Tag Archives: vote

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Support Gulf Communities, demand Justice from Big Oil Companies


Donate to support Ecuadorean leaders’ trip to the Gulf
Donate Photo by Win McNamee/Getty
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Toxic oil pit in Ecuador/ Photo by Lou Demattei

How many times will we let BP and Big Oil destroy our communities?

Next week, RAN along with four Ecuadorean community leaders, Emergildo, Humberto, Mariana and Luis, who have been fighting Big Oil’s toxic legacy for decades in the Amazon Rainforest, hope to travel to the Gulf Coast to stand with local communities who are feeling the impact of our country’s oil addiction firsthand.

This is an incredible act of solidarity that you can make happen. Now is the time to show that BP’s disaster is not an exception, but the rule for a dirty and dangerous industry.

Please donate now to help Ecuadorean leaders travel to the Gulf Coast to stand with communties impacted by BP’s oil disaster.

Whether it’s BP’s ruin of the Gulf, Chevron’s “Amazon Chernobyl” or Exxon’s deadly spill in Alaska, one thing is crystal clear: we must end our addiction to oil and herald in a clean energy future.

Emergildo, Humberto, Mariana and Luis know all too well Big Oil’s legacy of denying, delaying and litigating away responsibility for its reckless behavior. They have been fighting a decades-long legal battle to get Chevron to pay for the 18 billion gallons of highly toxic waste that was dumped into their water.

Next week, with your help, they will share their stories and survival strategies with communities in the Gulf, who, tragically, need support to protect their health, culture and livelihoods.

Your support can help oil-impacted communities from around the world build a movement strong enough to hold companies like BP and Chevron accountable.

From coast to coast and country to country, frontline communities have borne the brunt of Big Oil’s destruction and our country’s addiction to oil. But these communities are also where the movement to demand freedom from oil begins.

We have all seen how the hottest front-page story can fade from political view before companies make good on their promises or politicians make their rhetorical commitments into reality. This delegation is a critical step in building a movement strong enough to hold Big Oil and our politicians accountable even when the TV cameras turn off.

Support frontline communities in coming together to challenge corporate power and Big Oil’s business as usual.

It is our job to make sure that when we look back years from now on the summer of 2010, this horrific disaster will be remembered as a breakthrough moment in the transition to a clean energy future, and not just another deadly symptom of our addiction to oil.

Our job starts today!

For a better world,
Rebecca Tarbotton
Acting Executive Director
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

It feels good to win


Last night, we won again. DFA-List endorsed candidate Elaine Marshall won the Democratic primary runoff in North Carolina with 60% of the vote. That’s not the only good news. Everyone from The Hill newspaper in DC to Talking Points Memo are giving you the credit and Washington insiders are getting the message. Here’s just a sample:

From The Nation:

Progressive Challenger Defeats Washington Establishment in North Carolina

The progressive groups who unsuccessfully backed Bill Halter over Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas’ Democratic Senate runoff on June 8 scored a victory tonight when Elaine Marshall defeated Cal Cunningham in North Carolina’s Democratic Senate primary.

From USA Today:

She defeated a candidate who was handpicked by national Democratic Party leaders. Backed by liberal groups MoveOn-org and Democracy for America, (Elaine) campaigned as a liberal insurgent against Cal Cunningham.

Together with DFA-List candidate Joe Sestak in Pennsylvania, we’re showing Washington insiders we don’t support just any Democrat — we support better Democrats. Now, it’s up to us to make sure she beats Republican Senator Richard Burr in November.

CONTRIBUTE $5 OR MORE TO ELAINE MARSHALL RIGHT NOW

You don’t have to look far to see corporate interests’ fingerprints all over Richard Burr’s campaign. In his reelection kick-off he stood up for Big Insurance and called for the repeal of President Obama’s healthcare bill.

