A year ago today, the President signed the Affordable Care Act into law changing the lives of millions of women and their families across this country. And states have an important role to play in shaping how the law is implemented. We need each Governor to move forward and implement the health care law in a meaningful way, which will lead to improvements in the health of women and their families throughout their state.

Tell your Governor: help move us forward by protecting women’s health care.

Thanks to the new health care law, women and their families are already benefitting from this critically important law. For example:

A mother who is diagnosed with cervical cancer can focus on her treatment and not worry about whether her insurance company will drop her because she got sick;

A woman can go to her gynecologist and get a pap smear without a referral and without paying a co-pay;

A child with asthma won’t have trouble getting health care coverage because of a pre-existing condition or face a lifetime cap on coverage.

The new health care law puts an end to insurance companies treating women like a pre-existing condition. Already, the law is helping women and their families by making it illegal for insurance companies to drop people once they get sick, prohibiting insurers from denying coverage to kids with pre-existing conditions, and ensuring new health plans provide no-cost preventive health care services, such as mammograms and pap smears.

Tell your Governor we can’t go back — protect women’s health care in implementing the health care law.

www.nwlc.org

On this important one year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, it’s time to move states forward and protect women’s health care.

Sincerely,

Judy Waxman

Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights

National Women’s Law Center

P.S. Don’t forget tomorrow we’re hosting a webinar on women and the Affordable Care Act. We’re excited to announce we’ll be joined by Melody Barnes and Jeanne Lambrew from President Obama’s administration. Register now!

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Our Purpose … a message from kathleen Rogers

03/23/2011 Nativegrl77

climate deniers in the House worked long hours loading a spending bill with amendments to weaken the EPA, block regulation of mountaintop removal, and stymie the federal climate research program. Even scarier, the bill was passed.

Clearly, the political winds are changing. So is our climate, and the reckless antics of Congress speak to the need for broad-based action to defend our environment.

Ironically, the House just gave us a perfect lead-in to Earth Day 2011. This year, Earth Day is themed after A Billion Acts of Green – our campaign to generate acts of environmental service and promote Earth Day events worldwide. Our goal is to reach a Billion Acts by the Rio Earth Summit: an environmental statement no one could ignore. Especially the climate deniers in Washington.

We need you to get involved! Join A Billion Acts of Green in honor of Earth Day 2011: organize a local event or pledge an Act of Green – starting with a phone call to your members of Congress demanding that they stop threatening to block the EPA.

Billion Acts of Green is our strategy to make Earth Day 2011 a success on the ground. We created a new community-powered website filled with ideas for simple things you can do to make a difference. We created easy-to-follow guidebooks for event organizers. Getting involved is easy or multifaceted: it’s really your choice.

Already, Our community has generated over forty-five million acts, but we need your contribution to take Billion Acts of Green to the next level.

Join us today – register an event or pledge an Act of Green on our website. Together, we will build the largest environmental service and advocacy project in the world.

Thank you for taking action, we can’t wait to credit your Acts of Green.

Kathleen Rogers

President, Earth Day Network

P.S. You can also do your part by supporting The Canopy Project. For every dollar you donate, we will plant a tree in one of many areas where they are needed most. Each tree you plant is an Act of Green!

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Will Disney do right by rainforests?

03/23/2011 Nativegrl77

Reading a bedtime story to your kids shouldn’t mean you’re contributing to the destruction of irreplaceable rainforests. Pretty obvious, right? But Disney Publishing and HarperCollins disagree.

These two publishing giants are using paper linked to Indonesian rainforest destruction to print their children’s books. We can change that.

We’re taking the fight to protect Indonesia‘s rainforests straight to the companies responsible for this tragic destruction—and we need you with us. Make a gift today to help RAN shine a spotlight on those responsible for the destruction of Indonesia’s tropical forests.

Already, you and I are having a significant impact. After months of conversations and negotiations—and good old-fashioned RAN activism—eight of the largest American book publishers have committed to get controversial Indonesian fiber out of their books.

