Tag Archives: Japan

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Make your check payable to the nuclear power industry … GreenPeaceUSA.org


On Monday, I was one of the thousands of people at over 200 vigils across the country who were standing shoulder to shoulder with friends and neighbors to show support for Japan and to imagine a world free of nuclear disasters.

The Obama administration isn’t backing down from nuclear energy giveaways, and neither will we. Tell the President and Congress that the key to a stable energy future is clean, renewable energy and NOT nuclear power.

Unfortunately, while you were planning your vigils, the president and some members of Congress have been planning to take more of YOUR tax dollars and give them to the nuclear industry to build more plants here in the United States.

Just days after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan crippled not one but THREE nuclear reactors at Fukushima Daiichi to the point of meltdown, the Obama Administration announced that it would move forward with even more giveaways to the nuclear industry in the budget. And they could take the issue up in Congress any day now.

www.greenpeaceusa.org

It’s time for some common sense. Tell the President and Congress that there is no place for taxpayer giveaways to the nuclear industry in the budget and that now is the time to invest in technology that uses clean and unlimited energy sources like the sun and wind.

Every day a new, startling report from Japan makes the headlines: Babies in Tokyo can’t drink the water, radiation levels near the disaster site are dangerously high, plutonium has been reported in the water around Fukushima…. Meanwhile, the president is asking for $36 billion dollars for loan guarantees to subsidize the nuclear industry on top of the already $18.5 billion set aside. It’s crazy.

Lobbyists for the nuclear industry want you to believe that nuclear power is safe. That what is happening in Japan somehow couldn’t happen here even though we have 23 of the exact same reactors on line in this country. Don’t be fooled.

There is no place for nuclear power in our clean energy future. And there is no place for taxpayer giveaways to the nuclear industry in the budget. Send a message today and make sure that your members of Congress and the President know that you’re paying attention to how they’re spending your money.

www.greenpeaceusa.org

A recent poll found that 75% of Americans oppose taxpayer-backed loans for nuclear power and favor increasing emphasis on renewable energy. But the industry won’t go away quietly. Lobbyists are undoubtedly knocking on the doors of every member of Congress trying to convince them nuclear energy is still the way to go. We can’t let them win. Send your letter today!

Thanks for all you do,

Jim Riccio,

Greenpeace Nuclear Policy Analyst

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Phone companies delaying donations to Japan …a message from Weldon and the Change.org team


As Japan struggles to overcome a disastrous string of events — including a possible nuclear catastrophe — millions of us have sought to help, often by donating money to urgent relief efforts.

Tell AT&T and Verizon to stop delaying donations to Japan

But if you donate via text message, your donations may take up to 90 days to reach aid organizations that need the money as soon as possible.

Even though they’re getting large amounts of free media attention for their text-to-donate programs, companies like AT&T and Verizon have chosen not to release the donation money right away. Many customers assume that they’re sending funds straight to disaster zones in the crucial days after the earthquake, but donations are transferred after the end of your next billing cycle, a process that can take up to three months.

Masaya Uchino, a law student in San Francisco with family in Japan, started a petition on Change.org to demand that AT&T, Verizon, and other major phone service providers stop delaying much needed donations from reaching organizations doing relief work in Japan. Please add your name to the petition now:

http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the-delay-on-donations-to-japan-2?alert_id=QXeUWkuBQr_FsaGSFRkzG&me=aa

After the earthquake in Haiti, Change.org members and others asked phone companies to provide donations immediately — and the phone companies came through. But so far they’ve refused to take the same step, and it’s up to us to join Masaya in speaking out.

Thanks for taking action,

– Weldon and the Change.org team

P.S. If you want to donate immediately to relief efforts, join the Change.org staff in contributing to one or more of these great organizations:

Oxfam America: http://chn.ge/hd3n4C

International Medical Corps: http://chn.ge/hhkQhT

Habitat for Humanity: http://chn.ge/e8OX7r

UN Foundation: http://chn.ge/hVZ5uu

American Red Cross: http://chn.ge/eWtkti

UNICEF: http://chn.ge/hDASyY

~ Recent Post

A few words on the crisis in Japan …Philip Radford, Greenpeace


The nuclear situation in Japan continues to deteriorate. Our thoughts are with the people of Japan as they grapple with this crisis.

Like everyone else, I couldn’t stop following the news after I first learned of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. While these things are nothing new to the region, it was obvious that this was something bigger. The Japanese response has been nothing short of amazing, and it’s awe-inspiring to see the human spirit in action to help worldwide.

