Tag Archives: United States

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a message from Kevin Pearce, California

10/04/2014 Nativegrl77

The White House, Washington

It was New Year’s Eve in 2009 when my helmet saved my life.

Training for the Winter Olympics in Utah, I was at the top of competitive snowboarding when I suffered a life-threatening traumatic brain injury that I’m still recovering from to this day. And while I can never snowboard competitively again, I hope to be a voice for the millions of Americans who grapple with diseases of the brain.

Until my injury, I didn’t spend too much time thinking about my brain, but in the last few years, I’ve learned a lot about the engine that drives our thoughts, emotions, and actions.

I’ve learned that in my battle to recover from this devastating injury, I am not alone. Researchers estimate that around 100 million Americans suffer from brain disorders at some point in their lives. From Alzheimer’s to autism and ALS all the way to traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic depression, diseases of the brain are not only catastrophic, they are common.

That’s why the President’s BRAIN Initiative — an all-hands-on-deck effort to understand the human brain and enable the tools, techniques, and technologies that can improve scientists’ ability to diagnose, treat, and prevent neurological diseases — is personal for me.

Learn more about the initiative here — and if you or someone you know stands to benefit from this sort of research, tell that story here.

Since my injury, I’ve learned that the human brain remains one of the greatest mysteries in science. Decades of neuroscience have revealed much about how the brain works, but the great majority of the brain’s activity, involving about 100 trillion neural connections, remains uncharted.

That’s changing quickly. Since the President announced the BRAIN Initiative last year, the research community, federal agencies, foundations, patient advocacy groups, private research institutes, companies, scientific societies, and individual scientists have committed more than $300 million to this bold effort to capture a dynamic image of the human brain, similar to the one that mapped the human genome.

The goals of the BRAIN Initiative are ambitious, but they’re achievable.

Imagine if no family had to grapple with the helplessness and heartache of a loved one with Parkinson’s, or TBI, or PTSD. Imagine if Alzheimer’s, or ALS, or chronic depression were eradicated in our lifetime. Imagine if we played a role in those breakthroughs.

That’s why I’ve worked so hard on connecting, educating, and empowering around brain health, and to tell the story about how much the brain can improve, adapt, heal, and grow. And that’s why I’m so excited to lend my voice to these efforts to help catalyze the next generation of treatments for brain diseases. Though my voice may be more public than most, I know that so many Americans have loved ones that have battled brain disorders just as I have.

If you want to make your voice heard, share your story at WhiteHouse.gov/BRAIN.

I may never get to stand on the Olympic podium, but I’m thrilled to stand with the scientists and students, researchers and citizens on the edge of the next great frontier — unlocking and understanding the three pounds of matter that sit between our ears.

Sincerely,

Kevin Pearce
Carlsbad, California

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Rashad Robinson, ColorOfChange.org

10/04/2014 Nativegrl77

Police killings & Jim Crow era lynchings

We have a key opportunity to transform discriminatory and violent policing nationwide.

We have a key opportunity to transform discriminatory and violent policing nationwide.

Ferguson activist holds a sign that reads: Hands up don't shoot.

Urge the federal government to take definitive action to enforce a higher standard of policing:

The tragic police killing of 18-year-old Mike Brown hit home for millions across the country. The horror of losing a loved one, to senseless, racially-motivated police violence is a daily threat in the lives of Black people in America. In a time when law enforcement kill Black Americans at nearly the same rate as Jim Crow era lynchings,¹ discriminatory and violent policing is a national crisis.

National leaders are paying more attention to racial profiling and police brutality than they have in years, due to the hard work of Black youth and community leaders in Ferguson and across the country.² In order to capture the momentum of this moment and secure long-term, systemic reforms that transform policing nationwide, we need the federal government to intervene and set a higher standard of policing.

If enough of us demand action, we can change things. Will you join us in calling on the federal government to implement critical reforms to end abusive, militarized, and biased policing targeting Black and brown communities?

While we continue to fight for justice for Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Ramarley Graham and so many others whose lives have been taken at the hands of racially-motivated and violent local law enforcement, the federal government has a clear role to play in overturning the conditions that led to these tragedies, and setting a higher standard of policing across the country. In key ways, the standards, policies, and practices of the executive branch set the tone and tactics of local and state law enforcement.

For decades, our communities have worked tirelessly to combat the wholesale criminalization of Black Americans and the unimaginable police violence that threatens our children, parents, and friends every day. A walk to the store or drive to the mall have long held the risk of an unwarranted search, false arrest, or death. But we are in a historic time and how we capture this time will impact generations to come — the kind of world our children live in, the types of freedoms they have to fight for.

