Tag Archives: United States

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Repeal renewable energy?


Union of Concerned Scientists

Stop Special Interests from Repealing Renewable Energy in Washington

Currently, Washington is one of 29 states leading the transition to a clean energy economy by requiring utilities to obtain a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable sources, such as the sun and wind. But these highly effective clean energy policies, known as renewable electricity standards, are now threatened by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a Washington, DC-based special interest group funded by big polluters, including ExxonMobil and the Koch brothers.

Take action today to let politicians in your state know that you support renewable energy, not the agenda of out-of-state fossil fuel interests.

More than 20 comprehensive studies over the past decade have found that renewable electricity standards are an effective and affordable way to downsize our reliance on coal-burning power plants, the top source of carbon emissions that are the primary cause of global warming.

For years, ALEC has misled politicians by denying the role carbon emitted by human activities plays in warming our planet. Now, the legislation ALEC is pushing to repeal renewable electricity standards has been exposed as the handy work of the Heartland Institute, the same group behind last year’s offensive billboard campaign comparing those who accept the scientific consensus on global warming to “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski.

The good news is that ALEC’s war on science is backfiring. Dozens of corporations, including Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart, have stopped funding this special interest group in response to the concerns of thousands of informed citizens like you.

As politicians gear up for the 2013 legislative season, do your part to defend renewable energy today.

Together, we can make sure Washington remains a clean energy leader and send ALEC packing.

Sincerely,
David Anderson
David Anderson
Outreach Coordinator
Climate & Energy Program
Union of Concerned Scientists
Twitter: @UCSMidwest

~ FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Something fishy is going on!


 

WethepeopleThe FDA is close to approving genetically engineered salmon. Yet thorough environmental impact and safety studies haven’t been done. And this salmon won’t be labeled so you won’t know what you’re buying. Tell the FDA what you think of this potentially bad decision before it’s a done deal.

Consumers need to speak up out and possibly against

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

MMA Weekly Update


Media Matters for America
 

From voter suppression efforts to the stranglehold that the right-wing media machine has on Republican politics, we’re looking at what got called out this week. All that and more.

John Whitehouse Twitter: @existentialfish

Colin Powell Explains Voter Suppression To Bill O’Reilly

Colin Powell discussed voter suppression with Bill O’Reilly. Powell shared his concern that voter ID laws suppress the ability of minorities to vote, especially when there is no evidence supporting O’Reilly’s claim that in-person voter fraud is a problem. In response to Powell’s arguments, O’Reilly was left grasping at straws: http://mm4a.org/118wQCe

Limbaugh And Fox Caught Red Handed

President Obama noted that Fox and Limbaugh dictate when Republicans are allowed to work with Democrats. In return, Fox and Limbaugh lashed out at Obama for highlighting their sway. But there’s a long history of Republicans openly saying that their actions are dictated by Fox or Limbaugh – and we list them here. http://mm4a.org/WnyY4a

Can We Talk About Economic Growth Now?

When discussing economic issues, mainstream media outlets have focused recently on debt and budgetary issues. Butthe biggest problem facing America is growth. With the news that GDP was down 0.1% in Q4, will the media talk more about growth? Growth is the best way to solve America’s long term deficit problem, but in the short term that may require more government spending and less fiscal contraction. Can the media kick its deficits obsession? http://mm4a.org/X8g6CJ

Covers Are For Closers

The latest error-riddled Newsweekscreed is from playwright David Mamet, whose article has spawned fact checks in every corner of the internet. Clearly not fit for publishing, Mamet makes basic mistakes like misunderstanding the nature of background checks and claiming that assault weapons have been banned for 78 years. America deserves a debate about gun violence grounded in facts, not misinformation: http://mm4a.org/112Rp2P

FEATURED VIDEO

Sean Hannity isn’t taking Obama’s second term well. He claimed Fox is the “only media organization on this planet that has delivered fair and balanced coverage” of Obama, and added “I’m not saying the President is a dictator, but wouldn’t that be what we had?” http://mm4a.org/Vkqzxl

AU REVOIR

Sarah Palin is no longer a Fox News contributor. We look back at the ten worst things she said on the network. http://mm4a.org/14ktcmD

INEVITABLE EVENT OCCURS

Erick Erickson parted ways with CNN and joined Fox News. Here are 25 reasons he’ll fit in with Fox News’ style of chicanery: http://mm4a.org/115eIZR

LAPIERRE V. REALITY

NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre testified before Congress. From background checks to assault weapons, a number of his statements were inaccurate – and the media has a responsibility to note the truth. http://mm4a.org/127GFiY

IMAGE OF THE WEEK
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

repost: Carbon Monoxide Detectors, Minimum Wage and Other New Laws for 2013 P repost


HappyNewYear

Here’s a sampling of new laws, rules and other government changes that kick in with the new year.

As 2013 begins, so do some new laws, regulations and fee increases. Here’s a sampling of what to watch for.

If you’re a renter, homeowner or landlord: Carbon monoxide alarms are now required in existing apartments, condominiums, hotels, motels and single-family homes, with some exceptions. Owner-occupied single-family homes, legally occupied before July 26, 2009, are not required to have the alarms until they are sold. (The law was passed in 2009, and portions of it have phased in over time.)

If you’re a Kirkland property owner: You will get a sense of the impact on your property taxes of the Nov. 6 voter approval of Propositions 1 and 2, the city streets and parks levies,  when King County mails 2013 bills on February 14. More details here.

If you’re a worker: The state minimum wage increases to $9.19 an hour, up from $9.04 an hour. (State law doesn’t let employers take a tip credit against the minimum wage.)

If you’re a garbage customer in King County: The basic fee for bringing solid waste to a transfer station or drop box will increase to $129.40 per ton, up from $117.42, including tax and a moderate risk waste fee. The minimum fee will increase from $20 to $22, including tax and the moderate risk waste fee.  An average residential customer who puts out one can of garbage per week for curbside collection is likely to see an increase of about 57 cents per month in the garbage bill.

If you’re a Pierce County Ferry System rider: A variety of service changes start Jan. 1. The system provides service between the town of Steilacoom, Anderson Island and Ketron Island.

If you’re unemployed: The federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program ends Dec. 29. EUC is a federal extension that provides additional weeks of unemployment benefits after you have run out of “regular unemployment benefits.”

If you’re a fish (or care about them, or drive a vehicle): In 2010 Washington state passed a law reducing the use of toxic material in automotive brake pads and shoes. This law restricts the use of several heavy metals and asbestos, and provides for a phase-out of copper over the next 15-20 years. Starting Jan. 1, manufacturers have to report the concentrations of copper, nickel, zinc and antimony in brake friction materials.

If you’re a fish, part 2 (or an angler): Barbless hooks will be required to fish for salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout in the mainstem Columbia River, including the north jetty, from Buoy 10 upstream to the Washington/Oregon border above McNary Dam

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Humanitarian Assistance for the Syrian People


 

 
 
 
President Obama announces an additional $155 million in humanitarian aid for those affected by the violence of the Assad regime. This aid from the American people is providing food, clean water, medicine, medical treatment, immunizations for children, clothing, and winter supplies for millions of people in need inside Syria and in neighboring countries.