After the oil disaster in the Gulf he stood up for Big Oil and actually called for less restrictions on offshore oil drilling. Now, he’s standing up for Wall Street as Congress debates reform while funding his campaign with over $1 million in Wall Street special interest money.

Wall St. and Big Oil don’t own Elaine Marshall. The people do. She’s working to represent the people of North Carolina and working Americans everywhere, not Goldman Sachs or BP.

But after months of hard campaigning to win the primary and run-off elections, Elaine needs financial support to rebuild her war chest and beat Senator Burr in November.

 SEND BURR PACKING — CONTRIBUTE TODAY FOR PROGRESSIVE VICTORY IN NOVEMBER

DFA members told us to take back the U.S. Senate from corporate interests by supporting progressive candidates who will win. Contribute right now to make it happen.

Thank you for everything you do,

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain, Political Director
Democracy for America

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Draw a line in the sand


Yesterday afternoon, a Louisiana judge overruled President Obama’s suspension of offshore drilling. This decision leaves Big Oil free to resume operations off the Louisiana coast, despite the obvious risks.

It’s more clear than ever before: offshore drilling will continue to expand unless we keep the pressure on government leaders and the oil industry. This Saturday, we have a chance to focus the world’s attention on this crucial issue through a massive coordinated action: Hands Across The Sand.

On June 26th At 11 AM, tens of thousands of individuals will head to nearby beaches to join hands in a massive demonstration of support for clean energy.  With enough supporters, these simple events will make a powerful statement the world cannot ignore – please join us and draw a metaphorical line in the sand against offshore drilling

Find and attend a Hands Across The Sand event near you

We hope to make Hands Across The Sand the largest demonstration against offshore drilling in history, but we need your help to reach this goal. Please take a few moments to find an event near you. You don’t even need to live near a beach – use the event-finder to choose a local solidarity event.

Can’t find a nearby Hands Across the Sand event? Step up and organize one for your community – we’ll connect you with local organizers to take your demonstration to the next level.

Hold a Hands Across The Sand event in your community

Thanks for everything you do.  We hope to see you at the beach this Saturday!

Kathleen Rogers
President, Earth Day Network

PS, don’t forget to show your support by wearing an Earth Day Network t-shirt to the beach.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

UNDER THE RADAR

JUSTICE — PRESIDENT OBAMA REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO EXPAND LGBT RIGHTS, HIGHLIGHTS PROGRESS: During a White House reception yesterday celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, President Obama pledged “to push ahead with his gay rights agenda” and declared that “committed gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country.” Earlier in the day, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reaffirmed the Obama administration’s commitment to the LGBT community, stating, “Human rights are gay rights and gay rights are human rights.” Both Obama and Clinton highlighted the administration’s progress thus far to end discrimination against gay and lesbians at home and abroad. In addition to the pending repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, the Wonk Room’s Igor Volsky notes that in April, “Obama issued a memorandum instructing the Department of Health and Human Services to develop regulations requiring all hospitals that receive federal Medicare and Medicaid funding to end discrimination in hospital visitation.” Thereafter in June, the President released a memorandum directing agencies to “extend a host of benefits to their employees’ same-sex domestic partners as permitted by law.” The strides in other governmental agencies, while small, are important to note. In the State Department, it is now easier for transgender people to change their passports and the “agency’s ‘equal opportunity statement’ will include gender identity” for the first time. Additionally, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) now requires “grant applicants seeking HUD funding to comply with state and local anti-discrimination laws that protect lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.” While advocates for gay rights groups consider these steps to be “significant,” several emphasize the need for the administration to do more, particularly on “big-ticket items” like the “repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and laws barring discrimination in employment and easing the path toward gay adoption.” While Obama pledged last night to move forward on repealing DOMA, under orders from the White House, the Labor Department is set today to “expand the rights of gay workers by allowing them to take family and medical leave to care for sick or newborn children of same-sex partners.”

