Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Stand against oil companies trying to overturn global warming legislation

With the Senate’s failure to pass an anti global-warming bill, legislation on the state level is currently our most direct answer to saving the planet.

California already passed one of the toughest anti-global warming laws in the world (AB32) back in 2006 — and its regulations will start being phased in next year.

But not if a bunch of oil companies in Texas have their way. Texas oil companies Valero and Tesoro have spent $3.5 million to fund Prop 23 in California; a deceptive initiative that, if approved by voters this November, will effectively reverse AB32.

If these Texas Oil Companies succeed in rewriting California’s global warming laws, it won’t just hurt California’s effort to curb harmful carbon emissions — it will be a giant step back for nationwide efforts to fight global warming.

So we need to tell Valero that their continued support of this proposition is going to cost them, too >

This campaign was started by our partner CREDO Action in California earlier this year with The Courage Campaign, but since then, Valero has upped the ante. With only two months until the election, they just gave another $3 million to fund the attack on AB32. There’s no telling how many more millions Valero will dump into this effort before November — but if we create a groundswell of national pressure, we can force them to reconsider their support. So we’re supporting CREDO Action in taking this boycott national.

The Senate climate fight made clear that dirty energy companies have far too much power in Washington. And now that the Citizens United case has opened the door for more corporate money in our elections, the best way to stop dirty energy from having an even bigger impact on ballots nationwide is with direct, public pressure that will be noticed by corporate executives and shareholders alike.

This type of pressure just made a big difference after Target donated $150,000 to a group backing anti-gay candidates. With Valero leading an attack on the strongest climate pollution reduction act in the country, we need to show them that their support isn’t just bad for the environment — it’s also bad for business.

Valero’s CEO needs to hear the message loud and clear. Sign the pledge and join the boycott of Valero >

Thanks for taking action,

The Change.org team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Help save 3,600 lives a day

09/10/2010 Nativegrl77

5.7 million lives saved already – tell Pres. Obama to keep investing in the Global Fund

For the first time, a world where no one dies from malaria and no more children are born with HIV is within reach. The Global Fund, the world’s largest global health financier, is a big reason to have hope.

In less than a decade, the Global Fund has delivered life-saving treatment for AIDS to 2.8 million people, given tuberculosis treatments to 7 million people, and distributed more than 122 million insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria. In total, more than 5.7 million lives have been saved.

None of this would have been possible without funding from the U.S. and international partners. And it won’t continue without our support.

There are just a few weeks before Global Fund donors meet and the U.S. must commit to continuing to fund the life-saving program. Please tell President Obama to commit $6 billion over the next three years to the Global Fund before the meeting is underway >

Even in tough economic times, this is a very smart investment for America. The Global Fund brings in other donors who match $2 for every $1 invested by the U.S. – meaning the U.S. investment is tripled on the ground. The Global Fund has rigorous standards. Programs that work get funds and programs that don’t are eliminated.

Recipient countries are intimately involved and are often required to co-finance the programs. It’s a proven model for development that works.

This is one case where there is a direct relationship between U.S. investments and lives saved. Every dollar goes to fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and child mortality, and those dollars are working – to the tune of 3,600 lives saved each and every day.

The United States has the opportunity to maintain and accelerate amazing life-saving progress by fully funding its commitment this year to the Global Fund.

There are only a few weeks left before the big Global Fund meeting. Please urge President Obama and Congress to maintain spending on these programs in the FY2011 federal budget to build upon the life-saving success of the Global Fund >

With grassroots support for this smart investment in the Global Fund, we can create a world where no one dies from malaria and no child is born with HIV.

Thanks for taking action,

The Change.org Team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

it’s time to get to work …

09/08/2010 Nativegrl77

We’re teaming up with 350, 10:10, and a global coalition of folks doing something about climate change to create a global day of action: the 10/10/10 Global Work Party. Help us make October 10th the biggest single day of action against global warming that the world has ever seen.

The Gulf oil spill, the breaking up of Arctic ice sheets, the wildfires sweeping through Eastern Europe — these are just a few impacts of our addiction to fossil fuels. The good news is that most Americans have begun to do their part, making small changes in their own lives in the hopes of helping create a more sustainable planet.

