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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

BP wants to pull Video feed while performing the Top Kill


After Releasing Public Video Feed, BP Blackout for Well Termination Attempt

May 25, 2010 – After pushing BP into providing a live feed of the spill at the bottom of the ocean, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today learned that BP will terminate the live feed during BP’s pivotal attempt to seal the well this week. BP informed Rep. Markey’s office that the live feed would be terminated some time early Wednesday morning, and would continue to be offline until after the attempt at the so-called “top kill” is completed.

“It is outrageous that BP would kill the video feed for the top kill. This BP blackout will obscure a vital moment in this disaster,” said Rep. Markey, who chairs the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and the Energy and Environment Subcommittee in the Energy and Commerce Committee. “After more than a month of spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico, BP is essentially saying to the American people the solution will not be televised.”

Last week, after Rep. Markey’s request, BP agreed to provide live footage of the subsea spill operations. Rep. Markey first provided a live link to the accident site a few minutes before 1:30 PM EST on Thursday, May 20. Demand for the video from the public and the news media was overwhelming. Hundreds of thousands of people visited the Select Committee Web site in the first 24 hours. The Energy and Commerce Committee was also able to provide access to the feeds due to Rep. Markey’s request.

According to a BP technical video released yesterday, many of the preparations for the top kill attempt have already been completed. Therefore, Rep. Markey questioned today why the actual attempt to plug the leaking well could not be shown to the American public.

“No one wants to interfere with the operations during the top kill. With those preparations mostly done, now the world should see whether or not this strategy works, and we should see it in real time,” said Rep. Markey.

Rep. Markey yesterday had also asked BP to provide all 12 available feeds from the accident site, and yesterday released a YouTube video showing the differences between the one feed the public has been allowed to see and the 12 possible feeds available to BP. To view this video, click HERE.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

How big is the Spill …


It’s now been over a month since the Deepwater Oil Disaster began — and not only has BP failed to stop the flow of oil so far, but we still don’t even know how big the spill is — because BP won’t allow anyone else to investigate the extent of the problem.

The secrecy must stop.

BP is refusing to share information — data it’s already tracking — that would assist in the response and public understanding of the scope and severity of the Deepwater Oil Disaster. And they have every incentive in the world to keep doing so — news reports say that the smaller the official estimates of the spill, the lower BP’s liability could be in court.1

We don’t let criminals investigate their own crimes, and this shouldn’t be any different. It’s time for BP to get out of the way and allow access for independent scientists and engineers to determine the real size of this catastrophe.

Sign the petition today calling on BP to provide full access to all their data to the government and independent scientists.

Independent reviews by scientists across the country are suggesting that the oil leak may be as much as 19 times worse than the original estimates — but BP refuses to provide them with the data required to make their estimates more precise. All we know for sure is that the oil just keeps on gushing.

BP is extremely sensitive right now to public pressure — so let’s tell them that we won’t stand for them hiding the truth. We’ll deliver copies of the petitions and any comments you submit to the CEO of BP, as well as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Demand full access to BP’s data and real answers about the Deepwater disaster.

Thanks for joining this fight,

Maggie L. Fox
Chief Executive Officer
Climate Protection Action Fund

P.S. This disaster is a painful reminder of how dangerous our addiction to oil really is – and how critical it is that our elected officials in Washington pass strong climate and clean energy legislation that weans us off of dirty fossil fuels as soon as possible. We must make sure that Americans and our leaders understand the true cost of oil. We simply can’t afford a BP coverup. Sign the petition now demanding full transparency.

___________
1. Marisa Taylor, Renee Schoof and Erika Bolstad, “Low oil spill estimate could save BP millions in court,” McClatchy Newspapers, May 20, 2010. http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100521/pl_mcclatchy/3511770

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell EPA: Take away BP’s billions in federal contracts EPA can make BP pay Clicking here will add your name to this petition: EPA must immediately take steps to impose discretionary debarment and ban BP from all future federal contracts. Take action now!


Tell EPA: Take away BP’s billions in federal contracts

EPA can make BP pay
Clicking here will add your name to this petition:

EPA must immediately take steps to impose discretionary debarment and ban BP from all future federal contracts.

Take action now!

BP continues to stonewall the American people about the growing Deep Horizon disaster in the Gulf, even while the company reaps millions of dollars in profits each day from its other federal leases.

The White House, the Department of Interior, and Congress are all crying foul, but they are not taking action to hold BP accountable. If the Obama administration is serious about making BP pay, there is a very simple and powerful tool at its disposal: the EPA can take away BP’s billions in federal contracts.

Ask EPA Administration Lisa Jackson to impose “discretionary debarment” and strip BP of all federal contracts. Click here to automatically sign our petition.

The Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to bar BP from receiving U.S. government contracts. Suspension of BP contracts would mean the loss of billions of dollars and effectively stop the company from drilling in federally controlled oil fields both on and offshore.

