monthly newsletter, July
Major bank drops Sinar Mas, but fast food companies are still serving forest destruction

Two weeks ago, our activists in New York and California donned orangutan suits and headed down to local branches of HSBC, the world’s largest banking and financial services company, to protest the company’s investments in Sinar Mas, a notorious destroyer of Indonesia’s Paradise Forests. We’re happy to announce that, thanks to the many activists who took action, HSBC has dropped all holdings in forest destroyer Sinar Mas from its global asset management groups. The orangutans have achieved victory!

This is just the latest in a long string of companies that have cut Sinar Mas out of their business. Nestle, Unilever, and Kraft have all taken steps to remove Sinar Mas from their supply chains. But, as Greenpeace reveals in a new report, many fast food companies are still serving up Sinar Mas’ rainforest destruction, including Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Pizza Hut. Take action now and tell these fast food joints to hold the forest destruction!

Tell the EPA: Coal ash is hazardous!

Now is the time to tell the EPA and Big Coal fat cats that Americans refuse to be poisoned by dirty energy any longer. Help us reach our goal of 10,000 signatures in support of tough legislation that forces coal to clean up its act.

Coal ash, the highly toxic leftovers from burning coal for fuel, contains dangerous pollutants like mercury, lead, and arsenic that cause cancer and can wreak havoc on both plant and animal life. The EPA has let the coal industry dump coal ash into unlined ponds and landfills that leak into our rivers, streams, and recreation areas for far too long.

On May 4, 2010, the EPA issued two very different proposals for regulating coal ash. One proposal put forth by the EPA is good and the other is very bad. The first proposal would classify coal ash as a hazardous waste, which it very much is. The other would classify coal ash as non-hazardous, which would run contrary to the EPA’s own findings and play right into the hands of big polluters. The EPA’s choice is clear: Coal ash must be regulated as a hazardous waste immediately.

Watch our new video: ScamWow!

There’s no way to clean up an oil spill. It’s clear BP knows this all too well, and is determined to spare no expense on the cleanup… of its image. We put together a new video to highlight this sad state of affairs. Watch the video now: ScamWow!

Take action and tell Congress: No Drilling. Period.

Greenpeace airship takes flight

Greenpeace has a new ship to announce. But, this fine ship doesn’t sail in the ocean; it flies in the sky! The A.E. Bates Thermal Airship brings a “higher” viewpoint to Greenpeace’s mission to “bear witness.” Meet our new ship.

JUSTICE — MILITARY RECRUITING AND RETENTION ARE THRIVING IN THE MIDST OF DADT REPEAL EFFORTS: Following a White House statement supporting a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) — the military’s policy that bars openly gay members from serving —  and Congressional support for ending the policy, it’s been clear for months that DADT repeal is just on the horizon. Opponents of the repeal have been vocal, claiming that lifting the ban could undermine military effectiveness or recruiting efforts. However, “troops are already forced to live in a whole host of disagreeable conditions and train, sleep, and eat with men and women of all races, religions, and values without detriment to unit cohesion or military effectiveness.” And yesterday, the military released its latest recruiting numbers showing that “despite clear Congressional intent to end [DADT], military retention and recruiting continues to thrive.” LGBT rights blog LezGetReal reports that in the month of June, “the Army National Guard met 94% of its recruiting goal and the Air National Guard met 99% of its recruiting goal. The eight other branches or components of the Defense Department met or exceeded their recruiting goals for the month of June 2010.” The Department of Defense also noted, “The services also are at or above their fiscal year-to-date retention goals for the first nine months of fiscal 2010.” The effect of a DADT repeal on recruiting and retention is a “hugely important question” for the Pentagon; its DADT survey, given to 400,000 servicemembers to “gauge their reaction to repealing the policy,” asks, “If Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is repealed, how, if at all, will it affect your willingness to recommend to a family member or close friend that he or she join the military?” The June numbers suggest that there has been no negative effect whatsoever on recruiting due to concerns over repealing DAD

Joe Johns | BIO AC360° Correspondent MaryAnne Fox AC360° Producer

via Anderson Cooper 360

“Less than 2 percent of the money that’s been promised has been delivered”  Six months after a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, most governments that promised money to help rebuild the country have not delivered any funds at … Read More

Gary Tuchman, Haiti Earthquake

http://wp.me/pacM2-m6H