Tag Archives: reviews

My teenage son killed himself by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. If the bridge had a suicide prevention barrier (like other landmarks do), Kyle might still be alive today. Please sign my petition to install a barrier and save lives.

Sign Kymberlyrenee’s Petition

My son Kyle was only 18 when he took his own life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in September 2013. I still have no idea why he made that terrible decision. He had never been depressed, never mentioned suicide. It seems he decided to kill himself completely on impulse.

If the Golden Gate Bridge had a suicide prevention barrier, like other major bridges do, my son might still be alive today.

After my son died, I found out that the Golden Gate Bridge has more suicides than any landmark in the world. But unlike other landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge doesn’t have a life saving suicide prevention barrier to save people like my son from jumping to their deaths.

I started a petition on Change.org calling on the California Senate Budget Committee to approve funding for a suicide prevention barrier for the Golden Gate Bridge. Please sign my petition.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Kyle. He was just starting his senior year in high school, captain of the basketball team, planning on college. He had just gotten his passport for a trip to Australia after graduation. My son had excitements and hope in his life, and where does that go now? I still can’t believe he’s gone.

There’s a common misconception that people who attempt suicide once will just try again — that’s not true. In fact, one study showed that 94% of people who were talked down from the Golden Gate Bridge did not go on to kill themselves. If a barrier had been in place, my son could have been among that 94%.

It is appalling for California and America that the Golden Gate Bridge has more suicides than any landmark in the world. This is a problem that can be easily fixed, and lives will be saved as a result.

It is too late for my son, but if enough people sign my petition, I know we can help save someone else’s loved one. I know we can make sure no other family has to live through something like this.

Please sign my petition calling on the California Senate to approve funding for a suicide prevention barrier for the Golden Gate Bridge.

Thank you,

Kymberyrenee Gamboa
Fair Oaks, California

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the most inspirational 90 seconds

05/12/2014 Nativegrl77

The work that teachers do is too often under-appreciated and overlooked.

In states across the country, Republican governors are slashing public education and then blaming teachers for the disastrous results. We simply don’t agree with that philosophy. Public education is one of the most important institutions in our democracy, and teachers are the key to students’ success.

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week—and in honor of teachers everywhere we’d like to share this inspiring short video from DGA Chair Governor Peter Shumlin, who overcame a severe learning disability with the help of one very special educator.

Watch the 90-second video here, then share it with your friends in honor of teachers everywhere.

It’ll be the most inspirational 90 seconds you spend this week—I guarantee it.

Sincerely,

Mark Giangreco
Digital Director
Democratic Governors Association

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Conservatives For Regulation

05/12/2014 Nativegrl77

Jordan Klepper discovers a chemical spill in West Virginia that led some conservatives to inexplicably begin supporting regulation of the chemical industry

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

3 Major companies divest from private prisons !

05/12/2014 Nativegrl77

We need better research tools to take on the private prison industry.

Please donate $20 to help us win more divestment victories:

Three companies—Scopia Capital, DSM, and Amica Mutual Insurance —have divested nearly $60 million from leading private prison companies CCA and GEO Group after ColorOfChange members like you urged executives to reconsider the moral, financial, and political risks of investing in for-profit prisons.¹ This is the first time any corporations have publicly confirmed divestment and condemned the industry.

It’s a huge deal — and is great leverage to convince other companies to do the right thing and divest. But we need more precise information to keep winning. Key details on companies that support private prisons are buried in complicated financial documents that could take months to go through —time we don’t have. There are a number of programs that would give us the intel we need, but we can’t afford a subscription without your help.

It costs $2,000 a month to access hidden market data we need. Can you donate $20 to give us an edge to win more victories?

Private prisons are one of the pre-eminent civil rights concerns of our time. The despicable profit motive of these companies leads to some of the most abusive and inhumane conditions in the country, which disproportionately harms Black and brown communities due to the discriminatory policies of the failed War on Drugs.² Equipped with a strong lobbying arm, CCA and GEO Group push hard for criminal justice policy and lucrative contracts that allow them to turn a profit while torturing our families.

The unprecedented leadership of these three corporations sets a new national standard: private prisons are an unacceptable investment. We can now leverage this standard to move companies that remain invested to divest, but we need the most accurate data to move forward. For months, our small staff has been working hard to gather the most up-to-date information on what companies help to keep this industry alive, and then hold them accountable. So far, we have reached out to more than 150 companies and remain in conversation with dozens of executives about ending their support. Help us take this campaign to the next level.

Help give us the power and independence we need to win the movement to end private prisons.

Thanks and Peace,

–Rashad, Matt, Aimée, Lyla and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
May 9th, 2014

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Here Are The Answers For Their Benghazi Questions

05/12/2014 Nativegrl77

Some other things I’ve read this week: Jane Mayer on Ronald Reagan’s Benghazi, Simon Maloy on David Gregory botching an interview with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Felix Salmon on the importance of journalism aimed at readers, Ned Resnikoff on the global implications of climate change, and Jordan Sargent on John Oliver’s new show. John Whitehouse Twitter: @existentialfish

Questions, Answered.

Where was President Obama that night? Why wasn’t more done militarily? These are a few of the legitimate questions about Benghazi — but conservatives are covering up that they’ve already been answered. Here are the answers to those questions and more: http://mm4a.org/1isFy0l Related: Why are conservatives pushing Benghazi? Because they’re using it to fundraise: http://mm4a.org/1hxcwxe

Obamacare Is Working

Two pieces of news deflated conservative fearmongering about Obamacare this week. A new poll showed a dramatic decrease in the number of uninsured Americans in 2014: http://mm4a.org/1fJXl8ARelated: Additionally, insurance companies reported that Obamacare enrollees are paying their premiums: http://mm4a.org/1uBipSV

CBS Has A Credibility Problem

Logan A report raised new questions about 60 Minutes‘ Benghazi story and subsequent review, including that Lara Logan reportedly consulted with a Republican Senator, which was never disclosed. Media Matters founder David Brock has asked CBS to reopen their review: http://mm4a.org/1kGeai6Related: News veterans including a former network news president have also asked CBS to reopen their review: http://mm4a.org/1njhbKy Here are the open questions that CBS still has to answer: http://mm4a.org/1urIML8

FEATURED VIDEO

Chuck Todd did not mince words, saying that the Benghazi select committee “looks like nothing more than a partisan stunt.” http://mm4a.org/1hx9E3g

ABORTION IN AMERICA

One woman filmed herself having an abortion to debunk anti-choice stereotypes. Hannah Groch-Begley explains what we can learn from the experience compared to how conservative media portray abortion: http://mm4a.org/1mDebcx