for Rep. Giffords’ Republican opponent, Jesse Kelly, was promoted with the following notice: “Get on Target for Victory in November. Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office. Shoot a fully automatic M15 with Jesse Kelly.”⁵

As Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, speaking from the heart at an emotional news conference last night, said:

There’s reason to believe that this individual may have a mental issue. And I think people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol… When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous.⁶

Please take a moment to add your voice to this call to end the rhetoric of violence and hate, and then share it with all your friends. Click here to sign:

http://pol.moveon.org/debatenothate?id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=7

And thanks for all you do.

–Justin, Adam, Amy, Anna, Annie, Carrie, Christopher, Daniel, David, Duncan, Eli, Emily, Gail, Ian, Ilya, Ilyse, Joan, Kat, Laura, Lenore, Mariana, Marika, Matthew, Melanie, Michael, Milan, Nita, Peter, Robin, Ryan, Susannah, Stephen, Steven, Tim, and Wes

P.S. You might also want to check out a video we posted on the petition page of Rep. Giffords herself talking about this issue last year. It’s a powerful reminder not only of how important this issue is, but also what an amazing leader Gabby Giffords has been for America and, we deeply hope, will continue to be.

Sources:

1. “Exclusive: Jared Loughner Radically Changed Before Alleged Shooting, Friend Says,” ABC News, January 9, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205717&id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=8

2. “Rep. Giffords’ Tucson office vandalized after health care vote,” Arizona Daily Star, March 22, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205718&id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=9

3. “Gabrielle Giffords Town Hall: Gun Left Behind,” The Huffington Post, August 11, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205721&id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=10

4. “Tucson rampage casts light on toxic political tone,” Arizona Daily Star, January 8, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205719&id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=11

5. “Sarah Palin Criticized Over Gabrielle Giffords Presence on ‘Target List,'” CBS News, January 8, 2011
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20027918-503544.html

6. “News Conference with Pima County Sheriff & Others (Courtesy of KVOA TV, Tucson, Arizona),” C-SPAN, January 8, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205720&id=25774-17809870-vPzuBwx&t=12