We need your support to make sure these eight publishers do what they say they’re going to and push the last two laggards, Disney and HarperCollins, to follow suit. Donate today to support the campaign to protect Indonesia’s rainforests.

www.ran.org

Rainforest-free paper is a readily available alternative – there’s no reason for these publishers to support the devastation of a precious and fragile ecosystem. It’s up to us to make sure Disney and HarperCollins get the message and change their ways.

Help us keep the momentum going by making a donation to stop the destruction of some of the richest tropical forests on the planet.

www.ran.org

Every little bit helps. Your voice – and your generous support – can change the way HarperCollins and Disney do business. We’ve already had a big impact with this campaign. Only with your support can we take on—and win—ambitious fights like this. Click here to make your gift.

www.ran.org

Let’s show them what committed activism can do and make sure this story has a happy ending. Nobody should have to choose between books and rainforests.

Thank you for all that you have done to get us this far—and all that we will do together in the future.

For the forests,

Robin Averbeck

Rainforest Free Paper Campaign

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

wibbies Wednesday …&some News

03/23/2011 Nativegrl77

Today at 12pmET the White House has an event which can be viewed @ whitehouse.gov/live is the “Open for Questions: Startup America – Reducing Barriers” -Director of the National Economic Council, Gene Sperling and SBA Administrator, Karen Mills, answer your questions on the Startup America initiative.

In response to an article i posted “Help protect the right to choose” …written by MoveOn.org

I thought my interaction with a writer who thinks choosing to kill a baby is not right was over but more questions more responses more enlightenment? I do not mind, hopefully the information however brief helps a person right of center get it even if it takes several online interactions.

On 3/18 I received a comment that was a little disturbing because it seemed to have questioned my sensibilites, intelligence and definitely gave me the impression that my health care as a woman needs to be regulated, controlled kind of like those death panels that were started by Conservatives and pushed hard by folks like sarah palin etc,. I definitely like getting comments and appreciate most especially with a different opinion it makes you decide why you feel the way you do ,stand up, speak out and this current war being waged on us women will take all of us because the alternative is not an option.

3/18 Choosing to kill a baby is not a right. http://www.abortiontruth.com/pictures.html

3/18 My response …

…I can only say that we can debate at what point a fetus becomes a baby and at what point a fetus becomes anything after conception. Then we have to ask at what point is conception and if you believe a baby or life begins at conception, then we have nothing to discuss because i do not believe that at conception whenever that is, creates a baby. I believe an egg becomes a fetus then after the first tri-mister, a baby is developed. Even with all this rhetoric i do not believe you or anyone else has the right to tell me what to do with my body-and if you do feel comfortable telling me what to do with my body; what could be bigger Government then that? The fact is and just so you know desperate women have used instruments, back alley doctors, drugs to abort and suicide when it becomes too much. It is my wish that legal, safe and credible places remain available for all women because no one should have to feel so stressed out about a personal choice and no woman chooses abortion because it is fun believe me.

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3/21 An additional comment/question …

When do you believe life begins? Let us start with your measuring stick for life.

FYI: The word fetus (plural fetuses) is from the Latin fetus, meaning offspring, bringing forth, hatching of young. It has Indo-European roots related to sucking or suckling, from the Aryan prefix bheu-, meaning “To come into being”.

I prefer to speak English and just call the developing life form in women, I don’t speak Latin in my daily use of language.

