Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Nelson Mandela


Official Google blog - Nelson Mandela

Born: 18th July, 1918
Star Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Mvezo, Umtatu, South Africa

Died: 5th December, 2013 (aged 95)
Cause of Death: Lung infection

Remembering Nelson Mandela

The South African activist and former president led the struggle against apartheid and became a global advocate for human rights.

onthisday.com

1952 – When the Great Smog Smothered London, kills thousands in England


Heavy smog began to hover over London, England, on December 5, 1952. It persisted for five days, leading to the deaths of at least 4,000 people.

It was a Thursday afternoon when a high-pressure air mass stalled over the Thames River Valley. When cold air arrived suddenly from the west, the air over London became trapped in place. The problem was exacerbated by low temperatures, which caused residents to burn extra coal in their furnaces. The smoke, soot and sulfur dioxide from the area’s industries along with that from cars and consumer energy usage caused extraordinarily heavy smog to smother the city. By the morning of December 5, there was a visible pall cast over hundreds of square miles.

The Great Smog of 1952 became so thick and dense that by December 7 there was virtually no sunlight and visibility was reduced to five yards in many places. Eventually, all transportation in the region was halted, but not before the smog caused several rail accidents, including a collision between two trains near London Bridge. The worst effect of the smog, however, was the respiratory distress it caused in humans and animals, including difficulty breathing and the vomiting of phlegm. One of the first noted victims was a prize cow that suffocated on December 5. An unusually high number of people in the area, numbering in the thousands, died in their sleep that weekend.

It’s the 21st Century… was it Smog tho

Areal Flood – Watch


From Sun, Dec 3, 4:52 PM PST To Thu, Dec 7, 4:00 AM PST

What

Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.

Where

Portions of northwest and west central Washington, including the following counties, in northwest Washington, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom. In west central Washington, King, Lewis, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston.

When

Through late Wednesday night.

Impacts

Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Extensive street flooding and flooding of creeks and rivers are possible.

Summary

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS… – Excessive rainfall Monday and Tuesday with 7 to 10 inches possible over the Olympics, 5 to 9 inches over the Cascades, 3 to 5 inches along the coast and 1.5 to 3 inches over the interior lowlands. Snow levels will rise to around 9000 feet Monday night before dropping Tuesday. – http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

Issued By

NWS Seattle WA

Federal Jury … and PRICE Gouging


a response from BingAI

According to a federal jury, egg suppliers have been ordered to pay $17.7 million to Kraft and other producers for their involvement in a price-fixing conspiracy that aimed to limit the egg supply in the United States 12

The jury found that the egg producers, including Rose Acre Farms, United Egg Producers, and Cal-Maine Foods, were guilty of participating in a years-long price-fixing conspiracy 3.

This verdict is a significant win for the food companies, who have been seeking compensation for overpaying for the price of eggs due to a producers’ conspiracy 2

The same jury will decide the amount of damages in a trial scheduled to begin on November 29th that is expected to last two days 4.

Please click on the links for more information!

Stop the violence. End “Shoot First”. A reminder


Jordan Russell Davis didn’t have to die.

A 17 year-old Black teenager was shot in a Jacksonville convenience store parking lot after a dispute over loud music.1 He died in his friend’s arms. The shooter, Michael David Dunn, has pleaded “Not Guilty” and is expected to invoke Florida‘s “Shoot First” law, claiming the killing was a justifiable homicide.2

Nearly 33,000 ColorOfChange members took action earlier this year and told their state government officials to fight back against “Shoot First” laws. Please add your voice today and when you do, ask your friends and family to do the same.

“Shoot First” laws, sometimes called “Stand Your Ground” laws, were thrust into the national spotlight following the killing of Trayvon Martin. Unless these laws are repealed, our communities will continue to lose our young people to avoidable tragedies.

“Stand Your Ground” laws have proliferated around the country thanks to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and its deep-pocketed supporters at the National Rifle Association (NRA). Half of the members of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” task force, charged with reviewing the state’s law in the aftermath of the Martin killing, are ALEC members.3 Unsurprisingly, that task force recently found no problem with “Stand Your Ground” despite clear and compelling evidence that the law is racially discriminatory. “Homicides involving white shooters and Black victims are 11 times more likely to be deemed “justifiable” than those where the scenario is reversed.”4

Below is our original outreach calling on state government officials to oppose “Shoot First” laws where they are under consideration and repeal them where they are in place. Join nearly 33,000 ColorOfChange members and fight back today.

Thanks and peace,

— Rashad, Matt, Arisha, Kim, Johnny, Charlene and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
December 1st, 2012

1. “The Killing of Jordan Russell Davis,” The Atlantic, 11-28-2012
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1974?t=4&akid=2727.1174326.zaXTMZ

2. “Black teen’s shooting revives ‘Stand Your Ground’ debate,” MSNBC, 11-28-2012
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1975?t=6&akid=2727.1174326.zaXTMZ

3. “Half The Lawmakers On Florida ‘Stand Your Ground’ Task Force Are ALEC Members, All Supported Stand Your Ground,” Think Progress, 04-20-2012
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1976?t=8&akid=2727.1174326.zaXTMZ

4. “8 Months After Trayvon: “Stand Your Ground” Law Deemed Just Fine by Florida,” Mother Jones, 11-16-2012
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1977?t=10&akid=2727.1174326.zaXTMZ