Tag Archives: Republican

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

“Give America A Raise”

01/30/2014 Nativegrl77

Obama Calls On Congress To Raise Minimum Wage, But States Aren’t Waiting

In his State of the Union speech last night, President Obama vowed to take action wherever he could to increase opportunity and create an economy that works for all Americans–with or without the help of Congress. For example, he announced that by executive action he will raise the minimum wage for federal contractors under new contracts to $10.10 per hour.

But raising the federal minimum wage for all Americans is in the hands of Congress, so he also made a direct pitch to those on the floor of the House chamber: “Join the rest of the country. Say yes. Give America a raise.”

We agree: Congress should join the rest of the country. Cities and states across the nation aren’t waiting for federal action, they are taking steps to raise wages for their workers right now:

BOTTOM LINE: Our country should continue to do everything it can to provide opportunity for those who work hard. Among many other benefits, raising the minimum wage will lift working families out of poverty, inject billions of dollars into the economy, and raise wages for an estimated 17 million women. States increasingly see this as a no-brainer, and Congress should too.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

1,600,000 And Counting…

01/27/2014 Nativegrl77

By CAP Action War Room

Bring the Unemployed in From the Cold

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The number of Americans who have lost their unemployment benefits is huge…and growing.

Today, we will hit the 1.6 million mark for the number of people who have been cut off from emergency unemployment benefits since December 28. That is 1.6 million Americans whose financial security, and in many cases their children’s financial security, is in jeopardy because Republicans in Congress have failed to act.

Last week, a majority of Senators voted to extend these benefits. But because of Republican obstruction, it didn’t pass the filibuster-proof 60 vote threshold. In fact, as shown below, many of the Republicans who voted against renewing unemployment benefits come from states where it is especially needed.

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Not only did these and other Republican Senators vote against the unemployed in their states, they also voted against the will of a vast majority of Americans. Poll after poll (after poll!), including the latest from CBS News released yesterday, finds up to seven in 10 Americans want to extend unemployment insurance benefits for those that lost them when they expired at the end of 2013.

Meanwhile, Republican grandees gathered at the winter meeting of the Republican National Committee actually voted to call for an end to a successful crackdown on wealthy tax dodgers in order to help, as they explained it, raise more money from wealthy Americans living abroad. It’s no wonder that 63 percent of Americans believe the policies pushed by Republicans in Congress favor the wealthy, while just 9 percent think they favor the middle class.

BOTTOM LINE: Profits at the biggest banks may have bounced back to record highs, but the economy is still not working for too many struggling families. Letting the extended, emergency unemployment benefits lapse through the next year would cost us 240,000 jobs and slash economic growth. It already drained $400 million from state economies in the first week alone. We can’t afford for Republicans to oppose this vital program that would support their state economies and extend lifeline for those looking for work.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Climate

01/24/2014 Nativegrl77

Dear friends across the US,

The world is about to sign up to a 100% clean energy future! But the goal to completely cut carbon is at risk at the Lima climate talks. Let’s flood negotiators with messages now to make sure they know the world is watching, and to stand strong for climate action!

Something huge is happening this week — our governments are about to set a goal to cut carbon pollution completely, putting us on a path to 100% clean energy! This target is now in the draft Global Climate Agreement, but it is at risk.

Right now, Ministers from all over the world are on their way to Lima, Peru to hammer out the agreement. But oil, coal and fracking companies, and countries that want to keep polluting are lobbying hard to pull this crucial target from the text. That’s where we come in.

People power forced through this crucial goal, now we have to protect it! If we don’t, scientists are clear — catastrophic and runaway climate change is inevitable. Our best chance of blocking back-room deals with polluters is bombarding our Ministers with thousands of messages.

If enough of us act, they’ll know they’re being watched and expected to stand strong for the goal of 0 carbon, and 100% clean energy. Send your message now!

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/lima_summit_100_clean_us/?biEWLbb&v=49777

The Avaaz team is on the ground and will ensure each country’s delegate and media know how many messages have been sent per country, and our messages could even be projected onto screens right in the conference hall and hand delivered to Ministers.

Long time climate activists are saying there is more hope for action now than ever! After hundreds of thousands of us took to the streets in September demanding climate action, the EU, US and China finally started to move in the right direction. Getting their commitment to reduce carbon pollution to zero would be a massive step forward. Let’s lock in this progress before the lobbyists can unravel it. Send a message now:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/lima_summit_100_clean_us/?biEWLbb&v=49777

For years we’ve been campaigning for climate action. And now our governments are finally moving in the right direction, but the stakes could not be higher, and what happens next will depend on us. Let’s do everything we can to win the deal we need to save the world!

With hope,

Alice, Iain, David, Emily, Laura, Oscar, Fatima, Ricken and the whole Avaaz team

MORE INFORMATION

UN climate talks begin as global temperatures break records (BBC)
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30225511

Prior to climate deal, talks begin in Peru (Times of India)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/global-warming/Prior-to-climate-deal-talks-begin-in-Peru/articleshow/45341101.cms

Will Lima climate talks pave way for a binding treaty in Paris in 2015? (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/dec/01/will-lima-climate-talks-pave-way-for-a-binding-treaty-in-paris-in-2015

Cautious optimism as delegates descend on Lima ahead of UN climate talks (ABC News)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-30/five-things-to-know-about-lima-climate-talks/5929290

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Bigger lie: Keystone jobs or climate hoax?

01/24/2014 Nativegrl77

Politifact has announced its annual “Lie of the Year” nominees, and this year they have two whoppers we think deserve special recognition.

One claims that climate change is a hoax; the other overstates the economic impact of Keystone XL. And Politifact is letting you vote on which one should be honored as the Lie of the Year.

Call out these distortions by voting for 2014’s Lie of the Year.

When Transcanada CEO Russ Girling claimed that the Keystone XL pipeline would create 42,000 “ongoing, enduring jobs,” he was clearly warping the findings of a report that stated that the pipeline will only create 35 direct, permanent jobs.

Congressional candidate Lenar Whitney gets a nod for her campaign video entitled “Global Warming is a Hoax,” which went so far as to claim that the Earth is cooling.

The Lie of the Year is a widely-referenced distinction that discredits falsehoods in newspapers across the country. Help us call out climate change deniers by voting for one of these bold-faced lies.

VOTE NOW

Thank you,

Jesse Thomas
Digital Director
NextGen Climate