But sadly, the worst was far from over.

Within hours, reports started surfacing that the nuclear facilities at Fukushima had been seriously damaged. Soon our fears were confirmed.

Greenpeace is no stranger to the issue of nuclear power. In fact, monitoring nuclear testing off the coast of Alaska was our first mission. For nearly 40 years, we’ve been educating on the dangers of nuclear power as an unacceptable risk to humanity and the environment. Obviously, we’re concerned for the people of Japan as the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disasters unfold.

Many of our members have come to us with questions and concerns about this crisis. Could we face a similar disaster in the U.S.? What’s our country’s policy on nuclear power? These are important questions, and, we’ll be working to bring you the most up-to-date information. And we’ll continue to be the voice we have been for nearly 40 years — one committed to protecting and conserving the environment and to promoting peace.

To read more about our history and our work on nuclear energy visit our website at:

http://us.greenpeace.org/site/R?i=B1mwKbkpEeaPu8AGAKofeg..

In peace and solidarity,

Philip Radford

Greenpeace USA Executive Director

P.S. Please forward this message on to any of your friends and family who are following the situation in Japan

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Special update: Nuclear crisis in Japan


Over the last several days, we’ve received many calls and emails from UCS members and supporters asking about the current crisis involving several of Japan‘s nuclear power reactors. Like most of you, we are deeply saddened by the terrible tragedy of last week’s earthquake and tsunami, and our hearts go out to the many victims.

The massive earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Japan have caused a potentially catastrophic situation at multiple nuclear power facilities. The situation is still evolving.

http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=sgQWt4U0rHXeUSbxGoVFDw..

For more than 40 years, UCS has served as a nuclear safety watchdog and a reliable, independent source of information on nuclear power technology and its risks. UCS technical experts are working hard to provide timely, updated analysis of what is happening at the stricken facilities and what the implications may be.

You can find regular updates on our blog “All Things Nuclear” and learn about why events have unfolded in the way they have, where the situation may be headed, and what it may mean for the people around the facilities and the environment.   http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=rD2ht7Iwc6iSgCvOO27XpA..

We are also being called on frequently by a wide range of media outlets to provide independent, unbiased information and analysis about the rapidly changing situation on the ground.

For more information, see our Nuclear Accident ABCs factsheet, which provides background information on nuclear accidents and explains some of the terms frequently being used in media reports about the crisis.

http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=YcQs3bMM1qUmpgj0_5OHrg..

As events unfold in Japan, we will be regularly updating the UCS website with our most current assessment of conditions at the affected facilities.

http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=qcgNe5T6-3IqyAy1gd-yeA..

Sincerely,

Kevin Knobloch

President

~ my 2cents ..., ~ Recent Post

TGIF …&some News


It has been a tough week. I spent a lot of time wondering why people are blaming my President for everything in sight telling us this President hasn’t done enough and the bottom line is the last guy did way too much and FYI here we are people, get a grip. The President can only do so much and in some cases whatever he does needs to be timed, done with NATO or the UN or both and on the local level folks have forgotten that Congress not only makes the laws they tweak them manipulate them and pass them, not our President. We all know the crap that got passed in the Republican led House of Representatives probably will be torn to shreds in the Senate and if not the VETO Pin will be unleashed. I definitely am convinced after watching the “Muslim hearings”; Americans need to fight back against the nonsense that Rep. Peter King laid before the vast viewers in America. I believe he used this platform to promote fear to continue the fear mongering his Political Party started in 2008 and yes it is possible he abused his position and power as chairman at homeland security. There were no real experts from the Department of Homeland Security and though a police officer was there no one from an actual government agency was which gave this viewer pause. I want to know how this was tolerated to begin with, happy that Representatives such as Sheila Lee and others spoke up and out against the hearings and its intent. I urge anyone reading this to lodge a complaint because the days of McCarthyism should have been a warning, a deterrent yet this man who had ties to the IRA has a mission, an agenda and it did not make me feel safer, proud or more American. I was upset, offended, and embarrassed that a narrow view such as his was able to get on a national level. I know that the various fathers and family felt they needed to speak out about their experiences. I think it was a part of the process but as the police officer stated the problem was small and with that comment the public should get it. The obvious is this first meeting accomplished absolutely nothing but scare people, Representative Peter King intends to keep holding more of these hearings stating his next one might be about the radicalization of Muslims in our prisons . These hearings should worry all Americans as the regression back to the days when discrimination was accepted as the norm is being forced on all our lives on some level by those who vote right of center.

