Tag Archives: public

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Great article by OK Go lead singer


We wanted to pass along this great column about Net Neutrality written by the lead singer of the band OK Go.The article, printed in Sunday’s Washington Post, explains really well why a free and open Internet is so important, from the point of view of one of the most creative people anywhere online.

Give it a read. As Senator Al Franken recently said, Net Neutrality is the “First Amendment issue of our time,” so it’s crucial we spread the word about threats to it—after you check it out, please click here to easily share it on Facebook and Twitter:
Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Kat, Amy, Jeff, and the rest of the team

OK Go on net neutrality: A lesson from the music industry

By Damian Kulash
Sunday, August 29, 2010

On the Internet, when I send my ones and zeros somewhere, they shouldn’t have to wait in line behind the ones and zeros of wealthier people or corporations. That’s the way the Net was designed, and it’s central to a concept called “net neutrality,” which ensures that Internet service providers can’t pick favorites.

Recently, though, big telecommunications companies have argued that their investment in the Net’s infrastructure should allow them more control over how it’s used. The concerned nerds of the world are up in arms, and there’s been a long, loud public debate, during which the Federal Communications Commission appeared to develop a plan to preserve net neutrality.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Want to support our work? We’re entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture, ~ Recent Post

100 Days Fighting the Low-Waging of America
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Sample Message to Dr Pepper Snapple
It’s best to write your own personal message, but here’s a sample to give you some ideas:

Dear Dr Pepper Snapple,

With record-breaking profits, your company has no justification to cut the pay and benefits of the more than 300 Mott’s workers in Williamson, N.Y. In saying you want to bring their wages down to “local industry standards,” you are trying to take advantage of the recession and high unemployment rates to lift your profits even higher.

Your workers deserve better. And so do workers at other profitable companies that might try to follow your shameful example.

Mott’s is a 142-year-old company with a product that’s as American as you can get—a company we all thought we knew and could trust. I hope you realize you are jeopardizing a well-known, well-established and respected brand. That’s a lot to throw away.

I urge you to back off your attack on the Mott’s workers’ wages and benefits and do the right thing.

For 100 days, more than 300 Mott’s workers in Williamson, N.Y., have been on strike, fighting the low-waging of America. The Dr Pepper Snapple Group, the corporate conglomerate that owns Mott’s (of apple juice and apple sauce fame) has been trying to cut their pay and benefits—even though the company reported a net income of $555 million in 2009.

Tell Dr Pepper Snapple to back off its corporate greed and treat the Mott’s workers fairly.

Dr Pepper Snapple is taking advantage of the recession and high unemployment rates in the area to beat down the workers, members of RWDSU/UFCW Local 220. A spokesman told The New York Times recently the company’s just trying to take wages down to meet “local industry standards”—in other words, to make recession-era wages the norm.

Dr Pepper Snapple is demanding wage cuts that would amount to $3,000 a year per worker, ending pensions for new hires, cutting the company’s 401(k) retirement contributions and increasing employee health care costs.

This is a 142-year-old company with a product that’s as American as you can get—a company you thought you knew and could trust. It’s a company that symbolizes everything we’re fighting for—and everything we’re fighting against: the low-waging of America.

This strike isn’t just about Williamson, N.Y. As The Times put it, “if the Mott’s workers lose this showdown, it could prompt other profitable companies to push for major labor concessions.”

If America’s economy is going to recover, we need paychecks that can fuel consumption. And if profitable companies are allowed to use the recession to drive America’s middle class out of existence, it’s unconscionable.

Don’t be silent about the low-waging of America. Support the Mott’s workers who have been walking the picket line for 100 days. Act now.

Tell Dr Pepper Snapple to back off its corporate greed and treat the Mott’s workers fairly.

Thank you for taking action for the Mott’s workers and all working families. Please forward this e-mail to at least five friends and urge them to take action, too.

In solidarity,

AFL-CIO Working Families e-Activist Network

P.S. The RWDSU Mott’s Hardship Fund has been established to help aid Mott’s workers affected by the strike. Donations to this fund will be used to help offset hardships being faced by Local 220 members as a result of their strike against the corporate greed of Mott’s/Dr. Pepper Snapple. Please consider making a contribution to the strike fund by clicking here.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Big Endorsement …BoldProgressives.org
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Check out this new TV ad from progressive House candidate David Segal. In just 15 days, he’s in a big primary for Patrick Kennedy‘s open seat in Rhode Island. He’s facing 3 uninspiring hacks. Together, we can help this progressive fighter win!

Can you watch the ad — and chip in $3 to help him air it on TV?

Donate $3 today

David Segal’s been endorsed by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Blue America, Democracy for America, local unions, teachers, and environmentalists.

If we raise $5,000 for Segal, he can plaster all local cable news outlets for a week. If we hit $6,000, he can include Comedy Central and reach younger voters. Can you please chip in 3?

Thanks for being a bold progressive,

Adam Green, Stephanie Taylor, Jason Rosenbaum, Michael Snook, Caroline Dean, and the PCCC team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

AFP placing ads attacking the Democratic Party


AFP Ad

I just got word that the so-called “Americans for Prosperity” swift boat group is up on the air with new ads attacking Democrats that stood up for health insurance reform.

We can’t let these attacks go unanswered. We’ve got rapid response TV ads ready to go, but we must raise $121,772 more before our August FEC deadline at midnight Tuesday to get them on the air. Can you chip in?

Contribute $5 or more today and your gift will be matched by a group of committed Democrats. I’ll also make sure we dial you in for Tuesday’s strategy call with Paul Begala and top Democratic strategists.

Thanks.

Jon Vogel

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Extreme Weather: Face the facts


The facts are devastatingly clear.

Around the globe, we are on track to see the hottest year yet in 2010. From the flooding in Pakistan to droughts in Russia and landslides in China, the effects of this year’s extreme weather are catastrophic and undeniable.

The recent pattern of extreme weather events is consistent with what scientists have projected to result from climate change: temperature shifts, severe rainfall and snow in some parts of the world, and major droughts in others.

Check out Repower America’s fact sheet on extreme weather and share it with your friends.

Get the Facts: Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Despite the overwhelming facts, skeptics — like the now infamous Koch brothers1, Massey coal2 and Lord Monckton3 — will no doubt continue to spend big bucks to keep spreading misinformation about global warming.

But if we want to fight the skeptics, we’ll need a growing number of people to get informed. As the evidence mounts, leaders like Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are finally speaking out about climate change. President Medvedev spoke out at a United Nations Security Council meeting and said,

“What is happening now in our central regions is evidence of this global climate change, because we have never in our history faced such weather conditions in the past. This means that we need to change the way we work, change the methods that we used in the past.”4

In Pakistan, nearly 1,600 people have died this summer from the worst monsoon-related floods in living memory. And around the world, 2000-2009 was the warmest decade on record5, and 2010 is on track to be the warmest year the world has seen in 131 years.

Extreme weather events are putting lives in danger all around the world. Make sure you get the facts and spread the word.

Learn more about the link between extreme weather and climate change today.

Thanks for getting involved,

Dave Boundy
Campaign Manager
Repower America