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It’s Getting Hotter In Here

12/06/2014 Nativegrl77

Fourteen Of The Last Fifteen Years Will Be The Hottest Years In Recorded History

We already know that man-made climate change is happening, but yesterday delivered us another shocking statistic to further confirm the threat. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva and the U.K.’s Met Office both released new reports finding that 2014 would likely be the hottest year ever recorded. (The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a similar report two weeks ago.)

The Met Office released the chart below to demonstrate the extent of increased temperatures since 1850.

We know it’s pretty complicated, so bear with us as we walk through some of its most critical points.

1. Including 2014, the 21st century will have hosted fourteen of the fifteen hottest years in recorded history. Not coincidentally, the five next hottest years all took place just before the end of the Millennium between 1990 and 2000.
2. If this year’s trends continue as WHO, Met, and NOAA say they will, then 2014 will be the fourth time the hottest year record was broken since 1997 (1998, 2005, 2010, 2014).
3. The graph in the upper right corner shows the shocking comparison between the last two decades (red and orange) and the century from 1850 to 1950 (purple and blue). Global temperatures 150 years ago were more than a full degree Celsius cooler than they are now.

Joe Romm at ThinkProgress puts these figures in perspective:

It is not remarkable that we keep setting new records for global temperatures — 2005 and then 2010 and likely 2014. Humans are, after all, emitting record amounts of heat-trapping carbon pollution into the air, and carbon dioxide levels in the air are at levels not seen for millions of years, when the planet was far warmer and sea levels tens of feet higher. The figure above from the Met Office makes clear that humans continue to warm the planet.

In the words of WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud, “There is no standstill in global warming.”

These reports continue to prove why it’s imperative that the United States and other countries crack down on carbon dioxide emissions. It’s why the Obama administration’s new EPA clean power rules are so important. It’s also why the United States’ recent deal with China to limit carbon emissions is so crucial. As the world’s two largest carbon dioxide emitters, China and the U.S. play leading roles — and only with concerted global action can we make a significant dent in future emissions.

BOTTOM LINE: Climate deniers will continue to ignore organizations like WMO and the Met Office and the NOAA. But the facts are the facts: the world is getting warmer. These latest reports remind us in shocking fashion what we already know: We need to immediately address humanity’s role in climate change head on, or risk permanently endangering the health of future generations and of the planet.

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BREAKING NEWS: Victory for New Jersey Women! repost

12/06/2014 Nativegrl77

1/2014 a repost

The New Jersey Legislature passed an important pregnancy discrimination bill(s2995/a4486)by an overwhelming majority earlier this year. Governor Christie signed the bill into law. According to Dina Baskst,Co-Founder and Co-President of A Better Balance,”This is a great day for the women of New jersey-this path breaking law will allow women the ability to stay healthy and on the job while pregnant,ensuring economic security and fairness for them and their families.”

A huge thanks goes out to our New Jersey supporters, who called and e-mailed Governor Christie to encourage him to sign the bill. You made this happen!

The law will protect New Jersey women who are pregnant and need a simple accommodation in order to stay healthy and on the job. Unfortunately, despite the fact that pregnancy discrimination has been illegal in the United States for over thirty-five years, women are still forced off the job when they need a simple adjustment at work, such as temporary relief from heavy lifting, extra bathroom or water breaks, or time off to recover from childbirth. The law will put an end to this practice in New Jersey. A Better Balance was instrumental in getting the law passed, including testifying at both a Senate and Assembly hearing on the law and crafting bill language.

The law goes into effect immediately, so if you or someone you know has any problems at work while pregnant, please call our advice and counseling legal hotline at 212-430-5982.

This bill, which passed with vast bipartisan support, represents the latest victory in a growing movement for stronger pregnancy discrimination protections. Philadelphia and Wisconsin recently introduced pregnancy discrimination legislation and later this month, a similar law in New York City will go into effect. Finally, the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act currently has 117 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and 20 cosponsors in the Senate.

Thank you for all your support,

Sherry, Dina, Phoebe, Jared, Elizabeth, Liz, Risha, & Rachel

P.S. Watch this video of NYC Mayor de Blasio at last week’s New York City Paid Sick Days press conference, where he thanks A Better Balance for our leadership (at the two minute mark).

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What We Need in the Fight Against Ebola:

12/05/2014 Nativegrl77

The President visited the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to meet with the team of scientists who have made significant progress in developing an Ebola vaccine.

