Tag Archives: United States

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Turning the tide on HIV/AIDS … Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign


It’s hard to believe, but just three years ago, people with HIV were banned from entering the United States. You couldn’t visit a loved one, and becoming a citizen was out of the question.

Thanks to the hard work of HRC activists like yourself, we finally overturned the 22-year  ban, and now we’ve arrived at another big moment: the return of the International AIDS Conference to the United States.

The conference unites the world’s most prominent activists, researchers, and policy makers to chart a path forward on HIV/AIDS.

And as the conference gets underway, The AIDS Memorial Quilt will also return to Washington, DC – serving once again as a powerful reminder of loved ones lost to HIV/AIDS and as a potent signal of the work left to be done.

You can help mark this historic occasion by submitting a quilt panel to remember those lost to HIV/AIDS. Click here for instructions on how to submit your own panel, which we’ll put on display at our headquarters.

Just as we have in the past, HRC will host a portion of The AIDS Memorial Quilt – along with your panel – at our national headquarters in Washington, DC. If you’ve already submitted a panel in the past and would like it displayed at HRC this summer, let us know here.

HRC is also bringing experts together for a discussion titled Addressing Stigma in Transgender and other HIV-Vulnerable Communities prior to the conference kickoff.

The return of the International AIDS Conference to the U.S. marks the beginning of a new era of progress on HIV/AIDS. The travel ban might be gone, but fear, stigma, and misunderstanding remain.

All around the world and here at home, there are still far too many new cases and too many lives shattered by this disease. The conference and the poignant tribute of The AIDS Memorial Quilt will serve to connect important thought leaders and bring attention to this still-critical issue.

HRC is honored to be a part of it all, and I hope you’ll help us mark this important event.

Learn more about submitting a panel to The AIDS Memorial Quilt now. We’ll display your panel at HRC’s headquarters in Washington, DC. When you send it in, you’ll be joining with world-leading researchers, activists, and policy makers to help turn the tide against HIV/AIDS.

25 years ago, The AIDS Memorial Quilt helped inspire a movement that stemmed the tide of the epidemic. Now we need to revive that same spirit to meet these remaining challenges.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Still fighting,

Joe Solmonese President

P.S. Volunteers for the International AIDS Conference get free access to sessions and a whole lot of other great opportunities. To apply to volunteer or to learn more about the Conference click here.

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

warmed up Wednesday &some News


BBG Communications and BBG Global offices are located in San Diego, CA. They provide a  variety of telecommunication services such as digital lines, high speed Internet, Intranet, public telephony, teleauditor, worldwide long  distance calling, and zero plus calling at credit card only payphone  stations Germany and other countries. BBG Global’s website owns and  operates 350,000 pay phones in airports, train stations, and hotels in  more than 30 countries.

Reports are that the cost of using BBG  Communications has been a problem for quite some time.Now, US troops  have decided to fight back. Americans must join in and demand justice  for all who have been affected; we can do this.


When Specialist  Reynald Matias was heading to Afghanistan with his Army unit late last  year,their chartered flight stopped to refuel at Leipzig-halle Airport  in Germany.During a brief layover, he called his wife in Tacoma,  Wash.,using his debit card on a pay phone in the terminal’s troops-only transit lounge. His wife, Crystal, asked, “What are they charging you?”   He did not know, so she told him to hang up. A few days  later she got   the answer: $51 for what she estimated was a 2minute call. “Military pay  isn’t up there, “she said. “It really hurt us.” Another Soldier,  Sgt.Corder, said he was billed $41 last year for a 3-second call  in which he left a message on the family’s answering machine. The  Sargent’s lawsuit was first written about last fall by Army Times and newspapers in Texas.
It is time for BBG Communications & BBG Global to stop taking  advantage American Soldiers who are already under such stress fighting  in defense of the U.S. Now, their families are subjected to financial  distress; this is completely unacceptable. Complaints from service  members have reached the United States Transportation Command and the  Leipzig airport.

However, press officers state they have no control over the pay phones. 
It is time for Americans to Stand with & Speak Up for our Troops, who have taken an oath to support and defend  the U.S. with their lives..

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/BBGCommunicationsSTOPOverchargingUSTroops/

in Other News …

Live at 12:45pm (ET)  Jay Carney Meets with White House Press

G8 Ministers Meet on Economic, Security Issues

National Press Clubs Hosts Baseball Insiders

Obama Campaigns in Hollywood, Fla.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

White House White Board: The Buffett Rule explained


by     on

In this installment of the White House White Board, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, Brian Deese, talks about the “Buffett Rule”

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Stand UP for Medicare … Sherrod Brown


I’m proud to call myself a progressive. I know what our community has achieved over the years on behalf of working families. And I’m proud to stand with fighting progressives like you any day of the week.

Click here to sign this important petition.

But there’s never been a more important time for fighting progressives to stand together than right now. Medicare — one of our proudest achievements and a critical element of seniors’ economic security — is under attack.

Click here to stand with fighting progressives and help defend Medicare!

This isn’t the first time Republicans have tried to pass the Ryan plan, which would end Medicare as we know it and leave seniors out in the cold when it comes to health insurance. But the far right only has to win this fight once — we have to show that we’ll always be there to defend this important pillar of American society.

 By signing my petition, you won’t just be helping to defeat this latest Republican attack on Medicare. You’ll be sending them a clear signal that fighting progressives like you and me will always be there to fight back whenever Republicans threaten the economic security of American seniors.

The far right is determined to get its way sooner or later. They think it’s just a matter of time before our coalition cracks and our defense of Medicare weakens. They’re willing to try as many times as it takes.

We have to show them that we’ll never waver in our defense of Medicare. Please sign my petition today — let’s see how many fighting progressives we can put together to show the GOP that our coalition is stronger than ever.

It’s not enough to win this fight once. We have to make a strong enough statement that it resonates for years. We have to show Republicans that Medicare will always have defenders in the fighting progressives of America.

Click here to sign this important petition.

Thank you,

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

President Obama Speaks at a White House forum


by     on Apr  6, 2012

President Obama speaks about the women who have shaped his life, and explains why his Administration has worked to consider the needs of women in girls in every decision it makes. April 6, 2012