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Say No To Escalation in Afghanistan

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:48:53 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4

On December 1, President Obama announced that he's escalating the war in Afghanistan, bringing the number of U.S. troops in that country to 100,000 or more.

It's the wrong decision, but it's not too late to change things. That is why we're joining with CREDO Action and other allies to fight back.

To complete the escalation, Congress needs to sign-off on the plans and the funding for extra troops and equipment — a staggering $1 trillion or more.

On December 1, Congress heard from the President. Today, they need to hear from you.

Congress must decide if spending $100 billion a year to have 100,000 troops chasing 100 terrorists in the most remote mountains of our planet is worth it.

You know the answer already. Tell Congress that it's time to stop sending troops to Afghanistan.

[Video]

I urge you to Vote NO on any spending bill that would send more troops to Afghanistan.

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Help Us Fight Monsanto in the Supreme Court: A Message from Andrew Kimbrell

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:56:54 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4

Clip Source: truefoodnow.org

Help Us Fight Monsanto in the Supreme Court: A Message from Andrew Kimbrell

[Video]

Over the past few years, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) has used groundbreaking legal victories and grassroots campaigns to protect your food by putting a halt on the sale and plantings of many GMO crops. With the support of individuals such as you, we’ve successfully stopped the commercialization of genetically engineered wheat, rice, alfalfa, and biopharm crops (crops that have been engineered to produce pharmaceuticals). And we’re on our way to stopping other crops – such as a recent federal court victory that called the government’s approval of Monsanto’s pesticide promoting GMO sugar beets “illegal.”

Groups Deliver the Concerns of 90,000+ Citizens to Senate on Nomination of Former Pesticide Industry Lobbyist

A Message from Michael Pollan: Help Protect Our Farmers From Assaults By Monsanto

[Video]

Protect polar bears and America's Arctic!

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:23:57 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4

Clip Source: action.wilderness.org

Protect polar bears and America's Arctic!

The Department of Interior just recognized the need to protect the endangered polar bear by designating critical habitat in the Arctic. Yet it also green-lighted a plan by Shell Oil to drill in the Beaufort Sea, right in the heart of this protected land.

Such drilling would further imperil the polar bear, not to mention the many species that depend on the Arctic's sea ice environment to survive.

Polar bears deserve real protections. Ask the Obama Administration to protect them and all of America's Arctic.

Please edit and send the letter below, or send your own letter to the following address:

Public Comments Processing
Attn: FWS-R7-ES-2009-0042
Division of Policy and Directives Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222
Arlington, VA 22203

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United States Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar

Is Abortion a Generational Issue?

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:41:15 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4

Clip Source: www.care2.com

Is Abortion a Generational Issue?

n the "Week in Review" section of today's New York Times, writer Sheryl Gay Stolberg asks an interesting question: has abortion become a generational issue? Have reproductive rights become personal, rather than political, for the latest generation of young women, for whom illegal abortions are ancient history? This is something of a pressing question, considering that the Senate is taking up the issue tomorrow.

Just a reminder: You can still help to turn back the assault on women's rights that is the Stupak Amendment by signing this petition.

A Democratic pollster who studies attitudes toward abortion said it a different way: "For many of [the contemporary generation of young women], the daily experience is: [Abortion is] legal and if you really need one you can probably figure out how to get one. So when we send out e-mail alerts saying, ‘Oh my God, write to your senator,’ it’s hard for young people to have that same sense of urgency."

Scientists Believe Your Cell Phone Is a Death Trap

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:37:59 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4
clipper's remarks: Based on scientific investigations, this is not just hype!!!

Clip Source: articles.mercola.com

Scientists Believe Your Cell Phone Is a Death Trap

[Video]

In the video above, ElectromagneticHealth.org founder Camilla Rees presents an overview of an emerging public health issue -- excessive exposures to microwave radiation from wireless technologies.

Illness linked to electromagnetic radiation exposure inclufiede many cancers, neurological conditions, ADD, sleep disorders, depression, autism, cognitive problems, cardiovascular irregularities, hormone disruption, immune system disorders, metabolism changes, stress, fertility impairment, increased blood brain barrier permeability, mineral disruption, DNA damage and much, much more.

Click the source link below to hear some of the fascinating information and insights they offer!

For even more information, you can also take a look at EMF.mercola.com for the latest news and updates.

Sources:

Electromagnetic Health

National Lawyers Guild Calls for the US to Disavow the Legitimacy of Elections in Honduras

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:00:04 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4

Clip Source: www.commondreams.org

National Lawyers Guild Calls for the US to Disavow the Legitimacy of Elections in Honduras

The National Lawyers Guild calls on President Obama and the U.S. Department of State not to recognize the elections in Honduras, which was conducted under the control of an illegitimate coup government.

In the week leading up to Sunday's elections, several NLG members went to Honduras to document conditions there. Tanya Brannan and Kevin Breslin reported numerous repressive measures taken by military and police under command of the Coup government. "While CNN reports a 70% turnout at the elections, even the official Honduran electoral agency admits a mere 1.7 million Honduran voted yesterday," said Brannan. "So even by the government's own admission, some 70% of Hondurans voted not to legitimize the military coup. Can our government do any less?"