In his remarks, President Obama asked Congress to approve funding to continue the progress we’re making against Ebola.

“That’s why I’m calling on Congress to approve our emergency funding request to fight this disease before they leave for the holidays,” he said. “It’s a good Christmas present to the American people and to the world.”

Find out more about the President’s remarks at NIH here.

Keeping Up with the Cabinet: Equality, Fairness, and Opportunity

The Labor Department is issuing a rule to implement Executive Order 13672, which was signed by President Obama in July, to ensure that federal contractors and subcontractors do not discriminate against employees or applicants based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

In recognition of their strong commitment to the fight against climate change, the Obama administration names 16 communities as the first class of Climate Action Champions.

Tomorrow, President Obama and the First Lady will join college presidents and other leaders at an event focused on expanding opportunity for students.

Unilever

12/05/2014 Nativegrl77

– Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern started a petition asking Unilever to drop its lawsuit against an American company making innovative food products that compete with their brand. His petition was just covered in the New York Times, and we think you might be interested in signing it.

Tell Unilever to Stop Bullying Sustainable Food Companies

Andrew Zimmern
United States

Sign Andrew’s petition

Hampton Creek is a startup food technology company striving to solve some of the world’s biggest problems. It’s using plants to create products to help ensure food security to feed starving people, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve the healthfulness of foods, and end the cruel treatment of animals.

Unilever, a UK-based 60 billion dollar multinational corporation, filed a lawsuit confessing that Hampton Creek is taking away market share from a couple of its products: Hellmann’s and Best Foods. Thus, as Unilever admits, it’s attempting to rely on an archaic standard of identity regulation that was created before World War II to mandate that Hampton Creek removes its products from store shelves.

Unilever is not only contributing to these problems by using inhumane, unsustainable, and unhealthy ingredients, but rather than solving important global issues, is trying to prevent others from doing so. As an example, even purchasing just one jar of Hampton Creek’s “Just Mayo” instead of Best Foods/Hellmann’s saves land and water usage, reduces CO2 emissions, eliminates hundreds of milligrams of cholesterol.

When a 60 billion dollar company flexes its muscles to prevent a good-for-the-world startup company from succeeding, there are only two words for that: corporate bullying.

Please ask Unilever to focus more on creating a better world rather than preventing others from trying to do so.

Sign Andrew’s petition

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Attorney General Eric Holder

12/05/2014 Nativegrl77

The White House, Washington

Following Michael Brown’s tragic death, millions of people across the nation and around the world have focused their attention on unfolding events in Ferguson, both grieving together and making their voices heard.

In recent days, many have been captivated by ongoing developments, anguished emotions, peaceful protests — and, too often, deeply unfortunate images of unnecessary destruction. And this tragic incident has sparked a necessary, national conversation about the need to ensure trust and build strong relationships between law enforcement officials and the communities they serve.

Events in Ferguson have revealed a deep distrust between a community and its police force. But this reality is not limited to one location. Other communities around this country know this struggle all too well. And it’s abundantly clear that every single one of us has a role to play in tackling this problem together, as a nation — to identify those things that bind us, and to be honest with one another about the things that continue to divide us.

In August, President Obama ordered a review of federal funding and programs that provide equipment to state and local law enforcement agencies. Yesterday, the Administration released that review’s findings — and announced key next steps to strengthen the trust in and effectiveness of the policing of our communities.

Learn more about yesterday’s announcements, and the findings of the Administration’s review.

Here are the next steps we’re taking:

Creating a new task force to promote the expansion of 21st century community-oriented policing.
Reforming how the federal government equips local law enforcement, particularly with military-style equipment.
Advancing the use of body-worn cameras and promoting proven community policing initiatives.

I know this has been a difficult time for people in Ferguson, and for many others across the country. It will take time for things to get better. But as I assured Ferguson residents during my visit there, in August, the Obama administration is firmly committed to making the progress we need — and that all of our citizens deserve.

The changes that the President announced yesterday are exactly the sorts of programmatic steps that will bring the right people together to engage in a constructive, national conversation — so we can build trust, address persistent concerns, and protect public safety while respecting the rights of every American.

Last Tuesday, addressing the public, the President said, “[to] those who are prepared to work constructively, your President will work with you.” I am committed to answering the President’s call to see this through — as are the men and women of the United States Department of Justice.

Learn more about yesterday’s announcements here — and spread the word to anyone who wants to know how we’re moving forward as a nation.

Thank you,

Eric H. Holder, Jr.