~ my 2cents ...

hump -day &some News


If not now -when

It is mid-week and while today is a big day for Americans… General McChrystal firing or not, US vs Algeria in soccer, financial regulation talks are drawing near an end and a bipartisan group will consider a comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation, the Senate will debate consider HR4213 with votes throughout the day. The question is will it be for We the People or for Corporations.

In addition, while talking heads stir up the public, stating the image of the President is at risk if he does not fire McChrystal. Some feel this President will need to weigh the odds against the needs for a good general in the war and or his image. The question is not how this President will look in the end it’s whether this general is that important to the mission of the war itself, though many feel this war is one we should be getting out of now.

The importance of the chain of command is definitely an element this guy forgot to consider and with all that being said the reporter stated something that was far more  important to hear – that McChrystal had plans to ask for more soldiers, quite possibly wanting to stay in Afghanistan, which was not on the agenda. The war in Afghanistan is not going well, the way forward should change because as stated by some soldiers they have been restrained to fight in a certain way and begs the question is it worth the deaths of so many civilians and soldiers in what seems like an unending war? With what progress and for an area that has posers at any given day. maybe the location should change maybe admit that it’s Pakistan and yes we have to keep the people who committed 9/11 under fire and out of the business of terrorizing but when it seems Americans are doing all the work the true efforts just seems fruitless.

The end result- The general will resign instead of being fired because a true soldier would accept his punishment and move on and if reports are correct the general left the White House for good, which seems appropriate given the circumstances, comments and the lack of confidence in him after what happened.

Other News …

**5 hardest hit states to get more housing aid/the Obama administration approved Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Nevada will get help to bust the housing bust 1.5billion dollar effort.

**2 deaths have been reported -vessels of opportunity-

**Reports of strikes in China halt auto production in factories by parts suppliers

**Obama admin is making strides for gay rights though many feel it is too slow/progress is being made however slow &without violence

**Doctors are still refusing Medicare/Medicaid patients

C-SPAN …

watch Pres. Obama on Health Care

watch Vice Pres. Biden Remarks

watch Hearing on Iran Sanctions

watch COP Hearing: From Earlier visit COP Website

watch Admiral Allen Daily Oil Spill Update

watch Conf. Meeting: Part 1 watch Conf. Meeting: Part 2

watch Pres. Obama with Cabinet

watch White House Briefing

c-span Today

Lawmakers Discuss Minerals Management Service Reorganization

Earlier in the week, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar swore in Michael Bromwich as the director of the new Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOE), formerly known as the Minerals Management Service. Secretary Salazar discusses the reorganization of the agency, the future of offshore oil drilling regulations and the impact on cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee.

Yesterday, a federal judge overturned the ban on deep water drilling imposed by the Obama administration following the oil spill in the Gulf. The case was brought by several companies that provide support services to oil rigs. In the filing, Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC claimed the suspension on drilling will result in lost jobs and wages in Louisiana. The White House said it planned to appeal the decision.


Gen. McChrystal in Washington to meet with gates and the President

General Stanley McChrystal is in Washington to meet with Sec. of Defense Gates and President Obama to explain his comments from a recently published interview. In the July issue of Rolling Stone, the General and his aides made critical remarks on various Obama administration officials including Afghanistan-Pakistan Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke and Vice President Joe Biden. On Monday, following a Cabinet meeting, President Obama said that Gen. McChrystal used “poor judgment” in his contributions to the article. “I also want to make sure that I talk to him directly before I make any final decisions,” added the President.

Conferees near end of conference as they vote on auto dealers exemption

The House and Senate conferees are moving ahead with financial regulation legislation introducing amendments to the base text under Title VI, which deals with rules for regulating institutions that hold consumer deposits and companies with ownership or controlling interest in banks. Conference Chairman Frank (D-MA) and Senator Dodd (D-CT), who are leading the talks, plan to wrap up debate on the consolidated bill by the end of the week. The leaders hope to have a bill approved by both chambers of Congress and signed into law by President Obama by July 4th.