Tag Archives: Weekly Radio Address of the President of the United States

~ Culture & History

Raped …


Dear Avaaz community,

A 23-year-old student has died after being gang raped on a bus for hours. This is the last straw in the global war on women. Join massive protests in India, and call on the government to strengthen laws and launch a major public education campaign to challenge and shame the grotesque attitudes that led to this violence:

Sign the petition

She was a 23-year-old physical therapy student who boarded a bus in Delhi last month. Six men locked the door, and savagely raped her for hours, including with a metal rod. They dumped her naked in the street, and after bravely fighting for her life, she died last weekend.

Across India, people are responding in massive protests to say enough is enough. In India a woman is raped every 22 minutes, and few see justice. Globally, a staggering 7 in 10 women will be physically or sexually abused in their lifetime. This horror in Delhi is the last straw — it’s 2013, and the brutal, venal, global war on women must stop. We can start by drawing the line in India.

The government is currently accepting public comments. We urgently need both stronger law enforcement and a massive public education program to change the grotesque but common male attitudes that permit violence against women. If 1 million of us join the call for action, we can help make this young woman’s horror the last straw, and the beginning of a new hope:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/end_indias_war_on_women/?biEWLbb&v=20731

The ringleader of the woman’s rapists coldly says she deserved it because she dared to stand up to him. Blaming the victim and other outrageous attitudes are found across society, including in the police who continually fail to investigate rape. Such views repress women and corrupt men everywhere. Massively funded public education campaigns have radically shifted social behaviour on drunk driving and smoking, and can impact the treatment of women. Tackling the root causes of India’s rape epidemic is vital, alongside better laws and faster legal processes.

Advertising in India is relatively cheap, so a significant funding commitment could blanket airwaves in multiple media markets for a sustained period of time. The ads should target male subcultures where conservative misogyny thrives, directly challenging and shaming those attitudes, ideally using messengers like popular sports figures that carry authority with the audience.

We only have days to influence the official Commission set up to find ways to crack down on India’s wave of sexual violence. If we can show real success in shifting attitudes in India, the model can be applied to other countries. The money spent will more than pay for itself by reducing poverty and promoting development, since treatment and empowerment of women has been identified as one of the greatest single drivers of social and economic progress. Click to send a message directly to the Indian government:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/end_indias_war_on_women/?biEWLbb&v=20731

From opposing the stoning of women in Iran, to supporting the reproductive rights of women in Morocco, Uzbekistan and Honduras, to lobbying for real action to counter the growing ‘rape trade’ in trafficked women and girls, our community has been on the front lines of the fight to end the war on women. This new year begins with new resolve in India.

With hope and determination,

Emma, Ricken, Luis, Meredith, Iain, Ian, Marie, Michelle, Alaphia, Allison and the rest of the Avaaz team

MORE INFORMATION

India gang-rape: Five suspects charged in Delhi (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20896031

Verma committee flooded with suggestions on rape (News One India)
http://news.oneindia.in/2012/12/26/verma-committee-flooded-with-suggestions-on-rape-1120658.html

India’s ‘rape culture’ can be changed: women authors (Hindustan Times)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Books/Chunk-HT-UI-BooksSectionPage-LiteraryBuzz/India-s-rape-culture-can-be-changed-Women-authors/Article1-984318.aspx

Activists woe low conviction rate, long trials (Times of India)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Activists-woe-low-conviction-rate-long-trials/articleshow/17657522.cms

Delhi Gang-Rape Underscores Rising Sexual Violence Against Indian Women (IB Times)
http://www.ibtimes.com/delhi-gang-rape-underscores-rising-sexual-violence-against-indian-women-944030

Rise in rapes across India (ZeeNews)
http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/rapes-in-india-rise-by-873-percent-from-1953_817894.html

70% of women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime (UN report)
http://www.un.org/en/women/endviolence/pdf/apromiseisapromise.pdf

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Weekly Address ….


The White House

In this week’s address, President Obama talks about the bipartisan agreement that Congress reached this week which prevented a middle-class tax hike, congratulates the newly sworn-in members of Congress, and looks forward to working with the new Congress in the new year to continue to grow our economy and shrink our deficits in a balanced way.

Watch President Obama’s weekly address.

Watch President Obama's Weekly Address

 

 

 
                       
 
 

  
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Kidnapped


 

Change.org
Mexican President Peña Nieto: Find and free famous symphony conductor Rodolfo Cazares, kidnapped by a drug cartel
Sign Ludivine’s Petition

 

On July 9, 2011, Ludivine Cazares Solis and her husband Rodolfo were visiting his childhood hometown in Mexico to see Rodolfo’s family. But what was supposed to be a warm reunion turned into a nightmare when the entire family was kidnapped by a notorious drug cartel.

