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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Whales biggest threat in two decades


Japanese Whale Hunt

In 7 days whales could face their biggest threat in over two decades: the return of their slaughter by commercial whaling.

On June 21 the International Whaling Commission (IWC) will meet in Morocco where they could decide on a proposal that would resume commercial whaling, once again opening the door to the destruction of these amazing creatures.

Greenpeace is gearing up for one of the biggest battles the war against whaling has ever seen. Please make your most generous donation today to help Greenpeace in our fight for the whales. This is an “all hands on deck” moment!

Picture a Japanese harpoon ship cutting through the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Suddenly, the harpooner spots a mother whale and her calf. The ocean quiet is shattered by the blasts of exploding-tip harpoons hitting the whales.

The whale pair struggles to free themselves from the harpoon lines, but a gunman fires down from the deck, finally ending their suffering. It can take as “little” as 20 minutes to a couple of hours of agony for these magnificent creatures to die.

If countries like Japan, Norway and Iceland — now supported by the USA — get their way at the next IWC meeting, this horrific scene will see itself played out over and over again.

For 35 years, Greenpeace has been the whales’ greatest defender. We will not allow this newest threat to their existence to come to pass. The international ban on commercial whaling must not be overturned but we cannot ensure this without your support. Thank you in advance for your generosity in this, the whales’ most desperate hour.

For the whales,
John Hocevar
Oceans Campaign Director


P.S. In 2 days our top activists and campaigners from around the world will be on their way to Morocco to defend the whales – we need your support TODAY to save the whales, end the slaughter and defend our oceans.

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

my Weekend wrap-up


The Sunday buzz… did the US win if it’s a tie or did we just embarrass England or maybe both

…and if you watch msnbc today the disaster BP made of the Gulf Coast will be on most of the day there may be other stations covering the BP disaster too; facts matter and opinion shows on what happened on the Gulf Coast are just that -opinions …so, take it in knowing no one has all the facts …who could?  There are at least two sides to every story and in the case of the BP spill we have stories from the Locals, State, Feds and international so the truth will always be a mystery …and who cares as long as the Gulf Coast gets cleaned up, more regulations implemented, the people are made whole, the Gulf Coast heals and though this thing was not President Obama’s fault it is time to go green.

The other big news this morning is that there will be a Presidential Address to the Nation on Tuesday about the crisis.  There are reports the President will go into great depth at how the BP disaster will be dealt with after his visit to the Gulf.  The BP disaster has problems on so many levels and though the current blame is on the Federal level when do we ask what plans each state involved in oil drilling had in order for safety to be at its highest. If Gulf Coast Gov’s had an emergency plans why weren’t they implemented ASAP.   It just seems like common sense that any state would have to comply with some sort of contingency plan what with all the permits and so on… but hey this was just one more element left for this current administration to deal with and to fix.  The notion that using short cuts to absorb more profits is beyond me; im no scientist but accidents do happen and while we all like to save money the oil industry is not the place and unlike Canada who definitely had 20/20 does have rules regulations and obviously no oil spills at the moment; however,  we now have 2 count them 2 that the public knows about because there are rumors of  others …Utah and the Gulf Coast are at risk and the livelihoods will forever be questionable

Other News and what’s on C-SPAN Sunday

President To Make Fourth Visit Gulf Coast

Tomorrow, Pres. Obama will make his fourth trip to the Gulf Coast to assess the ongoing efforts to counter the BP oil spill. During the course of the trip, the President plans to visit Gulfport, Mississippi, Theodore, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, to survey the response efforts, visit with gulf residents impacted by the spill, and meet with area officials. On Wednesday, the President will meet with BP Chairman of the Board Carl-Henric Svanberg at the White House

Last week, lawmakers met to discuss raising the cap on liability damages for big oil companies from $75 million to $10 billion. BP said they will ignore the current cap and pay all legitimate economic claims. Mayors from the Gulf coast region also testified in on Capitol Hill, describing the extent of the damage and the challenges their communities are facing due to the oil spill. Actor Kevin Costner also spoke before Congress about a device developed by his company, Ocean Therapy Solutions, that he claims could help clean up the spill.

