In what is one of the most unlikely and significant victories in environmental and human rights history, 30,000 indigenous people and campesinos won a $9.5 billion judgment in a class action suit after 20 years of ugly legal battles (now upheld by Ecuador‘s highest court). Unlikely because of the unprecedented and overwhelming pressure placed on the plaintiffs, their supporters, Ecuador and the Ecuadorian judicial system. And significant as it sets an encouraging precedent that those victimized by powerful corporate forces have hope for justice and a way to fight back.So how on Earth could this victory be so ridiculously, unethically and illegally turned on its head and evolve into the shocking display that just played out in a US Federal Court? And what repercussions and worrisome precedents could such reckless actions hold for corporate accountability and legal processes around the world?

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Coca-Cola

12/03/2013 Nativegrl77

Coca-Cola: Stop funding anti GMO labeling campaigns

By Ocean Robbins and the Food Revolution Network

Soquel, California

The public just learned that Coca-Cola has secretly contributed more than a million dollars to campaign against the labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In addition to its soft drinks, the company owns many brands marketed as healthier alternatives, including Honest Tea, Powerade, Odwalla, Vitamin Water and Simply Orange. Coca-Cola’s CEO, Muhtar Kent, says, “We have provided a tremendous amount of choice to people.” But when it comes to your right to know how your food was produced, Coca-Cola has joined biotech giant Monsanto in trying to keep you in the dark.

In late October 2013, Coca-Cola was discovered to have made more than $1 million in secret contributions to the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA). This money went directly to the GMA’s fight against labeling of GMOs in Washington State. The Washington state Attorney General says that the GMA violated the state’s campaign disclosure laws when it bundled more than $11 million for the anti-labeling fight, while shielding the identities of the companies, led by Coca-Cola, who were donating that money.

Many companies, including Dole Food Company, and Mars, Inc., have responded to consumer pressure and stopped giving money to fight GMO labeling. We are calling on Coca-Cola to join them.

While sales of Coca-Cola’s carbonated soft drinks have recently been dropping, the company’s financial future is increasingly tied to the brands it markets as healthier, including Honest Tea, Powerade, Odwalla, Vitamin Water and Simply Orange. It’s time for company policy to respond to its customer’s growing level of health consciousness and demand for consumer choice.

Join us and sign our petition urging Coca-Cola to stop funding efforts to block the labeling of GMOs.

For more information, visit www.cokeboycott.com.

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 12/3 the House considers clean water,fed land trust

12/03/2013 Nativegrl77

Family

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, December 9, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 4:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1197, the National Defense Authorization to allow the Chairman and Ranking Member to provide a status update on the bill.

At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #327, the nomination of Patricia Ann Millett, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, post-cloture. There will be up to 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form. At 5:30pm, all post-cloture time will be expired and there will be a roll call vote on confirmation of the Millett nomination.

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Last Floor Action:12/3
6:54:21 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The
next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on December 4, 2013.

Last Floor Action:12/2
10:01:47 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The
next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on December 3, 2013.

10:00:00 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:17 A.M.		LaMalfa to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:00:37 A.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
10:51:49 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:58 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 3.
12:01:05 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
12:02:31 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:02:32 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Hahn to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:02:56 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.
12:34:54 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
12:35:07 P.M.	H.R. 1095	Mr. McCaul moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 1095 — “To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) to transfer unclaimed money recovered at airport security checkpoints to nonprofit organizations that provide places of rest and recuperation at airports for members of the Armed Forces and their families, and for other purposes.”
12:36:02 P.M.	H.R. 1095	Considered under suspension of the rules.
12:36:04 P.M.	H.R. 1095	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1095.
12:46:49 P.M.	H.R. 1095	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
12:47:27 P.M.	H.R. 2719	Mr. McCaul moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2719 — “To require the Transportation Security Administration to implement best practices and improve transparency with regard to technology acquisition programs, and for other purposes.”
12:47:38 P.M.	H.R. 2719	Considered under suspension of the rules.
12:47:39 P.M.	H.R. 2719	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2719.
12:58:09 P.M.	H.R. 2719	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
12:58:36 P.M.	H.R. 1204	Mr. McCaul moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 1204 — “To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) to establish an Aviation Security Advisory Committee, and for other purposes.”
12:58:52 P.M.	H.R. 1204	Considered under suspension of the rules.
12:58:56 P.M.	H.R. 1204	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1204.
1:11:11 P.M.	H.R. 1204	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
1:12:15 P.M.	H.R. 3626	Mr. Coble moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 3626 — “To extend the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988 for 10 years.”
1:12:25 P.M.	H.R. 3626	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:12:28 P.M.	H.R. 3626	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3626.
1:22:22 P.M.	H.R. 3626	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
1:23:02 P.M.	H.R. 255	Mr. McClintock moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 255 — “To amend certain definitions contained in the Provo River Project Transfer Act for purposes of clarifying certain property descriptions, and for other purposes.”
1:23:10 P.M.	H.R. 255	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:23:14 P.M.	H.R. 255	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 255.
1:27:45 P.M.	H.R. 255	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
1:27:47 P.M.	H.R. 2388	Mr. McClintock moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2388 — “To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to take certain Federal lands located in El Dorado County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, and for other purposes.”
1:28:37 P.M.	H.R. 2388	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:28:40 P.M.	H.R. 2388	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2388.
1:36:34 P.M.	H.R. 2388	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
1:36:42 P.M.	H.R. 2388	The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
1:36:44 P.M.	H.R. 1963	Mr. McClintock moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 1963 — “To amend the Water Conservation and Utilization Act to authorize the development of non-Federal hydropower and issuance of leases of power privileges at projects constructed pursuant to the authority of the Water Conservation and Utilization Act, and for other purposes.”
1:37:23 P.M.	H.R. 1963	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:37:26 P.M.	H.R. 1963	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1963.
1:43:42 P.M.	H.R. 1963	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
1:44:02 P.M.	H.R. 1241	Mr. McClintock moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 1241 — “To facilitate a land exchange involving certain National Forest System lands in the Inyo National Forest, and for other purposes.”
1:44:16 P.M.	H.R. 1241	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:44:21 P.M.	H.R. 1241	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1241.
1:48:54 P.M.	H.R. 1241	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
1:49:24 P.M.	H.R. 1846	Mr. McClintock moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 1846 — “To amend the Act establishing the Lower East Side Tenement National Historic Site, and for other purposes.”
1:49:35 P.M.	H.R. 1846	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:49:36 P.M.	H.R. 1846	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1846.

