Tag Archives: Congress

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

So what happens now on Climate Change?


Center for American Progress Logo

You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts.

The Senate has abandoned the climate change bill. Want to know what this means about the future of climate and energy issues?

You’re not alone.

Watch the Video

Thankfully, there’s a way to get answers on the tough questions. Center for American Progress experts are at your service.

Daniel J. Weiss, an expert on energy and climate policy, is taking questions through Facebook on the oil disaster response bill and other climate and energy issues.

To ask Dan a question, just go to CAP’s Facebook page and click the “Like” button at the top. Then post your question on our wall. Your question might be chosen for Dan’s next “Ask the Expert” video.

Make sure to get your questions in now ― the deadline is this Thursday. Next week, we’ll post the new video with Dan’s answers on Facebook.

And keep an eye on CAP’s Facebook page to see when our next “Ask the Expert” video is coming up so you can get your questions in!

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Humanitarian Alert: Pakistan floods displace thousands


CARE - Emergency Alert: Pakistan Floods -- Donate now

Please help provide relief and recovery support when disaster devastates the world's poorest families -- Donate now

Facebook Twitter Tell a Freind
Click to share news about the Pakistan emergency

You’ve probably heard that torrential monsoon rains in Pakistan have taken the lives of more than 1,500 people and left a million more without homes, food or safe drinking water. CARE is deeply concerned about this natural disaster.

Rescuing thousands of survivors is an immediate priority. Massive floodwaters engulfed whole towns, swept away bridges and roads, and damaged thousands of homes, making it extremely challenging to reach those stranded by the high waters.

CARE immediately responded by sending emergency supplies of tents, mosquito nets, family hygiene kits and kitchen sets to affected regions. We’re also partnering with mobile health clinics to provide health services to survivors injured during the flooding and address growing concerns of an outbreak of waterborne diseases.

When disaster strikes, CARE is poised to provide immediate relief to survivors, and it’s only possible because of the generosity of people like you. Can you give to CARE today and help us continue offering support to survivors of catastrophes like this recent one?

Our work doesn’t stop once the immediate danger has passed. The key to tackling poverty is to address its root causes — like hunger, poor infrastructure and low quality health care — over the long term. We’ve already begun developing a livelihood recovery plan for Pakistan, as we did for Haiti when a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck.

To sustain our efforts in Pakistan, Haiti and other poor countries in the world affected by disasters, we need your help. Please make a gift today to help now and to be prepared for when the next disaster hits.

Your support will also help CARE find lasting solutions to empower poor families to overcome disaster and poverty. Here are a few examples of what your gift can help CARE make possible:

  • Help poor families send their children to school
  • Improve access to health care for expecting and new mothers so they can help their kids grow up strong
  • Expand access to resources so that women can start their own businesses and earn a living

Don’t delay in making a gift so CARE can help those who are vulnerable. I appreciate your dedication to empowering some of the world’s poorest families and helping to create a hopeful future for all.

Sincerely,

Helene D. Gayle, MD, MPH
President and CEO, CARE
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

livecheap.com …Today’s Best of the Web


//

Written by livecheap staff

Here’s Today’s best articles on the web:

  • Greenspan Warns of Double Dip Recession
  • Shoe String Travel
  • Corruption at Cheap Eats
  • I’m a Cheapskate – Out and Proud

Greenspan Warns of Double Dip Recession

“At the moment there is no sign of that because the financial system

is broke and you cannot have inflation if the financial system is not working.” Have you ever heard Greenspan say anything more absurd? Tell that to Germans circa 1930 or to Zimbabweans today.

Editor’s Response: Yup, Greenspan has been off the mark before.  Here’s his famous 2004 quote: Indeed, recent research within the Federal Reserve suggests that many homeowners might have saved tens of thousands of dollars had they held adjustable-rate mortgages rather than fixed-rate mortgages during the past decade…. American consumers might benefit if lenders provided greater mortgage product alternatives to the traditional fixed-rate mortgage.