Rep. Bachus Discusses Financial Regulation Bill

Reacting to this week’s House-Senate Conf. Cmte. on financial regulation, Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL) discussed the Bill and its impact on the financial community. Reporters Brady Dennis of the Washington Post and Silla Brush of The Hill, questioned the congressman on the lack of Republican support and actions that led up to the financial crisis. While discussing the government’s intervention in financial regulations, Bachus said,”… just like the BP oil spill … they just kind of suggested it, why didn’t they require it?” Financial regulation conferees will begin debate on Tuesday.

**Crist Vetos abortion law that would basically try to embarrass the woman by making her watch and or listen to the sono

**Susan Boyle will perform for the Pope while he is in the UK

**A Whale was found washed up on a beach in NY..more info later

**The next Soccer match for the US is against Slovenia on Friday

**$169mil was set aside for security at the World Cup

**Iran is planning to build a new nuclear site by March

**Alabama beaches took the biggest hit from the BP oil spill and BP has 48hrs to speed up the containment pace

**US and Cuba will meet and re-establish talks on migration

Saturday -The US-England Soccer match ended in a tie… 1-1 World Cup Opener.

It’s a week of a lot of people coming together to protest the various things going on in the World not only this week but this weekend.

The week ends with no Medicare payments, no unemployment benefits and no job bill -Mr. McConnell we all know you and your Republican Party don’t care about We the People because if you did you as a leader in the Republican party would have tried to stop the car that had no one putting the brakes to metal… you and your party kept quiet, said and did nothing to stop the financial crash… people need to ask themselves what they want from the people they voted into office?  is anyone else getting tired of the BS coming from the right, the inability to do what’s best for all instead of a select few… the BS on the Hill has an impact on all of American and Republicans just don’t get it …seem willing to let us all crash and burn to get back in power … that is offensive.

As more information comes out it’s obvious that the UK benefits from the BP/Halliburton/TransOcean connection…not only is the Media there saying stop or tone down the rhetoric the people who get checks from the profits are upset with the words coming out of the mouth of President Obama.  I wonder how many people understood the ramifications the backlash the apparent connection that is now possibly a UK -US rift.  It is just one of many things the last guy left for Obama to handle and possibly the exact reason he has tried to hold back any real heat and anger that may have consequences on not only getting BP to complete the mission at hand but any further jobs and or deals made could be in jeopardy… Gov Jindal and others want deepwater drilling have stated have compared this disaster to the airlines… if one plane crashes  all the others are not pulled just because of it… well you know what maybe they should be; maybe the airline industry deserves more safety inspections too because it’s obvious the various oil rigs need relief wells before drilling begins… any and all rules regulations and policies reformed before further drilling just seems like a fitting gesture to all those who died, for all those who lived and told their stories, which seem horrible and full not only of disorganization ill prepared plans actually no plans and a group of people willing to bet against an accident… though the evidence if reports are correct these companies bet safety against the people who worked for them and the environment… this is just unacceptable. The folks of the UK are complaining the UK Media is attack President Obama about the 54 days without much progress -question is what if an American rig blew and 11 British died, what then how would David Cameron be talking and what would he do if the explosion destroyed the lives of so many… the idea that our President has to stop or tone down the comments about BP are absurd and offensive to the families who lost loved ones.  It is beyond me to think the people of the UK are this cold… Profits before the People is wrong and what has happened will take decades to heal… obviously the UK doesn’t believe it and that’s ok. The comments made by our President are warranted and reflect how he feels about the devastation of the Gulf Coast that will be felt for a long time. And his meeting with the UK PM is just strange because the BP oil spill is in the US and if nothing else maybe the guy can assert some pressure on BP to contain the gusher faster maybe offer up some skimmers or oil tankers so more oil can be siphoned off.

The other news that made an impact on me was that a mobster stated that he could prove that Amanda knox was innocent; ok that seemed like such a story, yet it was only a blurb and moved on…guessing the story doesn’t have much weight but it seems like someone spoke or talked and this should be investigated…the girl went to Uw and though she has been convicted the likelyhood of her innocence seems more than just a reality based on what they didn’t hear in court; not to mention that the judge had his own issues and personal agenda…could it be that this drifter acted alone that the connection was that someone brought home a drifter who then acted out… who knows but just hearing that documents written in italian and or french were not translated for Amanda is troubling… fair and balanced when a person’s life is at stake just seems a world away in her case.