But while you and I have tried to make changes in our homes and communities, our leaders in Washington D.C. are letting fossil fuel companies off the hook instead of holding them accountable. They claim it’s just too hard to take on Big Coal and Big Oil.

Well on October 10th, we’re getting together with our friends at 350.org, 10:10, and many others, to show them what hard work looks like.

It’s called the “10/10/10 Global Work Party.” The goal of the day is to send a message to our political leaders: If we can get to work, you can get to work too — on the legislation and the treaties that will protect this planet for our children and grandchildren.

There are already over 1,700 events in 140+ countries, and we’d love for you to join us wherever you live.

Check here to see if there is an event already planned in your area or to create your own.

What you do at your work party is up to you. But don’t worry, we’ll help you get started and have a few ideas to help get your creative juices flowing. As long as it benefits your community and helps cut carbon emissions, it will matter — and it will help get the point across to our politicians.

Let’s inspire our political leaders on October 10th to take the bold action necessary to save the planet. It’s time to get to work.

For the planet,

Ben Kroetz
Greenpeace Online Organizer

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Dems can beat them

09/08/2010 Nativegrl77

From the day President Obama took office, Democrats have worked to rebuild our country’s economy, put into place the basic financial reforms needed to empower and protect consumers, and lay down a new foundation for growth.

Republicans made a different choice: They locked arms with the special interests and voted to protect the insurance companies, credit card lenders, and bankers on Wall Street.

The GOP embraced a singular goal: opposition to the President’s agenda.

Now Republicans are scheming to win back Congress. With a majority, they’ll do everything they can to reverse the progress Democrats have made. They’ll turn back the clock on behalf of their special interest friends, their big donors, and the extreme right-wing elements that have taken over their party.

But we have a plan to beat the GOP.

Since May, we’ve been focused on an unprecedented push to elect Democrats who will fight alongside President Obama. With the help of supporters like you, we’ve launched the strongest, most sophisticated effort this party has ever put together for an election like this.

The special interests don’t fund it — our Vote 2010 campaign relies entirely on supporters like you.

Can you chip in $5 or more to power this work?

Republicans have promised to repeal health insurance reform and roll back new consumer protections — but it won’t stop there. Across the country, the GOP has nominated a set of right-wing ideologues who are vowing to undo the victories won by our parents and grandparents — the promises those generations made to the future.

Republicans are supporting candidates like Nevada Republican Senate nominee Sharron Angle who believe the United States should leave the United Nations and that we should shut down the Department of Education.

They’re working to elect conservatives like Alaska Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller who argue that unemployment benefits are “not constitutionally authorized” and that we should end Social Security.

They’re fighting for people like Kentucky Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul who believe that civil rights should be up for debate in this country because they think that businesses should have the right to discriminate based on race, gender, disability, or any other factor.

We all understand the consequences of this election.

That’s why grassroots Democrats are knocking on thousands of doors every week. That’s why we have a goal of reaching out to 15 million voters by November 2nd.

Americans have a choice to make with this election, but from now until November, we’re going to work to make our case.

Can you help out? Donate today:

http://my.democrats.org/OurCase

Thanks,

Governor Tim Kaine
Chairman

P.S. — At 12:30 ET today, I’ll be giving a major address in Pennsylvania to talk more about what this election means. Click here to watch live.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

President Obama, You and NYC

09/08/2010 Nativegrl77

I am more confident than ever that we will retain our Democratic House Majority, as long as we stand together in these final weeks.

Our next wave of advertising could help secure Democrats in toss-up races — but I need your continued support to make it happen.

That’s why as a thank you for all you have done so far, I want to offer you a special opportunity to enter to win a chance to join President Obama and myself at a dinner in New York City on September 22nd.

Enter for a chance to win a trip to New York (airfare and hotel included). You and your guest will be my guests at a dinner with President Obama on September 22nd.

Thank you for all you have done. I am counting on you to continue to stand with me in these final critical days.

Onward to victory.

Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House

P.S. Please enter today — you could be part of our historic gathering in New York City and meet President Obama.