Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

ENVIRONMENT Climate Consensus In Cancun


In the early hours of Saturday morning, the nations of the world rediscovered consensus on addressing global warming pollution at the international climate convention in Cancun, Mexico. The top challenge for negotiators has been to figure out a successor framework to the Kyoto Protocol, which failed to set limits on the pollution of the United States (because the Senate refused to ratify the treaty) and nations like China and India (as developing countries, they are exempt from Kyoto‘s binding targets). As a result, the Kyoto Protocol now restricts less than 30 percent of global warming pollution. In Copenhagen, nearly all the nations tried to forge a new framework for cleaning their economies, but w ere not able to achieve global consensus because of the objections of five countries. As hosts of the 2010 conference, the Mexican government had to not only bring parties together to come to agreement on policy, but also to restore trust in global governance — the concept that the world’s nations can work together as one on the problems that face all of humanity. With a roar of applause overwhelming Bolivia’s sole dissenting voice, they strongly endorsed the Cancun Agreements, a series of building blocks that will allow the United States and China — the world’s top economies and top polluters — to join the fight against global warming.

CLIMATE DESTRUCTION: A new report from humanitarian organization Dara projects that there will be a million climate deaths per year by 2030, nearly all of them in the least developed nations. The deaths are preventable if a sufficient international adaptation effort is funded. The destruction from a polluted climate is already here, as can be seen from the global events during the two weeks of the Cancun conference. High-temperature records were broken in California, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and Arizona; heavy rainfall set “records across the Pacific Northwest,” and Arctic winds “brought intense cold to the Midwest and eastern United States.” The worst wildfires in Israel’s history, fueled by record warmth and drought, “have destroyed large sections of Israel’s northern area” and killed 41 people. Floods hit Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia after “three weeks of torrential rains,” forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. Nearly 30 people froze to death in Poland, and thirty more were killed in the rest of Europe. “The death toll from the incessant rains in Venezuela has risen to 34,” with “more than 70,000 people who have been affected” by the catastrophic floods. In India, “more than 150 people have died following heavy rains in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu over the past few days.” Devastating flooding in Colombia that “left at least 176 people dead and 225 injured, as well as 1.5 million people homeless nationwide” forced Colombia’s president, Juan Manuel Santos, to cancel his scheduled trip to the talks. A “massive wildfire in Tibet‘s Sichuan province killed 22 people.” In a demonstration of solidarity in the climate crisis, Palestinian firefighters were some of the first to help Israel fight the unprecedented wildfires in the divided nation. Speaking at the funeral of a wildfire victim, Israeli President Shimon Peres said the wildfire “disaster taught us that all of us, Jews, Arabs, Druze, and other peoples, share the same fate.”

CLIMATE AGREEMENTS: The Cancun Agreements are the first real step toward building an international system that involves all global warming pollution — not just that produced by the rich nations governed by the Kyoto Protocol. One agreement allows for the future development of the Kyoto Protocol system. The other establishes an international Green Climate Fund, and enacts mechanisms to fight deforestation and deploy clean technology in the developing world. The agreements & quot;established a temperature target for mitigation, a system of MRV [measurement, reporting, and verification], an agreement on forestry and land use, technology transfer, adaptation, and the architecture for a climate fund that apply to all parties and not just developed countries,” summarizes Center for American Progress Senior Fellow Andrew Light. “A lot is left unanswered, most critically the gap between the national pledges for reductions in carbon pollution under the Copenhagen Accord and the now-confirmed 2ºC target in the Cancun Agreements.” The agreements require the parties to take up this issue at their next meeting in Durban, South Africa in 2011. “Looking forward, countries now have to deliver on the commitments to the systems they’ve designed,” writes Center for American Progress expert Richard Caperton. “With the structure of a climate fund decided, the next step is figuring out how the fund will operate, and where its money will come from. With the rules for monitoring carbon emissions reductions in place, the next step is to move forward with deciding how much emissions need to be reduced to make the world safe for future generations.”

CLIMATE EXTREMISTS: Bolivian President Evo Morales used the conference as a stage to solidify his position with the populist left in Latin America. On Thursday, Morales came to Cancun and rallied with representatives of the world’s indigenous peoples and the peasant movement Via Campesina, a global coalition representing 150 million small farmers, who fear the United Nations’ market-based approach to solving global warming. Bolivia’s posturing against international consensus included a passionate defense of small island states and African nations, who are most threatened by global warming — even though those nations unanimously supp orted the Cancun Agreements. Bolivia’s position that no progress is better than insufficient progress rang false to those who had the most at stake. Back in the United States, oil-funded conservatives attacked the climate negotiations, using similarly extreme arguments to appeal to the right. “I know for a fact that global warming, climate change, whatever term they attach to it,” declaimed Rush Limbaugh, “is nothing more than an attempt to create socialist nations as far around the world as they can and to separate us from our money.” Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) led a group of Republican senators attacking the scientific basis for protecting the most vulnerable people in the world from global warming. Fox News, owned by billionaire Rupert Murdoch and Saudi prince Alwaleed bin Talal, ran multiple segments arguing the United Nations wants to destroy free-market capitalism in the name of climate change. The Koch Industries tea-party group Americans For Prosperity claimed climate scientists “never met a regulation on mankind they didn’t like.”

