Tag Archives: San Francisco

Dear Friends,
This is the final week to sign the petition to stop the Navy from their worldwide killing of whales and dolphins with their underwater sonar sound program. Unless we all act they will carry out their plan to harm our ocean friends over 31 million times over the next 5 years! We are attending the California Coastal Commission hearing next week and your signature can help there also, as California is considering restricting the Navy’s plans! We are asking you to do 3 things right away:

Sign the petition and share it widely:

www.whaleanddolphinwatch.com

Attend the California Coastal Commission hearing if you live nearby.
Listen to (and share with your friends) the radio interview on this topic on “Your Call Radio” on Thursday, March 7th at 10 a.m. in San Francisco. You can also listen on the internet. Other shows on this issue are available on our Facebook page as well.

Details of the Coastal Commission hearing and the radio shows are on the Facebook page:(please “like” our page when you visit)

www.facebook.com/whaledolphinwatch

Our numbers are growing every day and the more people who are on board, the less we can be ignored. About 600,000 of you have signed the petitions and more than 2 million others have read about this issue as a result of your courageous sharing. We can change this trajectory and you are an integral part of that shift. We cannot do this without you!

Thanking you in advance for your love and care about our natural environment. We are eternally grateful and so are our cetacean friends!

With Love and Respect for our Ocean Environment,

Lyndia, Lance, Kim and Wes

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Wells Fargo

02/24/2013 Nativegrl77

www.campaignforfairsettlement.org

Wells Fargo vs. Bernetta Adolph

Bernetta Adolph taking action against Wells Fargo.

Connect with the Campaign for a Fair Settlement

Bernetta Adolph is a member of CFS partner Home Defenders League. We thought you’d want to hear about her story and help her and thousands of others fight back against Wells Fargo.
–Brian, Campaign for a Fair Settlement

Retired. Cancer survivor. Disabled. Single mother. Senior. And Wells Fargo is about to steal my home.
My name is Bernetta Adolph, a retired employee of the City of San Francisco, and I’ve lived in my home for almost 20 years. My trouble with Wells Fargo started when I took out a loan against my house in order to ensure my only son could afford a good education.
Click here to tell Wells Fargo to keep me in my home and add your voice thousands of others taking dramatic action against Wells Fargo across California and Minnesota on Wednesday the 27th!
It turns out the loan to provide for my son’s future was designed to ruin my own. It was predatory, calculated to strip my equity and set me up for failure. When I tried to work with Wells to fix the loan, they offered a modification so small it didn’t make any difference. Then they started trying to take my house. The stress hastened my blindness and continues to aggravate my health problems.
But I’m far from the only one to have suffered at the hands of Wells Fargo bankers. Here’s what I’ve found out:

Wells Fargo is foreclosing on more people in California than any other bank. [1]
Wells Fargo paid $175 million to settle a lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice alleging that it targeted African-American and Latino borrowers for high-cost loans. [2]
From 2008-2010 Wells Fargo received $17.9 Billion in tax subsidies from you and me. [3]

These reasons plus stopping the theft of my home are why I’m proud that the Campaign for a Fair Settlement is joining with me, the Home Defenders League, and my home-state organization, the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, to take on Wells Fargo directly by demonstrating at their branches and headquarters all over the state.You can add your voice to our direct actions by signing the petition here.
Not only that, but we’re also teaming up with Neighborhoods Organizing for Change,Occupy Homes MN, and Minnesotans for a Fair Economy to make the message as powerful as possible. Those groups are leading a huge day of action against Wells in Minneapolis the same time we’ll be taking them on in California. Here’s what we’re demanding:

Deliver on promised relief through full implementation of AG settlement and other programs.
Broadly implement of loan modifications by resetting mortgages to fair market value.
Restore our stolen wealth by ending predatory practices, ending discriminatory lending and paying your fair share of taxes.