3/21 And my response

Again, do you believe in less government? If so, my uterus should be outside your control, especially if i pay for the abortion it is my personal business –you really should mind your own business right. It is my opinion that the Hyde amendment is enough for everyone to accept and has been for years. The question for you is why you feel it is your right to dictate to a woman as it relates to woman’s health or contraceptive choices. It is this kind of attitude by folks with that family values platform that most if not all Republicans subscribe to in the House of Representatives that wanted to defund Planned Parenthood. First, it makes no sense to take social services away from those who are in need then say if you become pregnant, you might have to go full-term. In my opinion, life without places like Planned Parenthood,would mean more young women suffering unwanted pregnancies, diseases, and or worse. I do not think you get it, you are using words Latin words instead of emotions, and that is because you have no idea what it takes to decide and or go through. While you may think abortion services are used improperly, the point is women are smart enough to decide on their own; having a choice to make a personal decision that is definitely not the same for all women is the point. I do not think most women have abortions for fun but it is far more than the clinical crap you are spewing. The fact is women girls desperate enough to use coat hangers drugs or fake doctors is a reality-having unwanted births is not the answer and a woman’s body does not belong to you or the government. I think the current laws rules and attitudes are so disgusting …just read your comment you act like the decider the guy/gal who thinks women should be pregnant & barefoot -pure BS- i don’t understand this logic. The clinical and or professorial attitude you seem to have shows just how little you know about the topic and or experience and giving up my personal control to you or my government is definitely a definition of big Government.

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

3/22 My final response to the question …

So, when do you believe life begins? 3/22

I believe it probably is when a heartbeat can be heard, which is about at 9weeks depending on the woman. I do not know what you want from me but even with the facts about when life begins does not change my mind about abortion. I believe women should not lose the right to choose be treated as intelligent enough to decide and contrary to popular thought doctors actually do counsel and discuss options but those choices options have been taken away by the Republican Tea Party under the platform of family values when in reality it is family enforcement. It makes no sense to think this is anyone’s business except for the woman and her doctor, it baffles my mind to think a member of congress, a stranger thinks my uterus should be controlled by them because of their own personal beliefs, religion, values. I do believe that the Senate will respect a woman’s right to choose though Republicans feel women should be seen and not heard i guess with the cutting slashing and burning of safe, clean and truly great facilities that help girls, young women and older women on a daily basis for all kinds of things not just abortion. The fact is that places like Planned Parenthood also talk to young men about their responsibilities too regarding contraceptive etc. trying to keep a strong hold on information, procedures and personal choice can only be detrimental to the progress in the realm of women’s health

3/23 -Comment:

You really need to relax, if you can’t handle someone disputing your opinion you need to stay away from blogs. Or just censor those that comment on your blog if that makes it easier for you.

You complain about a lot of things that I never brought up. I state that I do not think that the choice to kill a baby is not a right. Am I wrong?

I gathered from your rant that you consider an embryo with a heart beat is now a baby. Am I right?

To save time, I am going to ask the next question as if the last statement is true. Would you then still believe a women has the right to end the life of a baby, as long as it is in her womb?

I am not asking these questions out of hostility and I hope you are not offended by me asking them. I really do what to know what you stance is and how you justify that stance. It is too easy to box someone into a pro-life or pro-choice label, when that label probably does not fit.

Response –That’s funny. If what you said were true i wouldn’t have even responded to your comment,” choosing to kill a baby is not a right.” I actually responded each time even with the first question because you sounded way too clinical to professorial and if it sounded hostile that is because of the 1st comment with pictures. The question you asked in itself brings up abortion. The halarity of just reading the comment, “choosing to kill a baby is not right” and the saddness of the tremendous hold that men and or politicians from the Republican Tea Party

Actually, i did not say embryo equals a baby … i answered that when a heart beat is heard i would deem it as a baby, which is usually at 9wks could be more … I am saying anything before that i would say is not a baby … and i would say a woman has the right to choose to do whatever she and her doctor have agreed to in private without outside forces to interrupt because whatever is going on in a woman’s body, womb, uterus is hers unless she so choses to share. I am somewhat offended because you don’t get it. I don’t think you, me , the government or anyone else for that matter has a say in what a woman does with her body. I am both pro-life …i have kids and pro-choce because women have the intelligence to decide what they want don’t you agree? what’s missing is your justification for saying choosing to kill a baby is not right is any of your business to begin with. I know where i stand and why but i have no idea why you feel the way you do.

