Tag Archives: Congress

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

One bank to wreck a world wonder?!

12/14/2014 Nativegrl77

DearAvaazers across the world,

India’s coal king Adani wants to turn the delicate Great Barrier Reef into a major shipping lane. But if we act fast we can sink his dirty coal complex by getting the State Bank of India to turn down his billion dollar lifeline:

India’s coal king is bidding for a $1 billion bank loan to turn one of the world’s ecological treasures into a major shipping lane. But if we act fast we can block his billion and keep the Great Barrier Reef home for whales and dolphins, not hulking coal ships.

UNESCO says the project puts the Reef in danger and eight leading international banks have backed away. Now it’s up to the State Bank of India to make or break it. The Bank’s Chairwoman has staked her reputation on cracking down on “bad loans” — and a massive global campaign can persuade her to scrutinise and stop this crazy coal project.

Public pressure has already changed other banks’ minds, so add your name now to say no to the world’s worst loan. When we hit a million, we’ll prep a definitive dossier showing its financial and environmental problems, then deliver it to Chairwoman Bhattacharya with legal letters and a media blitz:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/india_great_barrier_reef_loc/?biEWLbb&v=49294

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living organism on Earth and home to thousands of protected species. In the past three decades it’s lost around half its coral, due to pollution from mines, climate change and other factors. German magazine Der Spiegel reported that “if current trends continue, the unthinkable could happen: the Great Barrier Reef could die.”

This wild coal rush is toxic for the planet. Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel, and to get the coal to India, Adani would need to expand a shipping lane right through the Reef. Some argue that India needs coal to pull people out of poverty, but India’s own coal minister just announced that India should be able to phase out coal imports in the next three years, long before the Australian mine is ever completed!

Campaigns by Avaaz and others, plus doubts over the project’s viability, have persuaded banks like Citigroup and Deutsche to say no to Adani’s planned Carmichael coal mine and infrastructure complex. Now the State Bank of India is under fire from India’s press and political opposition.

69% of Indians polled said they were against this project. As the head of India’s largest state-backed bank the Chairwoman will have to listen to public opinion and our million-strong petition, a flood of messages, ads, and reports can encourage the Board to turn Adani down. Add your voice now to hit a million against the reef-wrecking coalmine:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/india_great_barrier_reef_loc/?biEWLbb&v=49294

Time and again this year our community has shown it can rise to the challenge of making our climate safe for future generations. We’ve been fighting for the Great Barrier Reef for a long time so let’s ensure we unite again to save it from this catastrophic coal complex.

With hope and determination,

Danny, Nick, David, Alex, Oli, Alaphia, Nic, Ravi and the whole Avaaz team

MORE INFORMATION

Adani’s Australian project gets $1 billion SBI loan (The Times of India)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Adanis-Australian-project-gets-1-billion-…

Adani group’s Great Barrier Reef project in troubled waters (Forbes)
http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghabahree/2014/05/29/adani-groups-great-barrier-reef-project-in-troubl…

India could bankroll Adani group’s delayed Australian coal mine (IB Times)
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/india-could-bank-roll-adani-groups-delayed-australian-coal-mine-1475143

National Stock Exchange of India quizzes Adani on loan for Galilee Basin coal project (Sydney Morning Herald)
http://www.smh.com.au/business/mining-and-resources/national-stock-exchange-of-india-quizzes-adani-o…

SBI’s $1 billion loan to Adani makes no sense, here’s why (firstbiz)
http://firstbiz.firstpost.com/economy/sbis-1-billion-loan-to-adani-makes-no-sense-heres-why-108668.h…

India rejects Galilee Basin Coal (Market Forces)
http://www.marketforces.org.au/indiacoalpolling

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Rashad Robinson, ColorOfChange.org … What happened yesterday

12/13/2014 Nativegrl77

To be real with you, I was hoping that I’d never have to send you this email.

If we learn one thing from yesterday’s election, it’s that — now more than ever — is a time to organize.

We can’t afford to stop fighting. Sustain racial justice organizing with a $3 monthly pledge to ColorOfChange.

To be real with you, I was hoping that I’d never have to send you this email. With Republicans now in control of the Senate, we will see a change in Congress that signals deep challenges for our families and communities.

Over the coming weeks and months, analysts will have much to say about the role that Black voters played in this election. Already we know that across the country, Black voters defied expectations and turned out at rates higher than in 2010 despite continued attempts by the right wing to suppress our votes.

And, unfortunately, it still wasn’t enough.

It wasn’t enough for Kay Hagan (D-NC) who lost a must-win Senate seat to Thom Tillis (R-NC) by a razor thin margin — while our communities faced the most aggressive voter suppression laws passed in the country since the Voting Rights Act. It wasn’t enough in Georgia, either, as we watched Michelle Nunn (D-GA) concede while thousands of voter registration forms remained unprocessed. And it certainly wasn’t enough in Kentucky where Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) Democratic challenger wouldn’t even admit to voting for President Obama.