Add your voice and tell Wells Fargo to keep me in my home and pay us back!
Since his inauguration in January, we’ve been pushing President Obama to use the first 100 days of his second term to finally hold Wall Street banks like Wells Fargo accountable for breaking our economy. This is the week we broaden the “100 Days to Fix What Wall Street Broke” campaign to Wall Street itself. They are the ones with our savings and our homes. It’s time for them to pay us back. Starting with Wells Fargo.
Click here to tell Wells Fargo it’s time to pay us back!
In solidarity,
Bernetta Adolph, ACCE and Home Defenders League member

[1] Based on statistics found in Foreclosure Radar, http://www.foreclosureradar.com [2] http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/July/12-dag-869.html [3] http://www.ctj.org/taxjusticedigest/archive/2011/11/tax_dodger_wells_fargo.php#.USfd0zDWi3w

Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

CONGRESS: Republican led House :::::: the Senate led by Democrats

02/13/2013 Nativegrl77

the SenateConvenes: 10:00amET February 13, 2013

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business with the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the Majority controlling the second 30 minutes
We hope to begin debate on Executive Calendar #10, the nomination of Senator Hagel to be Secretary of Defense on Wednesday.

After a conversation with Senator McConnell and Senator Inhofe, it became clear to Senator Reid that Republicans are not willing to enter into an agreement for consideration of Executive Calendar #10, the nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel, of Nebraska, to be Secretary of Defense. In order to move the process along, Senator Reid filed cloture on the nomination. Under the rule, the cloture vote would occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Friday. Senator Reid suggested on the floor that senators should plan accordingly.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Confirmation of the nomination of Executive Calendar #8, William J. Kayatta, Jr., of Maine, to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit; Confirmed: 88-12

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.31, Celebrating Black History Month.

Adopted S.Res.32, Congratulating the North Dakota State University football team for winning the 2012 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision title.

Adopted S.Res.33, Commemorating the 150^th anniversary of Emporia State University.

Adopted S.Res.34, Commemorating the 150^th anniversary of Kansas State University.

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed the following:

AIR FORCE

Executive Calendar #2 to be Lieutenant General–Maj. Gen. William H. Etter

ARMY

Executive Calendar #3 to be Lieutenant General–Maj. Gen. Kenneth E. Tovo

Executive Calendar #4 to be Brigadier General–Col. Barbara R. Holcomb

Executive Calendar #5 to be Brigadier General–Col. Patrick D. Sargent

Executive Calendar #6 to be Major General–

Brig. Gen. Brian C. Lein;

Brig. Gen. Nadja Y. West

—————————————————————————–

At 4:13:58 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

Last Floor Action:
7:21:54 P.M. – The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 14, 2013.

10:00:47 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day. 2/13/2013
10:00:52 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Doug Collins to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:01:47 A.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
10:50:17 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:55 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 13.
12:00:58 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Archbishop Emeritus John Quinn, Diocese of San Francisco, San Francisco, California
12:02:58 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:03:00 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Gene Green of TX to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:05:27 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.
12:22:01 P.M.	H.R. 592	Mr. Barletta moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 592 — “To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to clarify that houses of worship are eligible for certain disaster relief and emergency assistance on terms equal to other eligible private nonprofit facilities, and for other purposes.”
12:22:05 P.M.	H.R. 592	Considered under suspension of the rules.
12:22:08 P.M.	H.R. 592	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 592.