As a woman, the passion or as you say hostility i show for a woman’s right to choose is because the Republican led House cut slashed and burnt women and children lately, these actions give me a bad feeling and could possibly create situations where women of all ages will resort to desperate measures. I believe in providing choices for women and we all know or should know that limiting or controlling choice is definitely a path no one in this 21st Century should even try to take.

Other News …

**The International Coalition continues -Gaddafi remains defiant and the murders of his own people continue

**Elizabeth Taylor is dead at 79

**Syrian clashes result in deaths

**Stocks decline

**CNN news and FOx continue to fight

CSPAN …

Gadhafi Forces Continue To Fight

Unrest continues in Arab nations

http://c-span.com/Events/Gadhafi-Forces-Continue-To-Fight/10737420425/

World Economics

UK and Canada P.M.’s Detail Budget Plans

UK expected economic growth at 1.7%

http://c-span.com/Events/UK-and-Canada-PMs-Detail-Budget-Plans/10737420412/

One Year Later Health Care Law Still Draws Praise, Criticism

http://c-span.com/Events/One-Year-Later-Health-Care-Law-Still-Draws-Praise-Criticism/10737420426/

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

International Relations:Intervention In Libya

03/22/2011 Nativegrl77

Over the weekend, U.S. and allied air and naval forces launched strikes on the military assets of the regime of Libyan leader Col. Muammar Qaddafi. Last night marked the third night of air strikes and the New York Times is reporting “the military campaign to destroy air defenses and establish a no-fly zone over Libya has nearly accomplished its initial objectives, and the United States is moving swiftly to hand command to allies in Europe, American officials said on Monday.” The intervention came following a UN Security Council resolution on Friday that endorsed the creation of a no-fly zone and authorized “all necessary measures” to protect civilians. The UN resolution came as Qaddafi forces were threatening to rout — and some fear massacre — anti-government forces that had retreated to the eastern city of Benghazi. President Obama also explained the decision to authorize force: “The core point that has to be upheld here , is that the entire international community, almost unanimously, says that when there is a potential humanitarian crisis about to take place, when a leader that has lost legitimacy and decides to turn his military on his own people, we simply can’t stand by with empty words, we have to take some sort of action.” The sudden US intervention has proved controversial and spawned a serious debate over the nature of the mission’s objectives and the extent of US involvement that has divided foreign policy thinkers and political leaders on both sides of the aisle. While there is legitimate debate over the merits of intervention, many Republican 2012 candidates and conservative talking heads, ever desperate to attack the President and score cheap political points, are launching absurd attacks and even critiquing him for taking action they days before supported. As Politico noted, this is a “reminder of the dearth of foreign policy experience among the main GOP contenders.”

CONTEXT: What began as a popular uprising, similar to Egypt and Tunisia, quickly spiraled into an armed revolt following Qaddafi’s use of mercenary forces to brutally and indiscriminately suppress the protests. Just a few weeks ago, rebel forces controlled much of the country and appeared on the cusp of toppling Qaddafi. But Qaddafi rallied and launched a furious counter-attack, which forced a rebel retreat across the country. As Qaddafi’s forces approached the eastern city of Benghazi, there were growing fears of a massacre and humanitarian and refugee crisis. This prompted the Arab League to call for Western intervention. On Friday, the United Nations Security Council authorized international action in Libya by a vote of 10-0 with five countries (Brazil, Germany, Russia, China, India) choosing to abstain. Over the past three days, the U.S. fired more than 130 Tomahawk cruise missiles and launched numerous air strikes, which have prevented the fall of Benghazi and a humanitarian crisis. President Obama said yesterday that “after the initial thrust has disabled Gaddafi’s air defences… there will be a transition in which we have a range of coalition partners, who will then be participating in establishing a no-fly zone.” Yet there is some confusion and disagreement within NATO over who will take charge of the operations from the US. The sudden nature of the intervention has also led to complaints from congress that the President did not properly consult with congress. The New York Times noted that “lawmakers from both parties argued that Mr. Obama had exceeded his constitutional authority by authorizing the military’s participation without Congressional approval. The president said in a letter to Congress that he had the power to authorize the strikes, which would be limited in duration and scope, and that preventing a humanitarian disaster in Libya was in the national interest.”