Ludivine and her sisters-in-law were eventually released by the cartel, but her husband Rodolfo, a world renowned symphony conductor, is still being held captive.

Ludivine has done everything she can to get her husband back, including paying ransom and working with local Mexican police. Nothing so far has worked — but Ludivine is finally convinced she’s found someone who can actually find Rodolfo and secure his freedom.

Ludvine started a petition on Change.org calling on Mexico’s recently elected President Ernesto Peña Nieto to personally order an investigation into Rodolfo’s kidnapping and to work to get him freed.

Peña Nieto’s campaign promise was to fight organized crime in Mexico and he’s the highest power in the country — click here to sign.

Ludivine says she has been let down by unbelievable bureaucracy, corruption and the paralyzing fear of a gang that operates above the law at every turn — she says the police won’t even search a house they know Rodolfo was held captive in for days. But President Peña Nieto was elected into office because of his outspoken commitment to taking down organized crime. He’s also very concerned about his international image — that’s why Ludivine has hope that a petition of global proportions could move him to take action.

Already, more than 48,000 people around the world have signed her petition, including some of the world’s best known classical conductors and musicians in Europe — Rodolfo’s colleagues and friends.

With enough continuing global outcry around Rodolfo’s kidnapping, Ludivine is confident that Mexican President Peña Nieto will have to take notice — and take action.

Click here to sign Ludivine’s petition now, calling on newly sworn-in Mexican President Peña Nieto to order an investigation into the kidnapping of Ludivine’s husband, Rodolfo Cazares Solis, in order to secure his freedom.

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Michael and the Change.org team
Black History, ~ Recent Post

CONGRESS: Republican led House :::doing the People’s Business?::: Democrat led Senate


Wethepeople

the Senate Convenes: 2:00pmET January 1, 2013

  • The Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only until 3:30pm with Senators permitted to speak there in for up to 10 minutes each.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee and Passed H.R.4365, to amend title 5, United States Code, to make clear that accounts in the Thrift Savings Fund are subject to certain Federal tax levies.

Adopted H.Con.Res.147, a concurrent resolution waiving the requirement that measures enrolled during the remainder of the 112th Congress be printed on parchment.

Completed the Rule 14 process of H.R.459, theFederal Reserve Transparency Act of 2012. (Republican request)

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed Executive Calendar #645 Richard B. Berner, to be Director, Office of Financial Research, Department of the Treasury, for a term of six years by voice vote.

Discharged the Foreign Relations Committee and Confirmed the following:

PN1878, Gary T. Greene;

PN1970, a list beginning with Philip S. Goldberg and ending with Robert W. Weitzel;

PN2028, Michael R. Hardegen;

PN2029, a list beginning with Geoffrey W. Wiggin and ending with Eric A. Wenberg, with the exception of Geoffrey W. Wiggin;

PN2030, a list beginning with Stephen J. Gonyea and ending with Katharine Antonia Weber, with the exception of Scott S. Cameron,;

PN2031, a list beginning with Sharon Lee Cromer and ending with Clinton David White, with the exceptions of Sharon Lee Cromer and Maria Rendon Labadan,; and

PN2032, a list beginning with Karl Miller Adam and ending with Daniel Menco Hirsch, with the exception of Daniel Menco Hirsch.

Discharged the following committees and confirmed the following:

COMMERCE

PN1919 Joshua D. Wright (Federal Trade Commission)

PN1774 Polly Ellen Trottenberg, (Under Secretary, Department of Transportation)

PN1924 Mark Doms (Under Secretary, Department of Commerce)

PN1702 Mignon L. Clyburn (Federal Communications Commission)

PN1925 Christopher R. Beall (Amtrak Board of Directors)

PN1509 Yvonne B. Burke (Amtrak Board of Directors)

PN2009 Brigid M. Pavilonis and one other (Coast Guard promotion)

PN2010 Barbara A. Anderson and others (Coast Guard promotion)

PN2011 Charles G. Alcock and others (Coast Guard promotion)

PN2012 Matthew P. Barker and others (Coast Guard promotion)

PN2021 Peter J. Brown and others (Coast Guard promotion)

PN2045 Robert T. Hanley and others (Coast Guard promotion)

PN2046 Austin L. Adcock and others (Coast Guard promotion)

VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

PN1948 Keith Kelly to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training

HSGAC

PN1698 Walter M. Shaub, Jr., to be Director of the Office of Governmental Ethics

EPW

PN1966: Joe H. Ritch, of Alabama, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2016.