1:07:21 P.M.	H.R. 592	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
1:07:22 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business is the question of adoption of a motion to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
1:09:40 P.M.	H.R. 592	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 592 — “To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to clarify that houses of worship are eligible for certain disaster relief and emergency assistance on terms equal to other eligible private nonprofit facilities, and for other purposes.”
1:38:27 P.M.	H.R. 592	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 354 – 72 (Roll no. 39).
1:38:27 P.M.	H.R. 592	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:44:35 P.M.	H.R. 267	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 267 — “To improve hydropower, and for other purposes.”
1:52:10 P.M.	H.R. 267	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 – 0 (Roll no. 40).
1:52:15 P.M.	H.R. 267	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:52:29 P.M.	H. Res. 64	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 64 — “Electing Members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives.”
1:53:14 P.M.	H. Res. 64	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
1:53:44 P.M.	H. Res. 64	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:54:21 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
1:55:40 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
2:56:19 P.M.		The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notice stating that the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13566, with respect toLibya, is to continue in effect beyond February 25, 2013 – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 113-9).
2:59:22 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House resumed with Special Order speeches.
4:12:23 P.M.		The Chair announced, without objection that the Speaker’s appointment of members of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on February 8, 2013 is made notwithstanding the requirement of clause 11(a)(4)(A) or rule X; and the Speaker’s appointment, pursuant to clause 11 of rule X, clause 11 of rule I, and the order of the House of January 3, 2013, and notwithstanding the requirement of clause 11(a)(1)(C) of rule X, of the following Members of the House to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Mr. Thompson (CA), Ms. Schakowsky, Messers Langevin, Schiff, Gutierrez, Pastor (AZ), and Himes.
4:13:58 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

7:19:00 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 13.
7:20:02 P.M.		Mr. Woodall asked unanimous consent that, notwithstanding the requirement of clause 11(a)(1) of rule X, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence be composed of not more than 21 Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner. Agreed to without objection.
7:20:30 P.M.		The Chair announced, without objection, the Speaker’s appointment, pursuant to clause 11 of rule X, clause 11 of rule I, and the order of the House of January 3, 2013, and notwithstanding the requirement of clause 11(a)(1)(C) of rule X, of the following Member of the House to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Ms. Sewell of Alabama.
7:20:56 P.M.		Mr. Woodall filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 66.
7:21:44 P.M.		Mr. Woodall moved that the House do now adjourn.
7:21:53 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
7:21:54 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 14, 2013.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Official Google blog … Clean Power Finance- Green blog

09/28/2011 Nativegrl77

Taking in more sun with Clean Power FinancePosted: 27 Sep 2011 09:00 AM PDT

(Cross-posted from the Green Blog)This morning, at the Renewable Energy Finance Forum (REFF-West) in San Francisco, I announced a new $75 million investment to create an initial fund with Clean Power Finance that will help up to 3,000 homeowners go solar. This is our second investment in residential solar, and we’ve now invested more than $850 million overall to develop and deploy clean energy.As we said when we made our first residential solar investment, we think it makes a lot of sense to use solar photovoltaic (PV) technology—rooftop solar panels—to generate electricity right where you need it at home. It greens our energy mix by using existing roof space while avoiding transmission constraints, and it can be cheaper than drawing electricity from the traditional grid.Purchasing a solar system is a major home improvement, but the upfront cost has historically been one of the biggest barriers for homeowners. Solar installers across the country don’t always have the resources to find financing for customers, or the capital to provide it themselves. And for investors like Google, banks and others, it can be difficult to enter a fragmented solar market with many companies, and get connected to individual homeowners.

That’s where Clean Power Finance comes in. They’ve developed an open platform that connects installers with investors like Google to provide financing to homeowners. Solar installers sign up with Clean Power Finance to get access to the company’s comprehensive sales solutions, including consumer financing from investors, like the Google fund. This enables installers to sell more systems and grow their business. The installer builds the system, the investor (in this case, Google) owns it, and homeowners pay a monthly payment for the system, at a price that’s often less than paying for energy from the grid. Maintenance and performance are taken care of by Clean Power Finance and its network of installers.

Owned by Google, operated by Clean Power Finance and installed by American Vision Solar, the Colin family of Santa Clarita, Calif. has a 4.14 kW solar system

This innovative and scalable model makes business sense for Google, Clean Power Finance, solar installers and homeowners too. We’re excited to be one of the first investors to partner with Clean Power Finance and enable the company to continue forging strong relationships with solar installers (like the ones they announced last week with SunLogic, California Solar Systems, American Vision Solar—learn more on Clean Power Finance’s website). By making financing more readily available, the Clean Power Finance platform has the potential to lower costs and accelerate adoption of solar energy.

