Everybody Knows with Dr. Bob and Dan-o
This week marks the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, created in 1970 to raise awareness about unchecked environmental problems like air and water pollution.
The unexpected and overwhelming public support for the first Earth Day, which inspired 20 million people to demonstrate in rallies across the country, helped drive Congress to pass major regulations that remain the backbone of U.S. environmental law.
Four decades later, we need another groundswell of support to push lawmakers to address the biggest challenge now facing the earth: climate change.
This week, Senators John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman are expected to introduce their version of the long-stalled climate change bill passed by the House last year. One of our partners, Earth Day Network, will be holding a climate rally in Washington, DC late this week to demonstrate support for a comprehensive climate and clean energy bill that helps to rebuild our economy, secure energy independence, and address the climate crisis.
The unexpected and overwhelming public support for the first Earth Day, which inspired 20 million people to demonstrate in rallies across the country, helped drive Congress to pass major regulations that remain the backbone of U.S. environmental law.
Four decades later, we need another groundswell of support to push lawmakers to address the biggest challenge now facing the earth: climate change.
This week, Senators John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman are expected to introduce their version of the long-stalled climate change bill passed by the House last year. One of our partners, Earth Day Network, will be holding a climate rally in Washington, DC late this week to demonstrate support for a comprehensive climate and clean energy bill that helps to rebuild our economy, secure energy independence, and address the climate crisis.
On Tax Day, Tea Party members from around the country will descend on the nation’s capitol to “protest big government and support lower taxes, less government and more freedom.” CODEPINK, a women-led peace group advocating an end to war and militarism, will be sending some representatives to begin a dialogue. While we come from the opposite end of the political spectrum and don’t support the goals and tactics of the Tea Party, there is an area where we are seeking common ground, i.e. endless wars and militarism.
As Tea Partiers express their anger at out-of-control government spending and soaring deficits, we will ask them to take a hard look at what is, by far, the biggest sinkhole of our tax dollars: Pentagon spending. With the Obama administration proposing the largest military budget ever, topping $700 billion not including war supplementals, the U.S. government is now spending almost as much on the military as the rest of the world combined.
Perhaps the Tea Party and peace folks—unlikely allies—can agree that one way to shrink big government is to rein in military spending. Here are some questions to get the conversation going:
Are you worried about the future of local news? Many journalists have lost their jobs; too many issues are going unreported; and too few people are holding power accountable. If we lose our watchdog press, the damages will be severe. Join our call for better media now. The FCC has begun to take a hard look at the future of media, and we need to make sure they hear from as many people as possible. This is your chance to stand up for better media by signing our mass declaration to the FCC.
Everyone agrees that to sustain a vibrant democracy, we need well-funded and secure media that serve all people and communities. The question is how to get there -- and we have a plan. Here's how you can help us get it to the FCC.
First, we need you and everyone you know to sign this declaration calling for better media now.
Then, in the coming weeks, you can:
Everyone agrees that to sustain a vibrant democracy, we need well-funded and secure media that serve all people and communities. The question is how to get there -- and we have a plan. Here's how you can help us get it to the FCC.
First, we need you and everyone you know to sign this declaration calling for better media now.
Then, in the coming weeks, you can:
The world is sliding into climate crisis and at the center is one of the world’s most destructive projects - The Alberta Tar Sands. As other sources of oil dry up, major oil companies, banks, investors and top US corporations are pouring billions of dollars into Tar Sands development.
Tar Sands oil, also known as ‘heavy crude’ actually produces more the twice the amount greenhouse gas emissions per barrel than regular crude oil. Front line communities on both sides of the US / Canada boarder are facing the direct impacts of this massive environmental injustice. Cancer rates are on the rise in both First Nations communities living near the Tar Sands extraction cite as well as in low-income communities, mostly communities of color in the U.S. who live next to oil refineries that are expanding to process the new Tar Sands oil.
‘We are seeing a terrifyingly high rate of cancer in Fort Chipewyan where I live. We are convinced that these cancers are linked to the Tar Sands development on our doorstep. It is shortening our lives. That’s why we no longer call it “dirty oil” but “bloody oil”.’ George Poitras, a former chief of Mikisew Cree First Nation
Tar Sands oil, also known as ‘heavy crude’ actually produces more the twice the amount greenhouse gas emissions per barrel than regular crude oil. Front line communities on both sides of the US / Canada boarder are facing the direct impacts of this massive environmental injustice. Cancer rates are on the rise in both First Nations communities living near the Tar Sands extraction cite as well as in low-income communities, mostly communities of color in the U.S. who live next to oil refineries that are expanding to process the new Tar Sands oil.
‘We are seeing a terrifyingly high rate of cancer in Fort Chipewyan where I live. We are convinced that these cancers are linked to the Tar Sands development on our doorstep. It is shortening our lives. That’s why we no longer call it “dirty oil” but “bloody oil”.’ George Poitras, a former chief of Mikisew Cree First Nation
As the month of March unfolds we find ourselves looking forward to the many changes of spring. We witness warmer weather and disappearing snow drifts, spring break and the break out of shorts and sandals. Unfortunately for many Ohioans, there is one change that we are not seeing. Dog auctions, a spectacle banned in many states, continue to take place. Dog auctions function to trade breeding stock between puppy millers and act as a means for millers to dump unprofitable pups and females. These auctions take place every month in Farmerstown Ohio, drawing shady breeders from across the nation. The next Ohio dog auction is set for March 27th and expects over 300 dogs to be bartered off.