As a movement, we’ve got a lot to figure out; a lot more work to do to hold the people in power accountable.

I know this much: an America in which candidates are afraid or unwilling to speak directly to Black voters about the issues that matter to us is an unacceptable, insufferable status quo; an America where politicians ignore police violence and support a broken criminal justice system, prioritize corporate interests over community values and fight to make it harder for us to vote is intolerable.

If we learn one thing from yesterday’s election, it’s that — now more than ever — is a time to organize.

Will you help sustain this movement with a $3 monthly contribution?

Obscured by the larger national picture, yesterday had some meaningful victories which demonstrate the strength of our movement. Californians passed Proposition 47 which will force the state to change course from four-decades of misguided, incarceration-only policies which have destabilized Black families and drained resources from Black communities.

Massachusetts passed a bill providing for earned sick time that will relieve working folks of having to choose between their job and the health of their families. Additionally, voters in South Dakota, Nebraska, Arkansas and Alaska passing ballot measures to increase the minimum wage shows that there is a groundswell of popular support for issues of economic equality but candidates must exhibit political courage to move this agenda forward.

And despite the Republican takeover, the 114th Congress will have more Black members than at any time in history.

With announcements coming soon about the indictments of the officers responsible for murdering Mike Brown and Eric Garner our movement has never been more important. We can’t afford to stop fighting.

Yes — I will make a $3 monthly pledge to stand with ColorOfChange and continue holding politicians accountable.

Thanks and peace,

Rashad

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

¡Amazonia Viva! Art and Action at COP20

12/12/2014 Nativegrl77

¡Amazonia Viva! Art and Action at COP20

Yesterday hundreds of indigenouspeoples from communities across the Amazon joined together on a beach in Lima, Peru to create a massive “human banner” image to promote awareness about territorial rights for indigenouspeoples in the global climate conversation. Beneath the heat of the sun and to the sound of beating drums, indigenouspeoples and allies danced and rallied around a united message. Representatives from many Amazonian communities participatedin the creation of the banner includingShipibo,Asháninka,Achuar,Awajún,Munduruku,Guajajara,Kichwa andKampupiyawi.”Together we created a beautiful image of what we want to see in the world. We want our rights and territories respected here in Peru, across the Amazon and around the world,” said Juan Agustín Fernandez, leader of the Shipibo community of Cantagallo who participated in the creation of yesterday’s banner.

The artwork coincided with the UN COP20 climate summit. Indigenous peoples and allies worked together to form a design with their bodies displaying the words “Pueblos + Derechos = Bosques Vivos” (Peoples + Rights = Living Forests). Participants aim to send a message about the importance of territorial rights to decision-makers and world leaders.

READ THE REST ON EYE ON THE AMAZON

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Lonnie G. Bunch at The NMAAHC … Look at what we’ve already accomplished together

12/12/2014 Nativegrl77

Your generous support as a friend of the Museum helped to make 2014 a truly amazing year for the National Museum of African American History and Culture…

… as our beautiful building on the National Mall began to take shape … our collection of historical and cultural artifacts increased to more than 29,900 objects … and excitement grew nationwide for our 2016 Grand Opening.

please help keep our momentum growing in the year ahead by making a donation for 2014 today.

When the Museum opens its doors, it will be a beacon of learning, inspiration and reconciliation. It will tell the stories and celebrate the achievements of the African Americans who shaped our nation’s history — from well-known figures like civil rights icon Rosa Parks and Chuck Berry who donated his 1973 Cadillac to not-so-famous heroes like Henry Ossian Flipper, a former slave who became the first African American to graduate from West Point. It will bring the African American experience to life and enrich the cultural heritage of every American.

You can take pride in our progress toward making the National Museum of African American History and Culture a reality. Please help us continue that progress in 2015 by making a special year-end gift of $50, $100 or more.

Thank you again for your vision and leadership as a friend of the Museum.

All the best,

Lonnie G. Bunch
Founding Director

P.S. Don’t miss the December 31st deadline to support the Museum with a donation for 2014. Make your year-end gift today!

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Wal-Mart 10 Years Later

12/11/2014 Nativegrl77

Ten years ago we released Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price to shine a light on the then-shocking business practices of one of the world’s largest and most profitable retailers.

We have made progress, but there is a lot more to be done. End corporate welfare!

Watch the full documentary film here!

Screen_Shot_2014-12-08_at_4.12.14_PM.png

Due to demand we re-released the entire movie on YouTube. Share and subscribe here!

Help keep this fight alive.Thanks for all that you do.Robert Greenwald, President
Brave New Films

P.S. Still looking for the perfect gift for a special someone? Stay away from Wal-Mart and give the gift of media that makes an impact! Donate $100 or more today and get the Brave New Films 10th Anniversary Activist Collection.