This is the strongest possible action that could be taken against BP.

Discretionary debarment is among the most serious actions EPA can take. EPA’s own regulations allow the agency to ban BP from future contracts after considering “the frequency and pattern of the incidents, corporate attitude both before and after the incidents, changes in policies, procedures, and practices.”

Prior to the current Gulf spill, EPA had linked BP to at least four instances of criminal misconduct and BP has paid tens of millions in fines for environmental crimes. According to the public interest investigative journalists at Pro Publica, the EPA is considering re-evaluating BP and determining whether the company’s actions leading up to and following the Deep Horizon spill are evidence of an institutional problem inside BP that would qualify for debarment action.

Tell the EPA to take action to strip BP of all existing and future government contracts. Click here to automatically sign our petition.

If BP is hit with discretionary debarment, the company would lose valuable contracts for selling fuel to the military and would be prohibited from obtaining or renewing drilling leases on federal land. It could also cancel BP’s current federal leases. The impact on BP’s bottom line could be in the billions of dollars.

Neither Congress, nor President Obama, nor Interior Secretary Salazar have taken steps to truly hold BP accountable. It’s up to EPA to use the regulatory tools at its disposal to make BP pay.

The American people are outraged by the politicians’ inaction in the face of an exponentially growing economic and environmental disaster in the Gulf. It’s time for EPA to take immediate and decisive action.

Your pressure works. Sign the petition to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson today.

Becky Bond, Political Director
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

ThinkProgress.org


UNDER THE RADAR

ECONOMIC JUSTICE — 35,000 PEOPLE PROTEST CHRISTIE’S BUDGET CUTS, OUTNUMBERING EARLIER TEA PARTY RALLY 87-TO-1: About 35,000 people rallied outside the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton on Saturday after Gov. Chris Christie (R) vetoed a progressive attempt to fix the state’s budget crisis. New Jersey is facing a projected $10.7 billion budget deficit due to the recession, and to close it, progressive state legislators passed a bill creating a new tax bracket on residents making more than $1 million. The state’s nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services estimates that the new tax would lead a household making $1.2 million annually to pay only $11,598 more a year. Yet Christie vetoed the bill, despite the fact that the state has the “second-highest personal income in the country.” Instead, the governor has proposed massive cuts to public services, like an $820 million reduction in the state’s education budget, and ending millions of dollars of aid to cash-strapped municipalities. On Saturday, 35,000 New Jerseyans, outraged at Christie’s choice to protect the wealthiest citizens of his state rather than its schools and infrastructure, demonstrated outside the statehouse, chanting, “We are not the problem.” It was “one of the largest protests ever in the state.” Christie, meanwhile, was at a bill signing at a racetrack where he simply dismissed the protests. “I’m here. They’re there. Have a nice day,” he said. The massive rally is particularly significant when compared to the right-wing Tea Party protests, which the media have covered obsessively. At a Tea Party rally in Trenton last month, police estimated that, at a maximum, only 400 people attended. Which means that at the very least, the protesters marching against Christie’s budget cuts and for decent investment in public infrastructure outnumbered the anti-government tea party protesters 87-to-1.

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tuesday topics &some News …


It’s a day to Breathe in slowly through the nose then breathe slowly out and …sit be still and stay calm …

The agent of change is Americans and some 53% voted for it … now things are changing even though Republicans are the Political Party of No and clearly Obstructionists should be voted out of office not into Public Office when they clearly stand for Wall Street, Big Banks and AIG types

FYI.. there are reports that Obama is very upset that this BP oil gusher has not been plugged; question is …who has the know how, equipment and skills … point is not even the 3stooges have the skills; though they are profiting from the gamble or risk to the people or environment is clear. This current event or incident is not the President’s fault and it does surprise me to see people on the left freak out before or without finding out what can the government do or can’t do before lashing out and it is not his Katrina and how offensive that people on both sides of the aisle have gone there… Progressives and Liberals are far too willing to throw our leaders overboard and need to help find solutions instead of what being heard on the air waves …stop it! Support the President and think about where we would be with the Palin/McCain ticket or any Republican in Office at this time of unprecedented errors, blunders and corrupt behavior by people that he is trying to fix to get Americans back on track

As we move into full special and mid-term Election Campaign mode; the Hawaii special election was by all accounts a mistake in judgment, the Republican winner is only a temporary winner and it’s obvious that the Democratic Party will win in November when people of both Democrats combine votes and Win.

There have been many candidates out there saying crazy things on national television; mostly Republicans … then pull back, some are going off the campaign trail; like Rand Paul …some are making positive comments about the tea party movement then reversing their support within the same sentence; others have been caught with on-the-spot torture by talkingheads; while the written word has made a lot of people gasp at what a candidate did or said and last there was the john king interview or 3rd degree he tried to do on Joe Sestak has not gone away …he made me stop and wonder just what is he up to and as he quickly put the brakes on the uncomfortable interview by John King who had a big smirk on his face. Any and all Democratic candidates need to be ready for on-the-spot accusatory  questions … don’t go there!