The push for not only climate change, health care updates comprehensive immigration and more seem to be closer than ever before.  It’s nice to know that a President and or Congress actually want to make changes or for that matter work for the people and not so much for Corporations… though that has been the problem right? getting the fix requires upsetting all those big Corporate folks… the crisis helped put light on the very problem… de-regulation hurt us all; the World made bets on products that were destined to fail though only a few knew about it ahead of time; those who had an opportunity to change things didn’t and does anyone remember where bush was went it all went sour? mccain had the nerve to say our economy is sound- now his Political Party wants to say no to all the fixes to bring this President down so that when and if they get back into power they will ween us all off of entitlements tell us all to rely on yourself neighbors to help out that govt is too big that the only ones to benefit should be the top 2% and well it just gets worse… Republicans don’t represent a We the People existence to me; in fact the more they talk the more i hear a group that would prefer the days back when women did little else than take care of the home, having no aspirations for the future and people of colour were seen and not heard.  People need to get the facts about what happened before bush left office why didn’t his admin head this thing off before it got so bad nothing could be done… it was like a movie gone way beyond the gloom and doom…didn’t hear the gloom or doom until it was already upon us… it was unreal and though it took at least 8yrs to get us here people are impatient refuse to remember seem to forget what happened… we cannot let that happen yet… the problem is still the last guys fault until the fix is put in place and that process is not lost on me;everything associated with the original problem was has and still is vulnerable of being ruined beyond repair …how can anyone vote for Republicans when that is just what they seem to have in mind.

The president said he is “absolutely willing to take the difficult steps necessary to lower the cost of Medicare and put our budget on a more fiscally sustainable path. But I’m not willing to do that by punishing hardworking physicians or the millions of Americans who count on Medicare. That’s just wrong. And that’s why in the short-term, Congress must act to prevent this pay cut to doctors.”

In other news and what’s on C-SPAN

more airline strikes; Spirit Airlines strands thousands

after 134yrs an Oyster Co closes it’s doors due to the BP oil spill

watch Pres. Obama’s Weekly Address

watch Spkr. Pelosi Briefing

watch Admiral Allen Daily Oil Spill Update

watch Pres. Obama on Small Business

BP still working on limiting amount of oil spilling into gulf

BP recently announced it will expedite its payment process to businesses and individuals who have been affected by the Gulf oil spill. They also have plans to capture and burn about 420,000 gallons of oil a day in an attempt to reduce the amount of oil on the Gulf surface. Next week, Pres. Obama will visit Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and has invited BP executives for a meeting at the White House. Last week, lawmakers met to discuss raising the cap on liability damages for big oil companies from $75 million to $10 billion. BP said they will ignore the current cap and pay all legitimate economic claims. Mayors from the Gulf coast region also testified in on Capitol Hill, describing the extent of the damage and the challenges their communities are facing due to the oil spill. Actor Kevin Costner also spoke before Congress about a device developed by his company, Ocean Therapy Solutions, that he claims could help clean up the spill.

watch Complete C-SPAN Coverage: Gulf Oil Spill

TSA nominee faces Senators on collective bargaining

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held a hearing to review Pres. Obama’s third nominee for the head of TSA, John Pistole, a deputy FBI director. Pistole faced questions on the airport screening process, and the effectiveness of the terrorist watch list. Another major issue of discussion was his views regarding internal labor issues, like collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. If the Commerce Committee approves of his nomination, it will move to the Senate Homeland Security Committee for review before coming to the full Senate.  Obama’s first nominee, Errol Southers of the FBI, withdrew in January, blaming critics motivated by “political ideology” for the troubles surrounding his nomination. The second nominee, Maj. Gen. Robert Harding, withdrew in March, citing “distractions caused by my work as a defense contractor would not be good for this Administration nor the Department of Homeland Security.”

watch TSA Confirmation Hearing (6/10)
visit Transportation Security Administration
visit Senate Committee on Transportation
read Congress Daily: Obama Picks FBI Veteran …

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

join me …Stand with the President and back clean energy


The BP oil spill is the worst environmental disaster of its kind in our nation’s history. My administration has deployed every tool at our disposal for the response efforts. Thousands are working around the clock, including some of the top scientists and engineers from around the world.

We are working to hold BP accountable for the damage to the lands and the livelihoods of the Gulf Coast, and we are taking strong precautions to make certain a spill like this never happens again.

