~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Mobilization underway – 65 days to go

02/23/2012 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

Earth Day 2012: Mobilize the Earth is now in full-swing! Every day, the movement is inspiring people all over the world to act on behalf of the environment – to send a clear message to world leaders that the world can’t wait.
What will YOU do?
Keep reading for highlights from the last couple of weeks and learn how you can get involved.
In This Issue: Lead an Earth Day Event or Join One Nearby A Billion Acts of Green Reaches Halfway Point MobilizeU Student Movement Gains Momentum Resources for People of Faith

Lead an Earth Day Event or Find One Nearby:People all over the world are already mobilizing for Earth Day 2012. You can start an Earth Day event or join one nearby!
Remember to send us a photo of your action!
Here are some inspiring examples:

Oman – Oman’s Ministry of Education is mobilizing to hold Earth Day events in 1,043 schools, engaging more than 524,000 students throughout the country. They also published Earth Day Network’s green schools lesson plans on their education portal in Arabic and English.
Kurdistan, Iraq – The provincial government in Kurdistan is mobilizing to plant five million trees for Earth Day 2012. And Earth Day Network partner “Together” has already planted 400 trees in honor of Earth Day 2012 in Salah Al-Din Province.
Brisbane, Australia – Divers with Reef Check Australia are mobilizing for Earth Day. They’ll be doing an underwater cleanup of Moreton Bay and working to raise awareness about water pollution and the need for marine conservation.
Veracruz, Mexico – Tortugas Fundacion Yepez is mobilizing to bring people, NGOs and government officials together in Veracruz for Earth Day to raise awareness about the delicate ecosystem in the area and promote reforestation throughout the region.
Koung Jor, Thailand – The Branch Foundation is mobilizing to install solar panels in a refugee camp in Thailand of 600 Burmese refugees. It will be the first solar-run refugee camp in the world.
Norfolk, United Kingdom – Deepdale Farm is mobilizing to bring community members and businesses together on the North Norfolk Coast for Earth Day to learn about sustainability, conservation, eco-friendly living and renewable technologies.

A Billion Acts of Green® Reaches Halfway Point: A Billion Acts of Green, the world’s largest environmental service campaign, recently passed the halfway point! We’ve inspired over 500 million environmental actions from individuals, businesses, governments, and faith-based and civic organizations all over the world in what is being called a global referendum on the environment. Help us make it to a billion for Earth Day!
MobilizeU Student Movement Gains Momentum:MobilizeU is an international movement of student environmental activists organizing for Earth Day 2012. And the international collegiate competition to generate the most acts of green is less than two months away. Dozens of college students from all over the world have already signed up to represent their institutions as regional and school coordinators, and more are coming in every day. Click here to get involved in this exciting youth movement!
Resources for People of Faith: Earth Day Network is proud to introduce its Earth Stewardship Resources for People of Faith webpage. This living-list webpage will provide people of faith with a wide array of resources to help develop projects to green their congregation and community.
– The Earth Day Network Team

Black History

Congress: the Republican led House worked for 2minutes – the Senate in pro forma Sessions

02/22/2012 Nativegrl77

The Senate will meet on the following date and times for pro forma sessions only with no business conducted:

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:00pm and

Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:00am.

SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, February 27, 2012. Following any Leader remarks, Senator Shaheen will be recognized to deliver Washington’s Farewell Address. Upon conclusion of the reading, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #409, the nomination of Margo Kitsy Brodie, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York with up to one hour of debate equally divided and controlled between the Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.

Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on confirmation of the Brodie nomination

———————————————————————————————-

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF FEBRUARY 21, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

-The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 24, 2012.12:02:31 P.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.12:02:23 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.12:01:55 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Alisa Lasater Wailoo, Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, Washington, DC.12:01:04 P.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Harris to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.12:00:08 P.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ Culture & History

National Museum of African American History and Culture – Lonny Branch

02/22/2012 Nativegrl77

Dear Charter Members and Friends,As director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, I am proud to announce that we will officially break ground for the Museum on Wednesday, February 22, 2012. While we could not invite all our Charter Members and friends to join us at this ceremony, I welcome you to join us virtually through a simulcast of this historic event via this link nmaahc.si.edu/Events/Groundbreaking. Pre-program activities begin at 9 a.m., and the ceremony gets underway at 10 a.m.This day represents a major milestone in our development, keeping us on track to meet our projected opening in 2015!

Circled — Future home of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

The ceremonial groundbreaking represents just one of a number of activities planned throughout this year. In addition to our ongoing exhibitions and programs, later this year we will host a public celebration of the Groundbreaking on the National Mall. It will be a prelude to the Smithsonian’s FolkLife Festival that begins on June 27th. And those of you who are Charter Members will be invited to a special “members-only” reception and program as well (details to follow).

Six years ago, we began the journey to create the 19th museum of the Smithsonian family. Now, we have arrived at a singular moment in history — a time that realizes the hopes and dreams of so many who have struggled before us. We could not have reached this moment without the commitment of our Charter Members and friends like you.

Thank you again for your continued support and for joining us in this journey to bring the National Museum of African American History and Culture to the nation and the world.

	In gratitude and celebration,

	Lonnie Bunch Founding Director

P.S. I know you are as excited and proud as all of us are of this Museum as it begins to take its place among the other great Smithsonian museums on the National Mall. Thank you again for your vision and support.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Support Jay Inslee for Governor of Washington State …

02/22/2012 Nativegrl77


	Since I announced my jobs plan last week, people from across the state have been expressing their support for our commonsense approach to job creation — an approach that will create good-paying, middle-class jobs for all kinds of workers in every corner of our state. They know, like I do, that building a working Washington requires us to identify industries where we can or do out-compete the rest of the world. And by focusing on building up those industries, we CAN out-compete the world. No place is better suited to pursue a bold, innovative, and forward-thinking approach than Washington state. We’ve put together a short video with some of our favorite moments from last week’s events, and I wanted to share it with you. Do you have couple minutes to watch it? Click here to see highlights from our jobs plan announcement, read the plan, and share Jay’s ideas for creating jobs throughout Washington! This is the first of several proposals we’ll be releasing over the coming months. It means a lot to know that you’re with us as we start the discussion about the key policies we will enact during my administration. I hope you’ll take a minute to watch our video and read my plan now, and then share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Thank you so much for your continued support. Very truly yours, Jay Inslee