~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Cruelty to animals at UW … Patrick Schmitt, Change.org


In just a few weeks, medical residents at the University of Washington will begin their fall rotations, studying new topics and performing new procedures. Unfortunately, they’ll be using cruel and outdated training methods to do so.

Students at UW still learn how to insert breathing tubes in human infants using live ferrets instead of simulators.

Here’s what happens: Students push breathing tubes down the throats of live ferrets to practice intubation. Each ferret is subjected to the process repeatedly, experiencing pain, bruising, bleeding, and even death.

More than 90 percent of U.S. pediatrics programs have moved from abusing animals to relying on simulators — an option that has been proven to be more effective for teaching.

Join the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in urging University of Washington President Michael Young and the UW School of Medicine to stop using ferrets in its pediatrics program. >>    http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-university-of-washingtons-cruel-ferret-lab-3?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&alert_id=NNSacSzXig_zLjAKpCEDe

The use of ferrets in pediatric training is cruel and unnecessary. These ferrets suffer needlessly in the short-term — and medical students receive inferior training that affects their abilities as physicians in the long-term.

According to experts at PCRM, “Simulators approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics actually provide a better training experience – they’re humane, they can be used over and over again to aid learning, and they’re specifically designed to mimic the anatomy of newborns and infants.”

August is the perfect time to push for policy change before the new school year starts.

Several weeks ago, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine filed an animal cruelty complaint against the university with the county prosecutor, increasing pressure on UW officials.

Plus, University of Washington President Michael Young has only been at the university for a month. He is still likely to be receptive to reviewing and updating policies.

If Young commits to switching the pediatrics program to using simulators before the next classes of students and residents begin training, 2011-2012 could be a cruelty-free school year for UW’s pediatric residency program.

Sign here to ask UW to end the practice of animal cruelty in its pediatrics program and begin offering more modern methods of training to its medical students and residents:

http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-university-of-washingtons-cruel-ferret-lab-3

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Patrick and the Change.org team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

we only need 12 more people from Washington



Hundreds of straight allies have already stepped up to help us fight the radical right and to protest the anti-LGBT witch hunt they want to start. We’ve extended our deadline to join HRC until midnight tonight because we’re so close to our goal of signing up 2,000 new members – and I know you can help us fight back, Carmen.
We just crunched the numbers, and we only need 12 more people from Washington to join HRC right now to hit our goal. I hope you’ll pitch in.
Stand with us now. Until midnight tonight ONLY, you can join HRC for $20 – a 43% discount – and still receive a cold cup tumbler as our thank-you. We’re offering this discount because we want to be able to count you as a valued member at this critical time.
Still on the fence? Well, the radical right isn’t sitting back on its heels. In just the last few weeks, several of the GOP presidential candidates have signed onto a pledge to support a constitutional ban on marriage equality – and to launch a commission that will investigate pro-equality advocates like you and me for “harassment” of anti-LGBT antagonists.
We can call out disgusting lies like these and fight back, but only thanks to our members. If love is going to conquer hate and tolerance is going to overwhelm prejudice, it’s going to take the true commitment of straight allies at moments just like these.
Take a look at Joe’s note below and then make your membership gift now.
– Ann Crowley, Membership Director, HRC

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Unemployed need not apply …Jess Kutch, Change.org


On Monster.com, employers are allowed to prevent anyone who is currently unemployed from applying for a job.

It’s cruel to the millions of Americans out of work — but you can put an end to it this week.

Kelly Wiedemer, who lost her job in 2008, has launched a campaign demanding that Monster.com ban these discriminatory ads.  Please click here to sign Kelly’s petition.  http://www.change.org/petitions/monstercom-ban-job-listings-that-discriminate-against-the-unemployed?

A nationwide backlash against the company, which treasures its reputation as a website that helps people find jobs, will force Monster.com to act.

Please sign the petition today asking Monster.com to stop discriminating against the unemployed.

http://www.change.org/petitions/monstercom-ban-job-listings-that-discriminate-against-the-unemployed?