But our work will not end with this crisis. That’s one of the reasons why I invited lawmakers from both parties to join me at the White House to discuss what it will take to move forward on legislation to promote a new economy powered by green jobs, combat climate change, and end our dependence on foreign oil.

Today, we consume more than 20 percent of the world’s oil, but have less than two percent of the world’s oil reserves. Beyond the risks inherent in drilling four miles beneath the surface of the Earth, our dependence on oil means that we will continue to send billions of dollars of our hard-earned wealth to other countries every month — including many in dangerous and unstable regions.

In other words, our continued dependence on fossil fuels will jeopardize our national security. It will smother our planet. And it will continue to put our economy and our environment at risk. We cannot delay any longer, and that is why I am asking for your help.

Please stand with me today in backing clean energy. Adding your name will help Organizing for America create a powerful, public display of support for making this change happen.

The time has come, once and for all, for this nation to fully embrace a new future. That means continuing our unprecedented effort to make everything — from our homes and businesses to our cars and trucks — more energy-efficient. It means rolling back billions of dollars of tax breaks to oil companies so we can prioritize investments in clean energy research and development.

But the only way the transition to clean energy will ultimately succeed is if the private sector is fully invested in this future — if capital comes off the sidelines and the ingenuity of our entrepreneurs is unleashed. And we can do that by finally putting a price on carbon pollution.

Many businesses have already embraced this idea because it provides a level of certainty about the future. And by pouring resources into research and development, by building new markets, we will reinvent our economy — creating opportunities for entrepreneurship, for new companies and new jobs all across the country.

There will be transition costs and a time of adjustment. But if we refuse to take into account the full costs of our fossil fuel addiction — and if we refuse to heed the warnings from the disaster in the Gulf — we will have missed our best chance to seize the clean-energy future we know America needs to thrive in the years and decades to come.

The House of Representatives has already passed a comprehensive energy and climate bill, and there is currently a plan in the Senate — a plan that was developed with ideas from Democrats and Republicans — that would achieve the same goal. This week, I met with congressional leaders to determine a path forward. But this is an issue that Washington has long ignored in favor of protecting the status quo.

So I’m asking for your help today to show that the American people are ready for a clean-energy future.

Please add your name to mine:

http://my.barackobama.com/CleanEnergy

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

A big win — and what’s next


Yesterday, thanks to your hard work, the U.S. Senate did the right thing — voting with the climate science and against a resolution that would have stripped the Clean Air Act’s protections against climate pollution.

The Senate is to be commended for defeating Senator Lisa Murkowski’s disastrously misguided proposal. But the truth is, in the face of the worst environmental disaster in our nation’s history, Senator Murkowski’s resolution never should have even reached the Senate floor.

The fact that we had to work to defeat this legislation is a testament to the continued strength of the fossil fuel lobby. But the fact that we did defeat it gives us fresh momentum for the months ahead, as our nation confronts the costs of our dependence on fossil fuels more directly than ever.

This summer, we can and must set our nation on the path of independence from oil and other dirty energy.

Will you donate to support Repower America’s campaign to pass comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation this summer?

We must confront the growing plumes of oil now consuming the Gulf Coast and soon to affect much of the Eastern Seaboard. We must pass comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation — our best hope of staving off the catastrophic climate change that will dwarf the Deepwater Oil Disaster in scope and devastation. And we must accomplish all this despite the millions of dollars that big oil will spend to defeat us.

Yesterday’s vote shows that when we work together, we can defeat these forces. Over the last two years, over 250,000 of us have taken action to protect the Clean Air Act, including:

  • Submitting over 180,000 comments to the administration urging the EPA to enforce the Clean Air Act’s limits on greenhouse gases,
  • Making over 30,000 phone calls opposing Senator Murkowski’s proposal and
  • Writing over 7,200 letters to the editor.

This summer, it’s time to take exactly the same tenacity and commitment we have shown on these attacks on the Clean Air Act and win the biggest prize of all: comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation that transitions our economy to clean energy.

Donate now to support our campaign to Repower America:

http://cpaf.repoweramerica.org/cleanairvictorynd

We’ve won an important battle. Now, it’s time to win the war.

Al Gore
Founder
The Climate Protection Action Fund

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Contributions or gifts to the Climate Protection Action Fund are not tax deductible.