2:00:23 P.M.	H.R. 1846	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
2:00:39 P.M.	H.R. 2650	Mr. McClintock moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2650 — “To allow the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in the State of Minnesota to lease or transfer certain land.”
2:00:59 P.M.	H.R. 2650	Considered under suspension of the rules.
2:01:01 P.M.	H.R. 2650	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2650.
2:09:10 P.M.	H.R. 2650	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
2:09:39 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
2:10:17 P.M.	H.R. 255	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 255 — “To amend certain definitions contained in the Provo River Project Transfer Act for purposes of clarifying certain property descriptions, and for other purposes.”
2:35:29 P.M.	H.R. 255	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 406 – 0 (Roll no. 615).
2:35:40 P.M.	H.R. 2719	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2719 — “To require the Transportation Security Administration to implement best practices and improve transparency with regard to technology acquisition programs, and for other purposes.”
2:44:00 P.M.	H.R. 2719	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 – 0 (Roll no. 616).
2:44:23 P.M.	H.R. 1204	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1204 — “To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) to establish an Aviation Security Advisory Committee, and for other purposes.”
2:51:19 P.M.	H.R. 1204	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 411 – 3 (Roll no. 617).
2:55:12 P.M.		MOMENT OF SILENCE – The Chair led the House in observing a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims of the train derailment in New York City on December 1, 2013.
3:01:10 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
3:06:23 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
5:47:53 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
6:53:00 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 3.
6:53:20 P.M.		Mr. Nugent filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 429.
6:54:00 P.M.		Mr. Nugent moved that the House do now adjourn.
6:54:18 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
6:54:21 P.M.		The House adjourned.The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on December 4, 2013.

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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

It’s Redge Ranyard’s story …

12/02/2013 Nativegrl77 2 Comments

VoteVets.org

Last week, John Boehner said that Republicans were locked in an “epic battle” to keep the government shutdown going.

As a World War II veteran, I fought in six epic battles. I helped fight the Nazis in the North African seas, and took part in operations that liberated Italy and the South of France, from Germany.

The Tea Party Shutdown is not an epic battle — it is bad governance.

Americans and veterans like me depend on our entire government being open.

I filmed a television ad with VoteVets, and it’s on the air starting today. I hope you’ll watch it and contribute to help keep it up.

http://action.votevets.org/shutdown-ad

After receiving General Wesley Clark‘s email last week, I responded with my personal story about how the shutdown impacts my life, while expressing my disgust with the Republican Party’s politicization of the World War II Memorial shortly after the shutdown began.

I served this nation with honor. Today, I can’t say the same thing about most Republicans in Congress.

Thank you for standing up for me,

Redge Ranyard
World War II Veteran
VoteVets.org

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Give back with the first-ever donatable Hangout-a-thon on Google+

12/02/2013 Nativegrl77

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 06:00 AM PST

As the holidays approach and our calendars become full, it can be hard to find time to give back to the causes you care about most. Tomorrow, on Giving Tuesday—an annual one-day event that encourages people to make donations to their favorite charities—we’re making it easier for you to connect with a worthy cause through the first-ever “Hangout-a-thon” on Google+.
Starting at 9 a.m. EST tomorrow on the Giving Tuesday Google+ page, you can join nonprofit organizations working to improve clean water access, eliminate bullying, and provide disaster relief in the Philippines. Learn more about their work, ask questions and connect directly to the people they’re helping. Celebrities such as Jennifer Garner, Chris Daughtry and Sophia Bush will stop by to join in on the fun, and you can also donate to the charity of your choice while watching the Hangout.

Here’s a preview of what you can do:

Connect with people engaging in relief efforts on the ground in the Philippines through Save the Children and UNICEF
Join conversations with the founders of Warby Parker and TOMS about gifts that give back, moderated by our partner Mashable
Get inspired during a morning yoga tutorial with the Africa Yoga Project in Kenya
Hear how the Malala Fund is working to promote education as a peace-building tool in developing nations
Participate in a quick coding lesson from Code.org, Girls Who Code and Code2040 and learn what you can do to support digital literacy

We hope you’ll participate by watching the Hangout-a-thon, donating to a cause you care about and posting about the event with #givingtuesday on Google+. And to keep the giving going throughout the holiday season, download One Today, our Android app that lets you donate to a different nonprofit every day.
Posted by Ramya Raghavan, Head of Politics and Causes for Google+