Tag Archives: Joe Biden

Breaking news!! Europe’s leaders could move to ban bee killing pesticides in 48 hours. Click to sign and send this to everyone — let’s build a 2-million-strong swarm and make our voices heard before they meet

Dear friends,

Bees around the world are dying off and Europe’s food watchdog just said certain pesticides are part of the problem. We’ve got 48 hours before key meetings — let’s get a 2-million-person swarm to save the bees. Click to take urgent action now:

Quietly, globally, billions of bees are dying, threatening our crops and food. But in 48 hours the European Union could move to ban the most poisonous pesticides, and pave the way to a global ban that would save bees from extinction.

Four EU countries have begun banning these poisons, and some bee populations are already recovering. Days ago the official European food safety watchdog stated for the first time that certain pesticides are fatally harming bees. Now legal experts and European politicians are calling for an immediate ban. But Bayer and other giant pesticide producers are lobbying hard to keep them on the market. If we build a huge swarm of public outrage now, we can push the European Commission to put our health and our environment before the profit of a few.

We know our voices count! Last year, our 1.2 million strong petition forced US authorities to open a formal consultation on pesticides — now if we reach 2 million, we can persuade the EU to get rid of these crazy poisons and pave the way for a ban worldwide. Sign the urgent petition and send this to everyone — Avaaz and leading MEPs will deliver our message ahead of this week’s key meeting in Brussels:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/hours_to_save_the_bees/?biEWLbb&v=21421

Bees don’t just make honey, they are vital to life on earth, every year pollinating 90% of plants and crops — with an estimated $40bn value and over one-third of the food supply in many countries. Without immediate action to save bees, many of our favourite fruits, vegetables, and nuts could vanish from our shelves.

Recent years have seen a steep and disturbing global decline in bee populations — some bee species are already extinct and some US species are at just 4% of their previous numbers. Scientists have been scrambling for answers and now the European Food Safety Authority is saying that toxic chemicals called neonicotinoid pesticides could be responsible for the bee deaths. France, Italy, Slovenia and even Germany, where the main manufacturer Bayer is based, have banned one of these bee-killing pesticides. But Bayer continues to export its poison across the world.

Now the issue is coming to a boil. EU parliamentarians are stepping up their pressure on the European Commission and key governments to push new legislation to ban the deadly pesticides, and we can offer them the public support they need to counter the powerful pesticide lobby. Sign the urgent petition to Europe’s leaders, then forward this email widely:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/hours_to_save_the_bees/?biEWLbb&v=21421

Our world is beset with threats to what makes it habitable, and to what fills it with wonder. The Avaaz community comes together to defend both — large or small. Whether winning a battle to keep the International Whaling Commission from sanctioning the murder of these giants, or saving bees, the tiny creatures upon which so much depends, we will come together and stand up for the world we all want.

With hope,

Luis, Ari, Alice, Iain, Ricken, David, Alaphia, and the Avaaz team

SOURCES

Pesticides pose danger to bees (European Voice)
http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/2013/january/pesticides-pose-danger-to-bees/76158.aspx

Crop pesticides are ‘killing our bees’ – says MEP (Public Service Europe)
http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/3007/crop-pesticides-are-killing-our-bees-says-mep#ixzz2JGICse6a

Death knell for nerve agent pesticides in move to save bees (Independent)
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/death-knell-for-nerve-agent-pesticides-in-move-to-save-bees-8454443.html

Give Bees a Chance! (The Greens European Free Alliance)
http://www.greens-efa.eu/give-bees-a-chance-9012.html

Studies fault Bayer in bee die-off (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0406/Studies-fault-Bayer-in-bee-die-off

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National Geographic

01/29/2013 Nativegrl77

National Geographic Adventures

Venture off the beaten path with National Geographic Adventures! Our active trips blend spectacular sites, cultural immersion, and physical challenges. Whether you choose to kayak amid coral atolls in Belize, trek the Sahara by camel, or cross England on foot, there’s adventure in store!

See All Trips

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Secretary Panetta lifts the “ground combat exclusion”

01/29/2013 Nativegrl77


	Join Us in Thanking Secretary of Defense Panetta



	Send your message today.

They told us we couldn’t vote, because we didn’t understand politics.

They told us we couldn’t play sports, because we couldn’t compete.

They told us we couldn’t fight, because women aren’t fit for combat.

We proved them wrong. And now those days are over…

Last week we bore witness to a historic event: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s decision toopened wide the doors of opportunity to women in the Armed Services and eliminated the last vestige of government-sanctioned sex discrimination in the United States.

Please join us in thanking Secretary Panetta for lifting the ground combat exclusion and opening opportunities for women to serve the United States in all military occupations.

The wars of the 21st century have no clear-cut front lines: For years, women have been performing superbly in a broad range of vital military occupations, including unofficially in ground combat, risking injury and death to serve our country. Secretary Panetta’s historic announcement reflects this reality. It also confirms that to be successful, a modern military must have access to the best and brightest, men and women.

This decision was the result of long, hard work.

For the Center, this decision is the culmination of years of work. In the early 1990s, our analysis of gender-stereotyped limitations and our advocacy efforts helped secure congressional legislation and Defense Department policies that opened 260,000 military positions to women, including on combat ships and in combat aircraft.

Since then we’ve had to beat back efforts by some in Congress to restrict women’s military service, and we’ve worked hard to educate the public and policymakers about the important military roles women are performing and how well they are performing them, including in combat. We also worked with Defense Department advisory committees and met with Pentagon officials to advance recommendations and press for opening all military positions to women. In 2010, submarine service was opened to women, and in 2012 approximately 14,000 additional positions were opened, both precursors of last week’s momentous decision to lift all restrictions on women’s military service.

Now, if the best person for the job is a woman, she will no longer be barred from that job simply because of her gender. As President Obama said in his inaugural address, “our journey is not complete,” but we have just passed a significant milepost along the way.

Please join us in sending thanks to Secretary Panetta.

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What Does $2,000 Mean to You?

11/29/2012 Nativegrl77

Surrounded by Americans who had written into the White House in support of his plan, President Obama today renewed his call to prevent a tax increase on the middle class:

“If Congress does nothing, every family in America will see their taxes automatically go up at the beginning of next year,” the President said. “A typical middle-class family of four would see its income taxes go up by $2,200. That’s $2,200 out of people’s pockets. That means less money for buying groceries, less money for filling prescriptions, less money for buying diapers. It means a tougher choice between paying the rent and paying tuition. And middle-class families just can’t afford that right now.”

To help find an agreement President Obama pledged to keep up the pressure — meeting with lawmakers, labor leaders, and business executives. And he called on the American people to speak up and add their own voices to the debate.

Add your voice – tell us what $2,000 means to you and your family.

The Untouched Landscapes of Antarctica

11/29/2012 Nativegrl77

The Untouched Landscapes of Antarctica
Does Africa seem tame to you, with its conga lines of safari vehicles and camps with crystal chandeliers? Do you long for that frisson of the in&#64257nite? Then Antarctica is the place for you&#8212immense, unowned, unspoiled, and populated by some of the world’s most enchanting (and brutal) creatures.

Conde Nast Traveler