An Open Letter to President Obama from Michael Moore

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:53:40 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4
clipper's remarks: More at source

Clip Source: www.commondreams.org

An Open Letter to President Obama from Michael Moore

Dear President Obama,

Do you really want to be the new "war president"? If you go to West Point tomorrow night (Tuesday, 8pm) and announce that you are increasing, rather than withdrawing, the troops in Afghanistan, you are the new war president. Pure and simple. And with that you will do the worst possible thing you could do -- destroy the hopes and dreams so many millions have placed in you. With just one speech tomorrow night you will turn a multitude of young people who were the backbone of your campaign into disillusioned cynics. You will teach them what they've always heard is true -- that all politicians are alike. I simply can't believe you're about to do what they say you are going to do. Please say it isn't so.

It is not your job to do what the generals tell you to do. We are a civilian-run government. WE tell the Joint Chiefs what to do, not the other way around.

UN: Rape in Afghanistan a Human Rights Problem of 'Profound Proportions'

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:50:25 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4
clipper's remarks: NOT a justification for the Afghan war!

Clip Source: www.commondreams.org

UN: Rape in Afghanistan a Human Rights Problem of 'Profound Proportions'

Rape in Afghanistan is under-reported, concealed and a human rights problem of "profound proportions", the United Nations said on Monday.

Norah Niland, the United Nations' human rights representative in Afghanistan, said field research conducted late last year and early this year found rape affected all parts of Afghanistan, across all communities and social groups.

Rape occurs within the family and beyond and victims are often prosecuted for committing adultery, she said.

"It's also a problem because there is very little possibility of finding justice, there is no explicit provision in the 1976 Afghan penal code that criminalises rape," Niland said.

The United Nations has recommended that legislation on the elimination of violence against women make "an explicit reference to rape" and hold the government responsible for tackling the crime, she said.

How dare you criticize wasteful defense spending!

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:29:58 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4

Clip Source: www.salon.com

How dare you criticize wasteful defense spending!

The 2010 Pentagon budget means "every man, woman and child in the United States will spend more than $2,700 on (defense) programs and agencies next year," reports the Cato Institute. "By way of comparison, the average Japanese spends less than $330; the average German about $520; China's per capita spending is less than $100."

"(The Pentagon budget) dwarfs the combined defense budgets of U.S. allies and potential U.S. enemies alike," reports Hearst Newspapers.

"President (Obama) is on track to spend more on defense, in real dollars, than any other president has in one term of office since World War II," reports National Journal's Government Executive magazine.

In 2000, the Pentagon admitted it has lost -- yes, lost -- $2.3 trillion. In 2003, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that a subsequent Department of Defense study said it was only $1 trillion.

Adam, "the Terrorist" !!!

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:57:16 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4

Clip Source: www.paltelegraph.com

Adam, "the Terrorist" !!!

This picture, of my wife and our little baby I got yesterday evening Aug. 5th 09, a moment before dusk. Today, my wife went to visit her brother in the “israeli” jail, and of course she got to take our little baby Adam with her

Adam, our baby, is less than two months, he’s exactly 54 days old today as he went to visit his detained uncle for the first time.

The soldier, interrogator, security agent or who the hell he was kept searching until her reached my wife. He looked at her angrily asking of our baby: “Who’s this?”
-“It’s my baby.” Replied my wife.
-“And what is he doing here?”
-“He’s my baby.” Replied my wife amazed at his question.
-“You are violating the rules, he is not allowed to go in.” said the soldier decisively.

Adam, our 54 days old baby is not allowed simply because he’s just a nephew and not first degree relative….

The hell with the racist “israeli” regime’s “law”!!!

Techie builds air-car! Refuses commercialization

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:23:30 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4

Clip Source: www.siliconindia.com

Techie builds air-car! Refuses commercialization

Bangalore: Kanak Gogoi, a 12th passed entrepreneur from Guwahati, has over a dozen innovations, from gravity-operated bicycle to a car which can run on air. But he regrets the government's negligence towards scientific innovations, and refuses to commercialize any of his creations.

Gogoi said, "Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offered to build a fully furnished lab for me in Guwahati. The Chief Minister had granted me about 1.6 acres of land in 2007, but the file is still lying untouched at the local administrative office."

"However, I have never received a single rupee in profit for any of my work and I will never venture to commercialize them on my own. But if anybody is willing, he is free to make use of my innovations for the greater good of the society," Gogoi told PTI.

$4.8 trillion - Interest on U.S. debt

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:28:17 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4

Clip Source: money.cnn.com

$4.8 trillion - Interest on U.S. debt

Unless lawmakers make big changes, the interest Americans will have to pay to keep the country running over the next decade will reach unheard of levels.

Here's a new way to think about the U.S. government's epic borrowing: More than half of the $9 trillion in debt that Uncle Sam is expected to build up over the next decade will be interest.

More than half. In fact, $4.8 trillion.

If that's hard to grasp, here's another way to look at why that's a problem.

In 2015 alone, the estimated interest due - $533 billion - is equal to a third of the federal income taxes expected to be paid that year, said Charles Konigsberg, chief budget counsel of the Concord Coalition, a deficit watchdog group.

On the bright side - such as it is - the record levels of debt issued lately have paid for stimulus and other rescue programs that prevented the economy from falling off a cliff. And the money was borrowed at very low rates.

Obama Calls for More U.S. Exports to Asia

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:24:22 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4

Clip Source: hpb.online.wsj.com

Obama Calls for More U.S. Exports to Asia

U.S. President Barack Obama, fresh from his first presidential trip to Asia, called for the U.S. to increase exports to that region, saying even small gains would help put many unemployed Americans back on the job.

"As we emerge from the worst recession in generations, there is nothing more important than to do everything we can to get our economy moving again and put Americans back to work, and I will go anywhere to pursue that goal," Mr. