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Stop Shell from drilling in the Arctic
Shell responded to our opposition around its plans to drill in the Arctic by filing for one of the broadest and most restrictive injunctions in US history against Greenpeace USA. It’s exactly the kind of anti-democratic reaction you would expect from a major oil company.
Regardless of what happens in court, Greenpeace is going to continue to oppose Shell’s plans. But we’ll only win if we have your support. Join 300,000 people from around the world and demand that Shell stop its plans to put the fragile Arctic at risk.
~Dan
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From: Dan Howells, Greenpeace webmaster@greenpeaceusa.org
Subject: Save the Arctic
Right this minute a global fleet of Arctic destroyers is speeding towards one of the last unspoiled places on earth.
Shell plans to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean this summer.
Take action and demand Shell stop its plans to drill in the Arctic.
The ships are part of oil giant Shell’s mission to drill the very first wells in the pristine waters off the coast of Alaska. It’s insane, but melting sea ice from global warming has made it a reality. If Shell finds oil, the Arctic oil rush will be on.
It’s not over yet though. People are pushing back. In New Zealand, Greenpeace activists (including Xena Warrior Princess star Lucy Lawless) occupied a drill ship and prevented it from leaving for the Arctic for several days. And just last week activists occupied two icebreakers in Finland.
But to stop Shell for good, we eventually need the public support of millions around the world. Carmen, that means you.
Join the 250,000 people from around the world who have already taken action and demand Shell stop its plans to put the fragile Arctic at risk.
Widespread public opposition here in the US is going to be the key to stopping Shell. The US government is responsible for giving Shell the green light to drill. Greenpeace will be delivering these messages to the company soon. Our goal is to add the names of at least 40,000 Americans to that list before we do. Your message matters.
Shell isn’t prepared for a disaster in the Arctic Ocean. No one is. The Arctic Ocean makes the Gulf of Mexico look like a flat, calm lake. With constant high seas, icebergs and massive waves, there’s no way to effectively cleanup an oil spill in the Arctic Ocean. Even the head of the US Coast Guard has publicly admitted that his agency would have little chance of dealing with a spill in the frozen Arctic on their own.
The plan Shell has submitted actually includes using things like shovels, brooms and a sniffer dog called “Tara” to cleanup a potential spill. It would be funny if there wasn’t so much at stake.
All Shell cares about is its corporate bottom line. Polar bears and unspoiled natural beauty are just obstacles to making ever greater profits. Together we can create a public obstacle Shell can’t overcome — but it’s going to take millions of us.
Add your voice to the growing list of people who will not stay quiet as one of the last wildernesses on earth is destroyed and help save the Arctic.
Sincerely,
Dan Howells
Greenpeace USA Deputy Campaign Director
P.S. Last year, Shell reported it had over 200 spills. It will only be a matter of time before a spill happens in the pristine polar bear habitat of the Arctic. Take action today and help save the Arctic before Shell ruins it forever.
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MEDICARE MADNESS – Republicans plan to end Medicare
Republicans plan to End Medicare as we know it … Get the Facts – Tell your Legislators to Put PEOPLE before Party and Profit
They’re back at it again. Today, GOP Budget Chairman Paul Ryan launched his campaign to re-brand the Republican plan to end Medicare. Don’t fall for it — and don’t let your friends and family fall for Ryan’s smoke-and-mirrors either. Get the facts:
Forward this e-mail to 3 friends right now so they have the facts. Then, join the fight at our Medicare Madness 2012 Action Center: Help us reach 100,000 strong demanding that Republicans stop putting Millionaires before Medicare >> You can also share your Medicare story, write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, and share the facts on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Budgets are about priorities, and the Republicans’ priority is that millionaires come first and seniors’ Medicare comes last. The American people rejected Republicans’ extreme scheme last year. With your help, they will do it again. http://MedicareMadness2012.com Thanks for standing strong. Steve Rep. Steve Israel (1) LA Times: “[Republicans’ plan] would still give future seniors a fixed amount, but it would allow them to use the money to stay in the traditional Medicare program. They would have to pay out of pocket if the costs of the program were higher than the government subsidy — or buy an alternative plan.” (2) Center for Budget and Policy Priorities: “[Republicans’ plan] would shift substantial costs to beneficiaries rather than protect them from such cost increases, could lead to the demise of traditional Medicare over time rather than preserve it and likely would produce few savings.” (3) LA Times: “Now Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman, is returning to center stage as the GOP doubles down on his conservative budget priorities — including tax cuts for the wealthy and a new version of his plan for major changes in Medicare.” |
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Women: You’re On Your Own … by DemRapidResponse
Uploaded by DemRapidResponse on Mar 20, 2012
DNC video “Mitt Romney to Women: You’re On Your Own”
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Don’t let Congress double the student loan interest rate … Murshed Zaheed, CREDO Action
Stop Republicans from doubling the interest rate on student loans.
