Tag Archives: Washington DC

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Fifty years after Vietnam


The White House

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Fifty years after VietnamIn his speech at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., President Obama did more than just mark Memorial Day; he began the 50th commemoration of that conflict and those who served in one of America’s longest wars.Fifty years ago, American forces stepped up operations in Vietnam. During the conflict, more than three million Americans served in the Vietnam war, and more than 58,000 American patriots gave their lives. And when U.S. forces returned home, too many never received the hero’s welcome they deserved.

Yesterday, President Obama told their story as it should have been told all along — a story of patriotism, honor, and courage. Here’s a short video to mark this important moment that you can share to help set the record straight and honor the service of Americans who fought in Vietnam:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/vietnam-war-50th

Watch the video

P.S. — To learn more about what you can do to support all America’s veterans and military families, become a part of the Joining Forces initiative.

Stay Connected
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President Obama and Commander in Chief


Apr 30, 2012 by    

President Obama speaks at the Building and Construction Trades Department Conference about creating good jobs for American workers, who can help our economy grow by rebuilding our nation’s roads, bridges, train tracks, and airports. April 30, 2012

Apr 28, 2012 by    

President Obama at the 2012 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C.

Apr 28, 2012 by    

President Obama discusses a new Executive Order designed to crack down on the bad actors who prey on our veterans and service members considering higher education.

Apr 25, 2012 by    

President Obama discusses the importance of a college education and why higher education should be affordable for all students willing to work hard, and calls on Congress to stop interest rates on federal Stafford loans from doubling in July. April 24, 2012

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Earth: mobilized. Keep going!


Check  the world premiere of  Grammy-winner  Esperanza Spalding’s “Endangered Species” video – done especially for Earth  Day!

Your donations help power the movement.

Approximately one billion people in 192  countries took action for Earth Day 2012! From Cairo to Beijing, Melbourne  to Rome, Rio to St. Louis, communities everywhere stood united to Mobilize the  Earth™. The accomplishments are too numerous to name and pouring in every day.

Earth Day Network and its partners worked  together on events across Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and other countries  throughout the Middle East. Our office in Kolkata coordinated nearly 700 events in India alone. There  were massive rallies in New York, Montreal and Seoul, to name a few. The rally  in Washington, D.C., by the steps of the Capitol, was watched all over the  globe as it was streamed live on the web.

More than a day of  service, Earth Day 2012 has been weeks of mobilization that are growing and  galvanizing the environmental movement, making our leaders take notice, and  holding them accountable.

Through Earth Day Network’s Campaign for Communities,  the number of elected officials participating in Earth Day events around the  world was one of the highest we have ever seen. This Earth Day renewed the  work that local governments are doing not only to clean up their communities  and spread environmental awareness but to actually reduce global warming  pollution in the face of national and international inaction.

Thousands of  students from 291 universities in 6 continents, 49 countries, and 36 U.S.  states came together for MobilizeU. Tens of thousands of students have been activated through  MobilizeU, and more than 5.5 million students have been impacted as their  universities were mobilized.

In the U.S., our work led the White House to host its first  summit on environmental education, announce the creation of a special taskforce  on environmental education, and issue an official Earth Day proclamation on the  benefits of green schools. Moreover, the Department of Education announced the  first round of winners in the Green Ribbon Schools program – a monumental  accomplishment that has been years in the making for the entire movement.

And, after only two years…

We reached A Billion Acts of Green®!

A Billion Acts of Green is a global referendum on the  environment, and your pledges have made it the largest environmental service  campaign in the world. It shows the breadth of support for strong, coordinated  action to deal with our most pressing environmental challenges. And we’re going  to take this achievement to world leaders and demand just that.

But, the campaign isn’t over…

Continue to add your  commitments to A Billion Acts of Green as we make our way to the NEXT  billion!

To learn more about the amazing work inspired by Earth  Day 2012, go to www.earthday.org/2012.  To see photos of Earth Day 2012 events from all over the world, go here.

– The Earth Day Network Team

www.earthday.org

~ Culture & History

National Museum of African American History and Culture – Lonny Branch


National Museum of African American History and Culture

Dear Charter Members and Friends,As director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, I am proud to announce that we will officially break ground for the Museum on Wednesday, February 22, 2012. While we could not invite all our Charter Members and friends to join us at this ceremony, I welcome you to join us virtually through a simulcast of this historic event via this link nmaahc.si.edu/Events/Groundbreaking. Pre-program activities begin at 9 a.m., and the ceremony gets underway at 10 a.m.This day represents a major milestone in our development, keeping us on track to meet our projected opening in 2015!

Future Site of the Smithsonian's NMAAHC Circled — Future home of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

The ceremonial groundbreaking represents just one of a number of activities planned throughout this year. In addition to our ongoing exhibitions and programs, later this year we will host a public celebration of the Groundbreaking on the National Mall. It will be a prelude to the Smithsonian’s FolkLife Festival that begins on June 27th. And those of you who are Charter Members will be invited to a special “members-only” reception and program as well (details to follow).

Six years ago, we began the journey to create the 19th museum of the Smithsonian family. Now, we have arrived at a singular moment in history — a time that realizes the hopes and dreams of so many who have struggled before us. We could not have reached this moment without the commitment of our Charter Members and friends like you.

Thank you again for your continued support and for joining us in this journey to bring the National Museum of African American History and Culture to the nation and the world.
Lonnie Bunch, Director In gratitude and celebration,
Lonnie Bunch Founding Director
P.S. I know you are as excited and proud as all of us are of this Museum as it begins to take its place among the other great Smithsonian museums on the National Mall. Thank you again for your vision and support.
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Support Darcy Bruner … Jim Dean from … DFA


Washington DC is broken.

Washington state needs a representative who knows what it takes to fix the system and bring jobs back home. Darcy Burner is an engineer by training and a politician by necessity. She’ll work to get government working for all of us again — not just Wall Street.

In 2009, Darcy became the first President and Executive Director of ProgressiveCongress.org, a non-profit based in Washington, D.C. that works with the Congressional Progressive Caucus on public health, civil rights, education, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity. She is one of the progressive movement’s strongest allies.

With the overwhelming support of DFA members across the district, I am honored to announce Democacy for America’s endorsement of Darcy Burner for Congress.

Help send a true progressive to Congress by signing up to volunteer for Darcy Burner.

Help send a true progress to Congress by contributing $3 to Darcy Burner’s campaign.

Since we first endorsed Darcy Burner in 2006, she has work relentlessly to advance the progressive movement both in WA and in DC. Now, we need a progressive champion like Darcy inside Congress, someone with the tenacity and energy to bring real reforms.

We ask you to support Darcy with your vote, with your time and with your resources.

-Jim

Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America