PN1965: Michael McWherter, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2016.

PN1964: Vera Lynn Evans, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2017.

PN1398: C. Peter Mahurin, of Kentucky, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2016.

PN1950: Beth J. Rosenberg, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board for a term of five years.

Confirmed the following nominations under the privileged section of the Executive Calendar:

PN2068 Morton H. Halperin, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation for a term of three years.

PN1566 Maria Lopez DeLeon (National Council on the Arts)

PN1934 Bruce Carter (National Council on the Arts)

PN1945 Joseph Eldridge (U.S. Institute of Peace)

PN1939 Stewart DeSoto (Board of Trustees, Barry Goldwater Scholarship Foundation)

PN1796 Camila Alire (National Council on the Humanities)

PN1926 William Shaw McDermott (Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board)

PN1927 Nina Mitchell Wells (Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board)

Confirmed the following:

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

Executive Calendar #870 William P. Doyle – to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner for the term expiring June 30, 2013

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Executive Calendar #871 Michael Peter Huerta – to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration for the term of five years

OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION

Executive Calendar #878 James M. Demers – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation for a term expiring December 17, 2014

Executive Calendar #879 Naomi A. Walker – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation for a term expiring December 17, 2012

STATE JUSTICE INSTITUTE

Executive Calendar #911 Jonathan Lippman – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the State Justice Institute for a term expiring September 17, 2012

Executive Calendar #912 Jonathan Lippman – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the State Justice Institute for a term expiring September 17, 2015

NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Executive Calendar #913 Maria Rosario Jackson – to be a Member of the National Council on the Arts for a term expiring September 3, 2016

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BUILDING SCIENCES

Executive Calendar #914 Joseph Byrne Donovan – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Building Sciences for a term expiring September 7, 2013

NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Executive Calendar #915 Bruce R. Sievers – to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2018

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Executive Calendar #916 Angela Tammy Dickinson—to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri for the term of four years

AIR FORCE

Executive Calendar #917 to be Brigadier General—Colonel Stephen J. Linsenmeyer, Jr.

Executive Calendar #918 to be Brigadier General—Col. Calvin H. Elam

Executive Calendar #919 to be Major General—

Brig. Gen. Mark E. Bartman

Brig. Gen. Stanley J. Osserman, Jr.

Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Thomas, Jr.

Brig. Gen. Eric G. Weller

Executive Calendar #920 to be Brigadier General—

Colonel Glen M. Baker

Colonel Jeffrey D. Buckley

Colonel Anthony J. Carrelli

Colonel Timothy J. Cathcart

Colonel Andrew J. Donnelly

Colonel Harold S. Eggensperger

Colonel James O. Eifert

Colonel Bryan P. Fox

Colonel Ricky D. Gibney

Colonel Christopher A. Hegarty

Colonel John P. Hronek, II

Colonel Paul Hutchinson

Colonel Kevin J. Keehn

Colonel Christopher J. Knapp

Colonel Michael E. Manning

Colonel Clayton W. Moushon

Colonel Michael A. Nolan

Colonel Michael L. Ogle

Colonel Ronald E. Paul

Colonel Samuel H. Ramsay, III

Colonel William B. Richy

Colonel Adalberto Rivera

Colonel Sami D. Said

Colonel Anthony E. Schiavi

Colonel John D. Slocum

Colonel Ronald W. Solberg

NAVY

Executive Calendar #932 to be Vice Admiral—Rear Adm. Kenneth E. Floyd

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

Executive Calendar #933 Edward W. Brehm – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation for a term expiring September 22, 2017

Executive Calendar #934 Iqbal Paroo—to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation for a term expiring September 22, 2017

UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Executive Calendar #935 T. Charles Cooper—to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Executive Calendar #941 Patrick J. Wilkerson—to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma for the term of four years

Executive Calendar #942 Louise W. Kelton—to be United States Marshal for the Middle District of Tennessee for the term of four years

MILLENIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION

Executive Calendar #943 Lorne W. Craner – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Millenium Challenge Corporation for a term of two years.