Our sources tell us that any day now Senator Lindsey Graham's appalling legislation (S. 2977) could be hitting the Senate floor. Graham's proposal takes a back-door approach at stopping federal trials for those suspected of being involved in the September 11th terrorist attacks - instead of flat-out opposing action to move these detainees to facilities in the U.S., this legislation drains funding from the last hope we'll have at fair September 11th trials.
If these men are guilty, then our federal courts will reach that determination. It is just wrong to cheat - and worse, even rob - them of their day in court. However, one-by-one we're seeing the Senators we thought we could count on to uphold the rule of law, turning on those values and backing this devious proposal.
Last week, we asked you to pick up the phone and put both Senator Graham and the White House on notice that we would fight any attempt to backtrack on federal trials. Now that they've been warned, it's our time to strike!
If these men are guilty, then our federal courts will reach that determination. It is just wrong to cheat - and worse, even rob - them of their day in court. However, one-by-one we're seeing the Senators we thought we could count on to uphold the rule of law, turning on those values and backing this devious proposal.
Last week, we asked you to pick up the phone and put both Senator Graham and the White House on notice that we would fight any attempt to backtrack on federal trials. Now that they've been warned, it's our time to strike!
During the Bush administration, Monsanto illegally won USDA approval for its genetically engineer(GE) alfalfa by convincing regulators to bypass a mandatory environmental review. In response to a lawsuit by consumer groups, the courts then stepped in and banned GE alfalfa until the USDA followed the law.
In December, the USDA released its belated review of Monsanto's GE alfalfa seed and determined that Monsanto's alfalfa met the Obama Administration's standards, despite the risk of organic contamination.
This conclusion came despite the acknowledgment by USDA researchers that GE alfalfa is virtually certain to "contaminate" normal seeds. Cross-contamination is the number one concern with genetically engineered crops.
Organic contamination is devastating for organic farmers, especially organic dairy farmers, most of whom use organic alfalfa for feed. The presence of even the smallest amount of GE material can cause a farm to lose its organic certification. And court documents indicate that early plantings of GE alfalfa did contaminate conventional alfalfa. Yet the USDA maintains that Monsanto's existing safety protocols are good enough.
This conclusion came despite the acknowledgment by USDA researchers that GE alfalfa is virtually certain to "contaminate" normal seeds. Cross-contamination is the number one concern with genetically engineered crops.
Organic contamination is devastating for organic farmers, especially organic dairy farmers, most of whom use organic alfalfa for feed. The presence of even the smallest amount of GE material can cause a farm to lose its organic certification. And court documents indicate that early plantings of GE alfalfa did contaminate conventional alfalfa. Yet the USDA maintains that Monsanto's existing safety protocols are good enough.
Counteracting the recent US Supreme Court decision to let US big corporations pour as much money they want during every single US political election as to elect their candidates that would promote their exclusive business interests even at the expense of the American people.
The Edwards amendment will ensure that Congress and the states may prohibit corporations from spending their funds for political activity.
Twelve days ago, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling striking at the heart of our democracy. The Court disregarded more than a century of precedent and ruled that our Constitution prevents the American people from regulating corporate money in our elections and politics. That’s wrong and we don’t buy it.
And twelve days ago, we stood up to fight back. Thousands of you joined us in our call for a constitutional amendment to defend our democracy and to restore the First Amendment to its intended purpose: to protect people, not corporations.
The Edwards amendment will ensure that Congress and the states may prohibit corporations from spending their funds for political activity.
Twelve days ago, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling striking at the heart of our democracy. The Court disregarded more than a century of precedent and ruled that our Constitution prevents the American people from regulating corporate money in our elections and politics. That’s wrong and we don’t buy it.
And twelve days ago, we stood up to fight back. Thousands of you joined us in our call for a constitutional amendment to defend our democracy and to restore the First Amendment to its intended purpose: to protect people, not corporations.
Friends- some of you may not be aware of this, but these brave young people have been treesitting on Coal River Mtn for about a week now, putting up with freezing temps, loud horn noisemakers kept on all night to try to make them leave the trees, lack of food because resupply efforts have been halted etc. -- here's the main website that you can find the updates on:
Climate Ground Zero
A few of you i'm writing to have even sat in trees for forest protection yourself in the past, or supported such actions, and now is the time to step up and support *these* courageous folks for the fight of this moment, the effort to save beautiful mountain ranges in Appalachia from being blown up into rubble, to get in the cheapest way what amounts to only 5% of the US supply of coal (of course, i don't really support coal mining anyway, but at least subsurface mining using individual miners creates more jobs, and leaves the Earth's surface intact, and a majority of WV residents oppose MTR, as well).
Climate Ground Zero
A few of you i'm writing to have even sat in trees for forest protection yourself in the past, or supported such actions, and now is the time to step up and support *these* courageous folks for the fight of this moment, the effort to save beautiful mountain ranges in Appalachia from being blown up into rubble, to get in the cheapest way what amounts to only 5% of the US supply of coal (of course, i don't really support coal mining anyway, but at least subsurface mining using individual miners creates more jobs, and leaves the Earth's surface intact, and a majority of WV residents oppose MTR, as well).
On January 21, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that corporations are entitled to spend unlimited funds in our elections. The First Amendment was never intended to protect corporations. This cannot stand. Sign up to protest this decision and protect our democracy! Free speech is for people — not corporations.
Support a First Amendment for People — Not Corporations!
http://www.freespeechforpeople.org/