The light of day on everything that BP didn’t do while saying they had it under control or was willing to gamble is coming out more and more. The count down is on for the Top-Kill to be implemented on Wednesday. The anger toward the government is palatable but it just seems misdirected by people who may just be misinformed about what may be a protocol conflict.  The facts from some in charge is that if the government did take charge what would they do to stop the flow when they don’t have the equipment. The other fact among many others; is …who ultimately would be responsible if something bad happens… til now the industry has regulated themselves, which, was instituted about 20years ago; the BP,Halliburton, TransOcean group maybe others have gotten away with too much.

The time for Reform and Regulation is now and if anyone has watched the video’s; it’s clear that this  is no longer a leak anymore but a gusher. We all might be mad but offering up solutions about how to siphon up the oil headed toward the beaches,Wetland,Marches and Estuaries; BP needs to admit they need help to keep the oil from other parts of the Wetlands and Marshes and that should be the focus of our government.

In other attempts to be bipartisan; The President met with Republicans and Mitch McConnell on national tv was very negative maybe aloof at what lays ahead of trying to get Americans back on track he stated that the President has been too left of center and if the President truly wanted bipartisan he would have to come back to the center …and as a voter this truly means that Mitch McConnell and his Republican associates will continue to be the Party of No and act as obstructionist in our move toward progress into the 21st Century; they continue to be on the Side of Big Money and Wall Street who do not want Financial Reform or to fix the problems that shoved us into the ditch created by mostly Republicans and a Republican President who did not pay for his legislation actions 2wars, major tax cuts for the rich … is this what Americans want?

Other News …

**The President is sending 1200 National Guard Troops to the Border of AZ

**President Obama will be going to the Gulf Coast to see the current damage

**The 2014 NFL Super Bowl will be played in New York City in New Jersey

**Reports of our President met with Republicans

**The violence in Kingston is out of control/travel alert is still in effect

**DADT compromise is on the table/Senate cmte Vote possibly on Thursday & implemented in 12/2010

**A memorial will be held in Jackson, MS for the 11 oil rig workers who died at 2pm

C-SPAN…

watch Pres. Obama Remarks on Small Business

watch Rep. Frank on Financial Regulations

Anti- fraud bill seeks to protect senior citizens

Elderly advocate organizations testify on the growing fraud trends targeting seniors at a House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Representatives from AARP, Elder Abuse Victims Advocates, and the Elder Justice Coalition give their opinions on the Senior Financial Empowerment Act. The bill seeks to increase public awareness of fraud schemes and equip the public to identify and combat fraudulent activity.

President Obama Urges GOP support on immigration and energy legislation

In a rare Capitol Hill appearance, President Obama today met behind closed doors with Senate Republican leaders urging them for their cooperation in finishing work on measures to help create jobs and improve our economy. “The president told the conference that the Gulf oil disaster should heighten our sense of urgency to hasten the development of new, clean energy sources that will promote energy independence and good-paying American jobs,” the White House said in a statement after Obama’s luncheon.

watch GOP Leaders: From Earlier

watch White House Briefing 5/24

watch Gulf Oil Spill Press Conference  5/24

watch Lawrence Summers: From Earlier  5/24

Hearing Probes Oil Spill Liability

While oil giant BP attempts a new technique – called the “kill method” – to stop the flow of oil and gas from the month-old Deepwater Horizon leak in the Gulf of Mexico, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today reviews financial responsibility issues stemming from the spill. Last week, BP announced that it intends to cover economic damages in excess of the present $75 million liability cap.  This morning on the Washington Journal, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) discusses the federal government and BP response to the spill.

watch Sen. Cardin on WJ: LIVE on C-SPAN
watch Oil Spill Hearing: c-span.org at 10am ET

Fmr. Sec. of State Kissinger Urges Nuclear Treaty Ratification

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger provides his historical perspective on nuclear disarmament and U.S.-Russia relations in testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today. The committee is reviewing the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) signed last month by President Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev.
Kissinger served as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser at the height of the Cold War, during the Nixon and Ford administrations, and has publicy supported the treaty. The new accord builds upon nonproliferation and arms reduction measures in the 1991 START and 2002 Moscow treaties and, after approval by this committee, requires ratification by the full Senate.

Queen Presents Agenda for Coalition Government

Following tradition, Queen Elizabeth II presented the government’s agenda for the year at the State Opening of the British Parliament. The speech was drawn up by British Prime Minister David Cameron, in agreement with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, after the May 6th general election led to a coalition government between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

watch Queen’s Address: Ceremony & Speech
visit UK Parliament Website