AIR FORCE

Executive Calendar #944 to be Lieutenant General–Maj. Gen. Lori J. Robinson

Executive Calendar #945 to be Lieutenant General–Maj. Gen. Gregory A. Biscone

Executive Calendar #946 to be Brigadier General–Col. Lisa A. Naftzger-Kang

Executive Calendar #947

to be Major General –

Brigadier General William B. Binger

Brigadier General Keith D. Kries

Brigadier General Maryanne Miller

Brigadier General Jane C. Rohr

Brigadier General Patricia A. Rose

Brigadier General Jocelyn M. Seng

Brigadier General Sheila Zuehlke

Executive Calendar #948

to be Major General –

Brigadier General Paul L. Ayers

Brigadier General Jim C. Chow

Brigadier General Gregory L. Ferguson

Brigadier General Anthony P. German

Brigadier General Rickie B. Mattson

Brigadier General John E. McCoy

Brigadier General John E. Murphy

Brigadier General Brian G. Neal

Executive Calendar #949

to be Brigadier General –

Colonel Stephanie A. Gass

Colonel Mary H. Hittmeier

Colonel Timothy P. Kelly

Colonel Thomas E. Kittler

Colonel Kenneth R. LaPierre

Colonel Mark L. Loeben

Colonel James F. Mackey

Colonel Walter J. Sams

Colonel Christoper F. Skomars

Colonel Wade R. Smith

Colonel Mark D. Stillwagon

Colonel Curtis L. Williams

Executive Calendar #950 to be Lieutenant General–Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke, III

ARMY

Executive Calendar #951 to be Brigadier General–Col. Jody J. Daniels

Executive Calendar #952 to be Lieutenant General–Maj. Gen. Bernard S. Champoux

Executive Calendar #953 to be Brigadier General–Col. Michael L. Scholes

Executive Calendar #954

to be Brigadier General –

Colonel Christopher S. Ballard

Colonel David G. Bassett

Colonel Donald C. Bolduc

Colonel Edward M. Daly

Colonel Malcolm B. Frost

Colonel Donald G. Fryc

Colonel Anthony C. Funkhouser

Colonel Peter A. Gallagher

Colonel William K. Gayler

Colonel Mark W. Gillette

Colonel David B. Haight

Colonel Joseph P. Harrington

Colonel Michael L. Howard

Colonel John P. Johnson

Colonel James E. Kraft, Jr.

Colonel Michael E. Kurilla

Colonel Paul J. Laughlin, II

Colonel Joseph M. Martin

Colonel Terrence J. McKenrick

Colonel Christopher P. McPadden

Colonel John E. O’Neil

Colonel Mark J. O’Neil

Colonel Andrew P. Poppas

Colonel James E. Rainey

Colonel Kent D. Savre

Colonel Wilson A. Shoffner, Jr.

Colonel Mark S. Spindler

Colonel Sean P. Swindell

Colonel Randy S. Taylor

Colonel John C. Thomson, III

Colonel Leon N. Thurgood

Colonel Flem B. Walker, Jr.

Colonel Robert P. Walters, Jr.

NAVY

Executive Calendar #955 to be Rear Admiral–Rear Adm. (lh) Randolph L. Mahr

MARINE CORPS

Executive Calendar #956 to be Lieutenant General–Lt. Gen. Steven A. Hummer

Executive Calendar #957 to be Lieutenant General–Lt. Gen. Richard T. Tryon

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

Executive Calendar #958 Albert G. Lauber–to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for the term of fifteen years

THE JUDICIARY

Executive Calendar #959 Ronald Lee Buch–to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years

NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Executive Calendar #960 David Masumoto—to be a Member of the National Council on the Arts for a term expiring September 3, 2018

Executive Calendar #961 Ramon Saldivar—to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2018

SAINT LAWRENCE SEAWAY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Executive Calendar #962 William J. Mielke—to be a Member of the Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

Executive Calendar #963 Arthur H. Sulzer—to be a Member of the Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE

Executive Calendar #964 George E Moose—to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace for a term of four years

——————————————————————–

Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on January 1, 2013.

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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress Must Protect the Middle Class from Income Tax Hike


The White House

President Obama urges Congress to meet its deadlines and responsibilities, protect the middle class from an income tax hike, and lay the groundwork for future progress on more economic growth and deficit reduction.

Watch President Obama’s weekly address.

Watch President Obama's Weekly Address

In Case You Missed It

A Digital Milestone in 2012: 100,000,000 Video Views
Earlier this month, we reached a milestone with the news that our videos have been viewed more than 100,000,000 (that’s one hundred million!) times since we launched the official White House YouTube channel on Inauguration weekend in 2009.

President Obama Urges Congress to Prevent Tax Hikes on Middle Class Americans
With just four days left before tax rates are scheduled to rise, President Obama met with Senate and House leaders at the White House yesterday to talk about how Congress can prevent every American from seeing a smaller paycheck next week.

Nearly 2.9 Million Records Released In September 2009, the President announced that—for the first time in history—White House visitor records would be made available to the public on an ongoing basis. Yesterday’s release brings the total number of records made public by this White House to nearly 2.9 million.