Dear Friend,
This is unbelievable. The interest rates on federal student loans will double this summer if Congress doesn’t take action.1
Millions of American students from working class families are able to obtain a college education thanks to low-interest federal student loans. But now Congress is putting those loans in serious jeopardy at a time when students and their families can least afford to pay higher interest rates.
Back in 2007, when the Democrats were in charge of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Congress passed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. It reduced the interest rates on subsidized Stafford loans incrementally over four academic years, from 6.8 percent at the time to the current 3.4 percent.2 The current Republican leadership in the House is planning to let this legislation expire on July 1, effectively doubling the interest rates on these loans. This will result in an average of $5,000 in additional payments for students who are scheduled to pay their loans backs in 5 years, and $11,000 for those who are paying back in 10.3
With Republicans in the House poised to double the interest on federal student loans, we need leadership from the Senate.Specifically, we need Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to stand up and fight on behalf of millions of American students:
If Leader Reid leads the Democratic-controlled Senate to move first and take steps to pass legislation that ensures the interest rates remain fixed at 3.4 percent, it will force the hand of Congressional Republicans to either pass the measure or go on the record as the party fighting against the interest of millions of America’s working class students and their families.But we need both the House and the Senate to pass it before July 1, so we need to convey our sense of urgency to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today.
Federal student loans with low interest rates, such as the subsidized Stafford loan, are designed to benefit students whose families make under $40,000 a year — folks who can least afford to see their interest rates jump.4 These loans help the neediest students, who are often not eligible to receive Pell Grants. Adding further financial stress on these students and their families by letting the interest rates double this July would be devastating, especially given the extremely fragile state of our economy.
As Sarah Jaffe observed in her excellent piece in AlterNet:
“It’s worth noting, as well, that many of the big banks that make a killing on private student loans and still have billions of government-subsidized student debt on their books, are able to borrow money from the government through the Federal Reserve’s discount window at nearly no interest at all. Why, then, are young people, who aren’t guilty of trashing the economy but remain the victims of a rate of unemployment nearly twice that of the rest of the population, expected to pay more?”5
Now is the time for all of us to speak up on behalf of our students. Click here to automatically sign the petition and consider inviting students from your personal network to join the fight.
Click below to automatically sign our petition urging Senator Reid to fight to keep college education affordable and not let the interest rate double on federal student loans.
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5541975&id=36922-5440681-yT2lVHx&t=12
Thank you for speaking out to make sure that all students can afford a higher education — including those from working class families.
Murshed Zaheed, Deputy Political Director CREDO Action from Working Assets
PS: This issue is deeply personal for me. Coming from a working class family, I have been able to pursue my own aspirations by working hard and getting a great education from amazing academic institutions. This opportunity would not have been possible for someone like me if I hadn’t had access to affordable federal student loans with low interest rates. I hope you willjoin this cause on behalf of the students andconsider inviting any students you know in your personal network to join this fight by forwarding them this link:
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5541974&id=36922-5440681-yT2lVHx&t=15
1. Sarah Jaffe, “Is Congress Going to Double the Interest on Your Student Loan?,” AlterNet.org February 22, 2012. 2. Ann Carrns, “Rising Concerns Over Student Loans, Public and Private,” the New York Times Blog, March 14, 2012. 3. Sarah Jaffe, “Is Congress Going to Double the Interest on Your Student Loan?,” AlterNet.org February 22, 2012. 4. Moe Bedard, “Vermont Senators Leahy And Sanders Join Bill To Prevent July Interest Rate Increase On Stafford Student Loans,” LoanSafe.org, February 2, 2012. 5. Sarah Jaffe, “Is Congress Going to Double the Interest on Your Student Loan?,” AlterNet.org February 22, 2012.
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