The world’s largest gathering of conservation organizations and governments is underway in Honolulu, Hawaii. A powerful delegation of indigenous spokespeople from around the world are there to insist that their territories be protected from the environmental destructions and human rights violations caused by industrial natural resource extraction.

Join them in supporting a revolutionary proposal, called Motion 26, which would greatly expand the mandate to keep industrial activities out of indigenous territories and sacred natural sites.

While this idea might seem obvious, corporations and some governments are working to weaken or defeat the motion. Now is the moment to flood social media streams with global messages of support for this idea whose time has come.

Please post a message on your Facebook and/or Twitter showing that you stand with indigenous communities as they fight to defend their sacred territories from rapacious mining, oil extraction, and other destructive mega projects.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

2016

09/06/2016 Nativegrl77

Come meet the Clark Lewis Team, the GC/CM for the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) Addition project, and learn about unnamed contracting opportunities at the Project Kickoff Event on Wednesday, September 28, at 4:00pm in room 2AB at the Washington State Convention Center.

Agenda will include a Project Overview, Procurement Schedule, and Opportunities for minority, small, veteran, disadvantaged and woman-owned businesses (diverse businesses).

WSCC and Clark Lewis have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion on this project and strongly encourage diverse businesses to attend.

To RSVP and learn more about the project, please visit our website at www.WSCCAddition.com.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Huge Climate News from the US and China

09/06/2016 Nativegrl77

THE US AND CHINA
FORMALLY ACCEPT
THE PARIS
AGREEMENT

WE HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS FOR YOU, Carmen.

The US and China have formally accepted the Paris Agreement!

When 175 countries and parties officially signed the Paris Agreement on Earth Day this year, it marked a critical moment in the fight to end climate change. But signing the agreement in front of the cameras at the UN was only the first step.

For the Paris Agreement to go into effect, it needs to be formally approved by at least 55 countries that, together, contribute 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Which means the world’s biggest emitters, like the US and China, need to get on board.

And now they have.

Today, the US and China – two nations that together make up about 40 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions – have become the first major economies to formally accept the Paris Agreement.   

The significance of this move to formally accept the Paris Agreement goes beyond each country’s emissions. As the first two large nations to formally accept the Paris Agreement, the US and China have set a model for other countries – both developed and developing – around the world to follow.

There’s still more work to be done, as both countries now have to translate their nationally determined commitments in the agreement into action, including legislation and regulation. But today’s announcement is a big deal – and a big step forward for the planet.

We hope that you’re as excited as we are. With the US and China accepting the agreement, signs are that other major economies will soon begin following suit. To stay connected and hear the latest developments as more nations accept the Paris Agreement, follow Climate Reality on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

SCHOOL’S OUT FOREVER?

09/06/2016 Nativegrl77

Donald Trump has already #blessed us with several backwards speeches this week about immigration and foreign policy, and this Saturday he’s gearing up for another ramble, this time about education. Surprising basically no one at this point, Donald Trump’s plans for education are reckless (just like his plans in basically every other policy area). The (alleged) billionaire wants to help pay for his deficit-ballooning “billionaires-first” tax plan by eliminating or drastically cutting the Department of Education—that’s right, the agency that helps ensure we have educated children in this country. His speech this weekend is supposed to be part of Trump’s new outreach to African-American voters, to whom he has asked “what do you have to lose?” Black students stand to lose a lot under Trump’s education plan, which would will deny Pell Grant to 2.7 million black students and eliminate Title I aid for 5.3 million black students in Pre-k through 12.

Here are a few more findings about the consequences Trump’s education plan:

9 million low-income students would lose $15 billion of Title I funding annually

5 million children and students with disabilities would lose $12.7 billion used every year to ensure that they receive a quality education

750,000 or more students from military families, Native American students, students living in U.S. territories, and students living on federal property or Native American lands would lose $1.1 billion per year for their schools

4,000 or more rural school districts would lose more than $175 millionused annually to help improve the quality of teaching and learning in many hard to staff schools

$700 million used by states to support the 5 million English language learners currently in public schools—representing close to 10 percent of all students—would be cut