We’ve already installed a 1.6MW rooftop solar installation at the Googleplex back in 2007. Now, through Clean Power Finance and our previous investment this year, we’re hoping to have an even larger impact. We look forward to watching our funding help more than 10,000 homeowners generate clean electricity from the sun.

Posted by Rick Needham, Director of Green Business Operations

European Commission President Barroso takes your questions on YouTubeWorld ViewPosted: 27 Sep 2011 03:12 AM PDT

(Cross-posted on the YouTube Blog)Tomorrow, September 28, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso will deliver his annual State of the Union Address. In these turbulent times, we wanted to give people a chance to make their voices heard and ask their questions about the EU. So we teamed up with broadcaster Euronews and invited President Barroso to answer your questions in a special, live YouTube World Viewinterview that will take place on Thursday, October 6 at 10:00am Central European Time.Starting today, we invite you to submit your questions for President Barroso via youtube.com/worldview. Questions can be on any topic, from the Euro crisis and austerity measures to growth and jobs, from foreign policy and immigration to ethnic minority issues, human rights and the environment. You can ask written or video questions—and view and vote on other people’s questions—in any of the European Union’s languages, thanks to Google Translate.During the interview on October 6, hosted by Euronews anchor Alex Taylor, the President will answer a selection of the most popular questions, as determined by your votes. The interview will be streamed and broadcast in multiple languages on both YouTube and Euronews.

President Barroso’s interview will be the first multi-lingual livecast in the World View series, which gives anyone with an Internet connection the ability to pose questions, vote on what’s most important to them and get answers directly from senior politicians and world leaders. President Barroso’s interview follows interviews with U.S. President Obama, President Kagame of Rwanda, U.K. Prime Minister Cameron, Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Whatever your question, President Barroso wants to hear from you. Be sure to submit your question via the World View channel before midnight CET on Wednesday October 5.

Posted by Al Verney, Head of Communications, Google Brussels

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Official Google blog

05/04/2011 Nativegrl77

The polls are open—vote for your favorite doodle! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/SVQwdy-QHzk/polls-are-openvote-for-your-favorite.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email

Today, we’re thrilled to introduce the 40 Regional Finalists for this year’s U.S. Doodle 4 Google contest. This year we had a record number of submissions—more than 107,000 from talented student artists from every state across the country. We were amazed and delighted by not only the quantity of submissions but the caliber of this year’s entries.

For the second year in a row, we’re celebrating these winners in their very own schools. From Stilwell, Okla. to Woodinville, Wash., today Googlers are visiting the schools of our Regional Finalists to celebrate their incredible artwork along with thousands of their teachers, friends and classmates.

Our doodle team, volunteer Googlers and incredibly talented Guest Judges helped us determine the 40 Regional Finalists. Whoopi Goldberg, Evan Lysacek, Michael Phelps and Jim Davis (just to name a few) lent a hand to help find the cream of the artistic crop. Now comes one of the most exciting parts of the contest—your votes! From now until May 13 at 11:59 p.m. PDT, you can cast your online votes for your favorite Regional Finalist’s doodle (one vote for each of the four grade groups). On May 19, we’ll announce the national winner at our awards ceremony in New York City. The national winner will receive a $15,000 college scholarship and $25,000 towards a new computer lab for his or her school, and the winning design will appear on google.com on Friday, May 20. All of the top 40 Regional Finalists will also have their work publicly displayed at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and at SFMOMA in San Francisco.

Our top 40 Regional Finalists weren’t the only winners today—we’d also like to congratulate the 400 State Finalists. Last but not least, we’d like to take the time to thank the teachers, parents and administrators who encouraged their students to dream big and put those ambitions on paper. Without you, this contest wouldn’t have been possible.

Posted by Marissa Mayer, VP, Product Management