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Join us: Exclusive call about passing the DREAM Act


Reform Immigration FOR America Share This Message:
Join us for an exclusive call
We know you’re working hard to get the DREAM Act passed in the Senate this week. And we want to be sure you have everything you need.
Join us for an exclusive phone call and hear directly from lawmakers and leaders about where the DREAM Act stands and how we’re going to make it a reality. The call will take place tomorrow, Tuesday December 14, 2010 at 9pm Eastern Standard Time. I know this is short notice, but with a vote in the Senate expected this week, we have to act fast. 

Sign up to join here

Senator Menendez and Representative Luis Gutierrez will be speaking alongside DREAMer Gaby Pacheco and others to give you the inside scoop on what it will take to pass the DREAM Act before the end of the year.

I hope you can join us.

Thank you,
Marissa Graciosa
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

GOP Congress to be Batsh*t Insane | Bush-Appointed Judge Fights Health Care Reform | “Easier” to Prosecute Assange Than NY Times


By Sarah Seltzer | AlterNet
By Sarah Seltzer | AlterNet
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

lame ducks Session -Congress :depicted by Clifford K. Berryman


The Senate Convenes: 10:00amET December 14, 2010

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the House Message to accompany H.R.4853, the vehicle for the tax agreement, post-cloture.

– Senator Bond will be recognized at 11:30am to give his farewell speech.
– Senator Gregg will be recognized at 2:15pm to give his farewell speech.
– Senator Harkin will be recognized at 3:15 to speak for up to 45 minutes.
– Senator Kirk will be recognized at 5:00pm to deliver his Maiden speech.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings. All time during any period of morning business, recess or adjournment will count post-cloture. Senators will be notified when any votes are scheduled.
Unanimous Consent:
Passed S.4005, Preserving Foreign Criminal Assets for Forfeiture Act of 2010

———————————————————————————————————-

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF DECEMBER 14, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

7:00 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

6:58 P.M. –

Mr. Jones requested the following general leaves to address the House on December 17: Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, Mr. Poe of TX for 5 min, and himself for 5 min.

6:57 P.M. –

Mr. Jones requested the following general leaves to address the House on December 16: Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for 5 min, Mr. Flake for 5 min, and Mr. Diaz-Balart, Lincoln of FL for 5 min.

Mr. Jones requested the following general leaves to address the House on December 15: Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for 5 min, Mr. Flake for 5 min, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Lincoln of FL for 5 min, Mr. McClintock for 5 min, and Mr. Gingrey of GA for 5 min.

6:50 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

H.R. 6510:

to direct the Administrator of General Services to convey a parcel of real property in Houston, Texas, to the Military Museum of Texas, and for other purposes

6:48 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 363 – 0 (Roll no. 630).

6:40 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

S. 3167:

to amend title 13 of the United States Code to provide for a 5-year term of office for the Director of the Census and to provide for the authority and duties of the Director and Deputy Director of the Census, and for other purposes

6:39 P.M. –

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 201 – 167 (Roll no. 629).

6:32 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

S. 1405:

to redesignate the Longfellow National Historic Site, Massachusetts, as the “Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site”

6:31 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 364 – 0 (Roll no. 628).

6:02 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

6:01 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

6:00 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 14.

5:02 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

H.R. 6516:

to make technical corrections to provisions of law enacted by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010

5:01 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

4:58 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6516.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Cummings moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H.R. 6510:

to direct the Administrator of General Services to convey a parcel of real property in Houston, Texas, to the Military Museum of Texas, and for other purposes

4:57 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

4:52 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House continued with further debate on H.R. 6510.

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 2941 amended.

H.R. 6510:

to direct the Administrator of General Services to convey a parcel of real property in Houston, Texas, to the Military Museum of Texas, and for other purposes

4:37 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6510.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Norton moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H. Res. 1759:

expressing support for designation of January 23rd as “Ed Roberts Day”

4:35 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

4:29 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1759.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Grijalva moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

S. 1275:

to establish a National Foundation on Physical Fitness and Sports to carry out activities to support and supplement the mission of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports

4:28 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

4:14 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1275.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Grijalva moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

S. 3984:

to amend and extend the Museum and Library Services Act, and for other purposes

4:13 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

4:07 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3984.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Grijalva moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

4:06 P.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 a message from the Secretary of the Senate on December 14, 2010 at 1:12 p.m. stating that that body had passed S. 2902, H.R. 6278, and S. 3447; passed H.R. 628 with an amendment.

S. 3167:

to amend title 13 of the United States Code to provide for a 5-year term of office for the Director of the Census and to provide for the authority and duties of the Director and Deputy Director of the Census, and for other purposes

4:05 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

3:29 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3167.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mrs. Maloney moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H.R. 5446:

to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 600 Florida Avenue in Cocoa, Florida, as the “Harry T. and Harriette Moore Post Office”

3:28 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

3:21 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5446.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Chu moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H. Res. 1743:

congratulating Gerda Weissmann Klein on being selected to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom

3:20 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Ms. Chu objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.