Shoe String Travel

This is right up our alley. Going places everybody can afford.

Corruption at Cheap Eats?

Tell us it ain’t so.

I’m a Cheapskate – Out and Proud

This is a nice little interview with Jeff Yeager the author of “The Cheapskate Next Door”


Like this Best of Web? Get it delivered to you each day along with our feature article and a Cheap Tip a Day.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Environment: Media Access blocked


UNDER THE RADAR

ENVIRONMENT — OIL COMPANY, LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK MEDIA ACCESS TO PUBLIC SITES HIT BY MICHIGAN OIL SPILL: Last week, a disastrous leak in one of the world’s largest pipeline systems gushed over 1 million gallons of oil into the Kalamazoo River, located in southwest Michigan. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) declared the area a disaster zone, quickly activating the State Emergency Operations Center to ensure all state resources are devoted to oil spill response. The spill has “coated scores of birds and fish in oil” and “led about two dozen people to seek relocation.” The Calhoun County Health Department even advised local residents to evacuate due to “higher than acceptable levels of benzene,” a “highly flammable” organic chemical that can lead to serious health risks. The Michigan Messenger reported Sunday that officials from the pipeline company, Enbridge Inc., and law enforcement are blocking the media from public spill sites. The Messenger reported that its journalists were denied access — again — “to a key oil spill site after attempting to record video of the Kalamazoo River.” An Enbridge security office said “no media was allowed” and rebuffed attempts by a citizen video crew to record the effects of the spill. This is the second time since the pipeline burst “that [the] Messenger has been refused entry to public right of ways to monitor the ongoing clean up operations.” The ACLU of Michigan is currently drafting a letter to express concern about media access issues. Despite a history of oil leaks in Michigan, Enbridge declared last week that “no fresh oil is leaking from the leak site itself,” and Enbridge would reopen the leaking oil pipeline “in a matter of days.” However, “the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued a Corrective Action Order directing the company not to reopen the pipeline until a comprehensive safety assessment can be completed.”

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Shop at Target?


Target just gave a huge contribution to a anti-gay, anti-immigrant, anti-progressive candidate for governor in Minnesota. Will you send a message to Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel that you won’t shop at Target unless they stop trying to buy elections? Click here:

Sign the petition


Get this: Target, the retail giant, just became one of the very first companies to take advantage of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision allowing unlimited corporate cash in elections.1

Target has spent over $150,000 in the Minnesota Governor’s race backing state Rep. Tom Emmer, a far-right Republican who supports Arizona’s draconian immigration law, wants to abolish the minimum wage and even gave money to a fringe group that condoned the execution of gay people. 2

Target must think customers won’t care. They’re wrong: We do care, and we need to let them know that we want Target—and all corporations—out of our elections.

Will you send a message to Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel telling him that you’re not going to shop at Target unless they stop trying to buy elections? Click here to add your name to the petition:


Once we get 150,000 signatures, MoveOn members in Minnesota will hand deliver the petition to Target headquarters.

The stakes are much higher than one candidate and one company. Other CEOs are in “wait-and-see” mode following the Citizens United decision, according to a former Federal Trade Commission counsel quoted on NPR.3 If we don’t push back hard, this will just be the tip of the iceberg. Other corporations will learn that they can pour money into elections to buy the outcome they want—without paying a price with their customers or shareholders.

We all knew Citizens United would benefit candidates who stand up for corporate CEOs instead of everyday people. But you wouldn’t expect a company like Target to jump in and try to buy an election so quickly. After all, Target made its name by being thought of as the more progressive store in the wake of numerous WalMart scandals.

That’s why MoveOn members are following up on actions of groups like Human Rights Campaign and the Alliance for a Better Minnesota by telling Target that we won’t shop there unless they stop trying to buy elections. Please add your voice now:


Thanks for all you do.

–Ilyse, Robin, Anna, Mari, and the rest of the team