END GAME?: Intervention has led to a serious debate that has cross-cut party lines over the merits and objectives of the operation. Many fear the administration has not defined clear objectives or laid out an end game for its intervention. Republican Sen. Richard Lugar said, “I do not understand the mission because as far as I can tell in the United States there is no mission and there are no guidelines for success.” One cause for confusion is that in the first few weeks of the uprising in Libya the Obama administration called for Qaddafi to go, but it is unclear whether rebel forces have the capability to oust Qaddafi. Brian Katulis of the Center for American Progress warns, “you could have this very awkward phase emerging where Gaddafi is entrenched while there’s a rump state in eastern Libya and some but not all states in the Arab world work to isolate the regime.” This has led to fears of mission creep, where U.S. forces would escalate their intervention to ensure Qaddafi’s ouster. James Fallows of the Atlantic writes, “the most predictable failure in modern American military policy has been the reluctance to ask, And what happens then? … After this spectacular first stage of air war, what happens then? If the airstrikes persuade Qaddafi and his forces just to quit, great! But what if they don’t?” Conservative Wall Street Journal columnist noted that “the biggest takeaway, the biggest foreign-policy fact, of the past decade is this: America has to be very careful where it goes in the world, because the minute it’s there — the minute there are boots on the ground, the minute we leave a footprint — there will spring up, immediately, 15 reasons America cannot leave.” However, Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said on Meet the Press that the President “has a military operation with very clear mission, and that’s what the president should do is have a clear mission and to avoid mission creep…this mission has been very carefully limited.” The Obama administration has insisted that the military intervention will be limited and has rejected sending in U.S. ground troops. President Obama said yesterday in Chile, “First of all, I think it’s very easy to square our military actions and our stated policies. Our military action is in support of a international mandate from the Security Council that specifically focuses on the humanitarian threat posed by Colonel Qaddafi to his people. … As part of that international coalition, I authorized the United States military to work with our international partners to fulfill that mandate. Now, I also have stated that it is U.S. policy that Qaddafi needs to go. And we got a wide range of tools in addition to our military efforts to support that policy… But when it comes to our military action, we are doing so in support of U.N. Security Resolution 1973, that specifically talks about humanitarian efforts. And we are going to make sure that we stick to that mandate.”

RIGHT WING NOISE: For days, many conservative presidential hopefuls and political pundits had called for U.S. intervention in Libya, but following the international community’s action, few took to the airwaves to back the President. Politico reported, “After demanding for weeks that he be more decisive on Libya, not one candidate in the field of 2012 GOP hopefuls has expressed support for President Barack Obama since he began bombing the North African nation. The GOP’s presidential prospects either sharply criticized the commander-in-chief this weekend or avoided weighing in.” For those GOP hopefuls and pundits that attacked the President, the critique centered on the premise that he waited too long and shouldn’t have sought international support — apparently it is preferable to go to war without international support. Sarah Palin said she wouldn’t criticize the President while she was abroad in India, but then went on to criticize the President saying if she were there would have been “less dithering.” John Bolton said on Fox News that the Obama administration was “wrong to base its decision to use force” due to the support of the Arab League or the United Nations. HBO’s Bill Maher noted on Friday, “Republicans don’t know what to do with this because they wanted this to happen, the no fly zone, so that’s good, but now Obama wants it so it’s bad. … Fox News today just put up a test pattern that said, ‘Please be patient while we figure out how this makes Obama the worst president ever.'”