 We all know life goes on or gets in the way. Today, around 4am I woke in a start did the usual then thought better turn on the radio and TV? First, I hear that our President definitely will be holding a press conference then word of Japan’s earthquake of 8.9 and the Hawaii Tsunami warnings only to realize better go local and yep California and the West Coast had been warned. I do not live on the Coastal Water Ways but family and friends do so let the worrying commence. I hope everyone who does live near the San Juan islands, Grays Harbor, Santa Barbara have moved to higher ground.

I live near water but it is a manmade lake … did not think I’d ever be happy about that but I am.

The change we hoped for and believed in was just one lobbyist , one huge insurance company like AIG or bank between Americans wanting great health care, green energy and educational reform rather than settle for the mediocre or privatization like the Republicans are trying to force upon us right now. The downfall of our economy did not just happen contrary to what folks continue to push on us. I still wonder at what point did someone anyone see the problem for what it was and flag it. I still wonder about the time it took to expose the corruption our system had and did the house of bush know or was he just too busy playing with a surplus, waging 2wars and when you think about it what could he have done for Americans that could have prevented the economic crisis and didn’t.

We all need to remind folks who slowed down the stimulus, who said let’s stop, do tax cuts but who had no type of plans for an economic recovery. Now, almost 3yrs later we find out after the Republican Tea Party engaged in blocking, stalling, making the democratic party scale back bills and or attaching foul language to great amendments that no one could vote for in good faith that those jobs, jobs, jobs they talked about were actually public service jobs, union jobs. Those American jobs our American jobs-Union jobs are the Republican Tea Party target they want to destroy not created with the intent to privatize them if they can. The warnings came from our own President and no one listened cared or decided to listen but to the wrong people, now our lives as we all use to know it could be in trouble because elections have consequences.

This Country is in more trouble now since the midterm elections and even though both political parties should try to solve the crisis Americans are now facing the truth is out, Americans now know who our real enemy is, and it is the Republican Tea Party. Republicans are acting as if the USA is a playground and they symbolize some jerk child who has drawn a line in the sand instead of agreeing to help solve the problem putting your their self-interests aside for once which could get this Country back on its feet.

We are in a fight for our lives and like I stated before –We now know who our enemy is and it is the Republican Tea Party.

Other News …

**Japan suffers 8.9 earthquake Hawaii and the whole West Coast is subject to Tsunami

**Libyan forces are taking more land and oil

**S.C. Senate oks bill to criminalize immigration -fake docs

**Saudi protests scheduled on Friday

**S.Palin calls the union thugs .. she is such a moron

**IPad 2 goes on Sale Friday

**Markets fall in response to Japan’s equake

**Wis Republicans officially cut collective bargaining

**Unions believe collective bargaining is a right not a privilege

**Indonesia volcano erupts

**Airfares are going up

**Retail sales rise for 8th straight month

CSPAN

White House to Brief on Rising Energy Prices

U.S. oil reserves to remain untouched

http://c-span.com/Events/White-House-to-Brief-on-Rising-Energy-Prices/10737420167/

House Inspects Food and Drug Safety Budget

http://c-span.com/Events/House-Inspects-Food-and-Drug-Safety-Budget/10737420161/

U.S. to Meet with Libyan Rebel Leaders

http://c-span.com/Events/US-to-Meet-with-Libyan-Rebel-Leaders/10737420159/

Congress’ Accountant Clarifies GAO Report to Lawmakers

http://c-span.com/Events/Congress-Accountant-Clarifies-GAO-Report-to-Lawmakers/10737420160/

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the White House is close to speaking more publicly about its strategy for dealing with domestic terrorist threats. This came in response to a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on the subject of Muslim Americans. At this briefing we also hear more about NATO’s latest moves to pressure the Gadhafi regime in Libya.

http://c-span.com/Events/White-House-Briefing-with-Press-Secretary-Jay-Carney/10737420139/

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi held a news conference marking the first anniversary of health care law, which was signed by President Obama on March 23, 2010. She was joined by Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).

http://c-span.com/Events/House-Democrats-Press-Conference-on-Health-Care-Law/10737420153/

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama along with the Department of Education, and the Department of Health and Human Services welcomed students, parents, teachers and others to The White House for a Conference on Bullying Prevention. The conference brought together communities from across the nation who have been affected by bullying as well as those who are taking action to address it. http://c-span.com/Events/President-Obama-Remarks-at-Conference-on-Bullying/10737420138/