3:11 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1743.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Chu moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

S. 3794:

to amend chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, to include organizations whose membership comprises substantially veterans as recipient organizations for the donation of Federal surplus personal property through State agencies

3:10 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

3:09 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House resumed debate on S. 3794.

3:08 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 77 and passed S. 372. The Senate also agreed to the House amendment to S. 3817.

S. 3794:

to amend chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, to include organizations whose membership comprises substantially veterans as recipient organizations for the donation of Federal surplus personal property through State agencies

3:05 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3794.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Chu moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H.R. 6205:

to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1449 West Avenue in Bronx, New York, as the “Private Isaac T. Cortes Post Office”

3:04 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Ms. Chu objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.

2:59 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6205.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Chu moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

S. Con. Res. 72:

recognizing the 45th anniversary of the White House Fellows Program

2:58 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Ms. Chu objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.

2:48 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. Con. Res. 72.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Chu moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

S. 1405:

to redesignate the Longfellow National Historic Site, Massachusetts, as the “Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site”

2:46 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

2:40 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1405.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Rahall moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

S. 1609:

to authorize a single fisheries cooperative for the Bering Sea Aleutian Islands longline catcher processor subsector, and for other purposes

2:39 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

2:33 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1609.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Rahall moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H.R. 1061:

to transfer certain land to the United States to be held in trust for the Hoh Indian Tribe, to place land into trust for the Hoh Indian Tribe, and for other purposes

2:32 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote.

2:22 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on agreeing to the Senate amendments to H.R. 1061.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Rahall moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments.

S. 2906:

to amend the Act of August 9, 1955, to modify a provision relating to leases involving certain Indian tribes

2:21 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

2:19 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2906.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Rahall moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

S. 1448:

to amend the Act of August 9, 1955, to authorize the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw, the Klamath Tribes, and the Burns Paiute Tribe to obtain 99-year lease authority for trust land

2:18 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

2:16 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1448.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Larsen (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

2:15 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.

2:04 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

2:03 P.M. –

The House received a communication from Scott Schloegel, Chief of Staff, Congressman Bart Stupak. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Schloegel notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena for testimony, issued by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he had determined that compliance with the subpoena was consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.

The House received a communication from Bart Stupak, Member of Congress. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Stupak notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena for testimony, issued by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he had determined that compliance with the subpoena was consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.

2:02 P.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Chaffetz to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

2:01 P.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.

2:00 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 14.

12:42 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

12:31 P.M. –

MORNING-HOUR DEBATES – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

12:30 P.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable Gary C. Peters to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Don’t Believe the Hype about Today’s Court Ruling on the New Health Care Law


National Women's Law Center

Help Spread the Word
All we’ve got are the facts and you — 2 out of 3 judges have found the health care law constitutional. So why is the conservative media saying the law is at risk? Forward this email to your friends and help us fight the misinformation machine.

The headline should read, “2 out of 3 judges have found the new health care law constitutional,” but we have a feeling the conservative media machine has something else up its sleeve.

After being unable to stop the passage of the new health care law, opponents decided to try to challenge the law in court as unconstitutional. So far two courts have rejected these challenges — a Michigan court and another court in Virginia which found the law constitutional. However, today a judge in Virginia has handed down the first ruling that one piece of the law is unconstitutional. This judge has no greater authority than the other two but that is no matter to conservative media pundits, who have sounded the alarms for the death knell of the health care law.

We need your help to spread the word — forward this email to five of your friends today.

Millions of women across the country are already benefiting from the new health care law. Since September 23, insurance companies can no longer drop you when you become sick or deny health coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Also, when you enroll in a new health plan, you no longer have co-pays for recommended preventative health care services like mammograms and pap smears. And the law provides even more relief to women, like making it illegal to charge them more than men for insurance. But opponents of the new law just don’t care.

Make no mistake — the minimum coverage provision that was struck down in this one court is an important piece of the new law that will help ensure the success of the important insurance reforms that will end the harmful and discriminatory insurance practices that women have faced. While we are certainly disappointed in today’s ruling, it is not the final word. The conservative media machine shouldn’t use this one ruling — one of three — to undermine the health care law we’ve all worked so hard to pass.

Not so fast — we’ve got the facts. Help us spread the word that the sky is not falling, the insurance companies have not won, and the health care law is alive and well. Forward this email to five of your friends today.

Opponents of the law are not going to stop. We know that they will try to fight the law all the way to the Supreme Court. But we are confident that this important law is constitutional and will be fully implemented to the benefit of millions of women and families around the country.

Interested in the status of the legal challenges to the health care law? Check out this helpful chart from the Washington Post.

Sincerely,
Lisa Codispoti Lisa Codispoti
Senior Counsel
National Women’s Law Center