Thanks for being a changemaker,

– Jess and the Change.org team

~ my 2cents ...

wily Wednesday… &some News


Just another rant

 Summer is starting to give us all the signs of being over

 However, we in the Democratic Party have to help President Obama give Teapublicans the boot in 2012. I want the Democratic Party to stop the madness and instead of beating up on each other Democratic members of Congress and the President need to get on the same page, do the Peoples Business, and make sure those viewers know that Teapublicans have done nothing but filibuster both Chambers of Congress. In addition, unless you have been living under a rock the President’s efforts to move the Country into the 21st Century, a better standing, status and an employment number much lower than we have currently still blocked by the Teapublicans. We must not ever forget that Rep. McConnell said that his job is to make President Obama a One Term President, which is also what Bachmann, is pushing when she gets media attention. While it is obvious, the Media has made their focus on the extreme right. We all know controversy is good for ratings but we the people must make sure that “the media” fact checks the extremist Presidential candidates who seem to be throwing out lies, misinformation, and BS about the first Black President. The media continually points out the disrespectful comments President Obama has experienced while Teapublicans seem to take respect for granted or expect it as if they are privileged.  I admit there are quite a few extremely right leaning politicians from the Teapublican Party running for office in various states all over the country and there is a slight possibility of at least one woman, specifically Michelle Bachmann becoming the Republican Presidential Nomination with another extreme rightie named Sarah Palin. This is not the year of the Woman but not one of these two ladies … candidates truly represents women in their best light. The fact is most women in the Republican Party are against the right to choose, and unfortunately, Bachmann thinks submitting to her husband means having respect for him, which, if I hear her correctly would be how she would be if President; well the definition of submission is as follows and like we all know Words matter right. So, read what Merrian-Webster.com says Submission means …

The Origin of SUBMISSION

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin submission-, submissio act of lowering, from submittere

First Known Use: 14th century

Most if not all conservative evangelical, Christians like Bachmann and Palin are against gays and some feel women in the Military is definitely a no no. To say these ideals are against family is to say i have a nose on my face. They are women who live different lives than the rest of us and if i am hearing them right they intend to push their personal ideologies on Americans and will try legislate them as well.   I certainly cannot image having these kinds of people in Congress let alone vying for the position of President. We must all GOTV in 2012 against a group of social conservatives that obviously are not our parent’s conservatives who may not share the Democratic view but were able to come together to solve our countries problems as Americans. The Teapublicans have taken risks since the midterm elections and are now setting their sights on the Whitehouse. Again, ruling by religion is a big problem for me because I see religion as a personal thing, which I would never force push or demand others practice. We have freedom of religion but what Bachmann, Palin, Perry maybe others seem to be pushing is just wrong, it is offensive, and dare i say against the whole separation of church and state… right? As right leaning Teapublicans try to out extreme, each other we all need to be aware of their lack of real substance, solutions or plans that would be good for ALL Americans.  Though I am no expert when it comes to individual rights, it is apparent that folks on the right feel Americans get too many entitlements like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and intend to take some if not all of my individual rights as a person of colour. The behavior from these so-called women on the right have embarrassed me as a woman in general on so many levels and continue to as they open up their mouths to say things that have moved from nasty sarcasm to what I consider extreme ideology to seemingly overt racism. The notion that any public figure or anyone who wants to call themselves a Public Servant and or Representative of the People should be speaking and representing one nation under god, not just a select few which if you listen closely, representing a “select few” is all I get from the conservative extreme right like Bachman, Palin and Perry.  The Teapublicans like Bachmann and Perry want Americans to accept a new way of life, which they call limited government. Unfortunately, that means and includes a ban on women’s rights, people cannot love or marry whom they want, people of colour and Muslims should not be trusted, religion and state are inseparable though our founding fathers were against it and yes, Teapublicans are against most of what our forefathers put on paper.

 I don’t know about you but the new deal sounds like the end of The only Pledge that should matter to all Americans … the Pledge of Allegiance.

News …

Hingham veterans want Pledge of Allegiance recited at town meetings

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Verizon strike … Jess Kutch, Change.org

1 Comment

Verizon made billions in profits in just the last four years — but right now, the telecom giant is demanding $1 billion from its own workers in pay and benefit cuts.

Worse, rather than negotiate fairly with their employees, Verizon representatives cut off all negotiations and are refusing to talk.

So more than 45,000 Verizon workers went on strike demanding that Verizon stop its attack on the middle class. If Verizon sees the public and its customers behind the striking workers, the company can be forced back into good faith negotiations.

 Sign the Change.org petition by the Communications Workers of America asking Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam to restart negotiations and stop Verizon’s attack on the middle class.>>   http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-verizon-stop-attacking-the-middle-class?

If $1 billion in cuts is hard to grasp, consider this: Verizon is demanding each of its employees forfeit $20,000 in wages and benefits every year.

Verizon’s executives aren’t forced into outrageous cuts with their workers. In the last four years, Verizon’s top five executives were paid more than a quarter-billion dollars.

While Verizon makes record profits, its workers shouldn’t be made to suffer. Let Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam know you stand with workers against the company’s refusal to bargain. Click here to add your name to the workers’ petition on Change.org:

www.change.org

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Jess and the Change.org team

politics,pollution,petitions,pop culture & purses