CARE -- In the pounding mid-day African sun ... what is the weight of water many women in Africa carry on their head for up to five miles a day?

Schoolchildren have become agents of change in Kenya to help bring some relief to their mothers shouldering this daily burden. Learn how here.

Sincerely,

Helene D. Gayle, MD, MPH President and CEO, CARE

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CONGRESS: the Republican led House – the Senate back 6/14

05/31/2012 Nativegrl77

Convenes: 2:00pm June 4, 2012
Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized. It is the Majority Leader’s intention to resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.3220, the Paycheck Fairness Act.
At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #613, the nomination of Timothy S. Hillman, of MA, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts. There will be up to 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees. Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), there will be a roll call vote on confirmation of the Hillman nomination.
As a reminder to all Senators, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.3220, the Paycheck Fairness Act on Thursday, May 24^th. That cloture vote will occur at 2:15pm on Tuesday, June 5^th.

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MAY 31, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

-The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.10:00:44 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.10:00:36 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Daniel Webster to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.10:00:22 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

9:30 am

Hearing: Rhetoric vs. Reality: Does President Obama Really Support an All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy?Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee

10:00 am

Hearing: NRC Policy and Governance OversightCommittee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy

10:00 am

Hearing: “Barriers to Lower Health Care Costs for Workers and Employers”Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions

10:00 am

Hearing: The Broken Budget Process: Legislative ProposalsCommittee On The Budget: Full Committee

10:00 am

Markup: Markup of H.R. 1588, the “Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act” and H.R. 3128, a bill to amend the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to adjust the date on which consolidated assets are determined for purposes of exempting certain instruments of smaller institutions from capital deductions.Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee

10:00 am

Hearing: Assembling the Facts: Examining the Proposed National Network for Manufacturing InnovationCommittee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation

10:00 am

Hearing: A Review of FAA’s efforts to reduce costs and ensure safety and efficiency through Realignment and Facility ConsolidationCommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation

10:00 am

Hearing: The FISA Amendments Act of 2008Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security

10:00 am

Markup: Markup of: H.R. 436, “Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2011;” H.R. 5842, “Restoring Access to Medication Act;” H.R. 1004, “Medical FSA Improvement Act of 2011;” and H.R. 5858, “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve health savings accounts, and for other purposes.”Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee

10:15 am

Hearing: Reviewing the Implementation of Major Provisions of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: Full Committee

10:15 am

Hearing: International Proposals to Regulate the InternetCommittee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications and Technology

11:00 am

Markup: Full Committee Mark Up – FY 2013 Legislative Branch BillCommittee on Appropriations: Multiple Subcommittees

12:00 pm

Hearing: The Department of Justice – Civil, Environment and Natural Resources, and Tax DivisionsCommittee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law

1:30 pm

Hearing: Rhetoric vs. Reality, Part II: Assessing the Impact of New Federal Red Tape on Hydraulic Fracturing and American Energy IndependenceCommittee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee

2:00 pm

Hearing: TSA’s Surface Inspection Program: Strengthening Security or Squandering Scant Resources?Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Transportation Security

2:30 pm

Hearing: To amend Public Law 89-732 to modify the requirement for a Cuban national to qualify for and maintain status as a permanent residentCommittee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement

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The Amazon and Oil Contamination … Rainforest Action NetWork

05/30/2012 Nativegrl77 2 Comments

How can you help the communities of the Amazon fighting oil contamination and a historic health crisis?
With water.
Specifically, you can help spread the word about ClearWater, a community-led project that is providing immediate relief to the people of the Ecuadorean Amazon. The same powerful communities that have been waging a 19-year battle to bring Chevron to justice for its toxic legacy in the Amazon are now building safe drinking water systems for themselves. Can you help spread the word by sharing this video with your friends and family?

For nearly two decades, 30,000 Indigenous and rural Ecuadoreans have been fighting to hold Chevron accountable for its oil pollution in the Amazon. What’s more, they’ve kept up the fight even while the absence of readily available clean water has contributed to a health emergency for their communities, including an epidemic of cancer, miscarriages, birth defects, and other ailments.
That’s why these rainforest communities have teamed up to launch ClearWater — a project that is providing safe drinking water to the people of the Ecuadorean Amazon while they continue to hold Chevron accountable for its oily mess.
Please share the video now.

		For a cleaner future,
		Ginger Cassady Change Chevron

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CEO John Watson … Wake Up

05/30/2012 Nativegrl77

Send Chevron CEO John Watson a wake up call now!

RAN activists will be joining a large coalition of labor groups, community organizers, climate activists, and other environmentalists tomorrow at a protest outside of Chevron’s annual shareholder meeting. While protesters call out Chevron for putting profits ahead of people and planet outside, I’ll be going inside the meeting with people from communities impacted by Chevron operations from Nigeria to Brazil.
Two of the brave Ecuadoreans suing Chevron to clean up of its massive oil contamination in the Amazon — Luz Trinidad Andrea Cusangua and Robinson Yumbo — will travel to San Ramon, CA to take their calls for justice directly to the company.
Chevron needs to know that for every person like Luz and Robinson inside the meeting and for every protestor outside the meeting, there are thousands more who stand with us. Can you call Chevron CEO John Watson and ask him to take responsibility for his company’s oily mess in Ecuador?
We’ve set up a page that has everything you need to send a wake-up call to Watson: Phone number, sample call script, and a form so you can report back to us how the call went. Send Chevron’s CEO a wake up call now!
Even a large number of Chevron shareholders feel the company’s executive team has badly mismanaged the Ecuador lawsuit. One recently wrote: “Chevron’s actions are hurting shareholders as well as the indigenous people of the rainforest.” You can be sure Chevron shareholders will make their voices heard at the meeting, just as Luz and Robinson will be making their calls for justice in Ecuador loud and clear.
Chevron CEO John Watson needs to hear from you too.

		For a cleaner future,
		Ginger Cassady Change Chevron

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Fifty years after Vietnam

05/30/2012 Nativegrl77

The White House

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Fifty years after VietnamIn his speech at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., President Obama did more than just mark Memorial Day; he began the 50th commemoration of that conflict and those who served in one of America’s longest wars.Fifty years ago, American forces stepped up operations in Vietnam. During the conflict, more than three million Americans served in the Vietnam war, and more than 58,000 American patriots gave their lives. And when U.S. forces returned home, too many never received the hero’s welcome they deserved.

Yesterday, President Obama told their story as it should have been told all along — a story of patriotism, honor, and courage. Here’s a short video to mark this important moment that you can share to help set the record straight and honor the service of Americans who fought in Vietnam:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/vietnam-war-50th

P.S. — To learn more about what you can do to support all America’s veterans and military families, become a part of the Joining Forces initiative.

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