With Attorney General Eric Holder’s resignation approaching, now is the time to push the Department of Justice to do much more.⁵ Widespread public pressure can keep this issue at the top of the administration’s agenda, and push them to move forward before this major change in DOJ leadership. Next week, community members in Ferguson are organizing a Weekend of Resistance to build momentum for a nationwide movement to end police brutality.⁶ We need your support to move federal officials beyond symbolic actions to systemic reforms that protect the civil and human rights of all communities.

Join us in calling on the Obama administration, DOJ, and other federal agencies to take immediate action to strengthen police accountability and end discriminatory policing.

Thanks and Peace,

— Rashad, Matt, Arisha, Lyla, Jamar and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
October 3rd, 2014

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way.

References

1. “Mike Brown’s shooting and Jim Crow lynchings have too much in common. It’s time for America to own up,” The Guardian 08-25-14
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3985?t=7&akid=3717.1174326.CH01Xf

2. “Justice Dept. opens civil rights inquiry of Ferguson police,” LA Times 09-04-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3979?t=9&akid=3717.1174326.CH01Xf

3. “Nobody Knows How Many Americans The Police Kill Each Year,” FiveThirtyEight Politics 08-19-14
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3983?t=11&akid=3717.1174326.CH01Xf

4. “Stop and Seize,” Washington Post 09-06-14
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3984?t=13&akid=3717.1174326.CH01Xf

5. “Eric Holder To Step Down As Attorney General,” NPR 09-25-14
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3992?t=15&akid=3717.1174326.CH01Xf

6. “Join us in Ferguson for a national mobilization,” ColorOfChange
http://act.colorofchange.org/signup/nationalmobilization/?t=17&akid=3717.1174326.CH01Xf

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

🎥 MUST WATCH: [Video]

10/04/2014 Nativegrl77

When you’re done, please forward this email to 3 San Diego friends and make sure they know the truth about Speaker Boehner’s baseless attacks.

Thanks for helping get out the facts,

San Diego for Scott

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Did You Miss the President’s Speech on America’s 21st Century Economy?

10/03/2014 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

President Obama just spoke to entrepreneurs at Northwestern University in Illinois. In his remarks, he made the case for what has always fueled America’s leadership: America’s economic greatness.

Our economy is stronger now than when the President took office during the Great Recession. Businesses are creating more jobs, our manufacturing sector is booming, and our nation is more energy independent than ever before.

And while we’ve made great strides, we aren’t there yet — to build an economy that works for every American, we must invest in key economic cornerstones that will create security and opportunity for America’s middle class.

Find out more about the progress we’ve made — and the steps we still must take.

You Told Us: Here’s What Raising the Wage Means to You

Tens of thousands of people shared what raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 would mean to them personally, or to their communities. Read some of those stories on our interactive map here.

Yesterday, President Obama welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House to meet on a number of issues, including the situation in Gaza and the work to degrade and destroy ISIL.

Yesterday, President Obama welcomed Sporting Kansas City to the White House in honor of the team’s 2013 MLS Cup championship win.

A thank-you message from Patricia Gualinga

10/03/2014 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

“The protection of nature, forests, and ecosystems is the responsibility of everyone. What happens will ultimately affect us all. We are standing up for our lives, yours, the entire world and for the lives of future generations!”
– Kichwa leader Patricia GualingaDear carmen,

Last week the world witnessed an historic event – indigenous people were at the front of the world’s largest climate march ever! Over 400,000 people participated in the People’s Climate March in New York City and indigenous leaders – those on the frontlines of the battle to protect the earth from climate change – were front and center.

Patricia Gualinga from the community of Sarayaku, Ecuador was one of those leaders. She was able to attend thanks to your support. Besides walking alongside other indigenous leaders in the largest climate march in history, Patricia attended the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples and presented at the People’s Climate Justice Summit, which ran parallel to the UN Climate Summit. She also spoke with various media and press outlets propelling her message to Keep the Oil in the Ground starting with the Amazon to global recognition.

During this whirlwind of activity, which hasn’t ended yet, Patricia stopped outside the UN to express her gratitude for all who stand with her, with her community, and with everyone fighting to protect our planet. Without your solidarity and financial support, this trip would not have been possible for Patricia.

Thank you for your continued partnership in this vital battle for the future of humanity and a healthy climate!

Paul Paz y Miño
Director of Outreach and Online Strategy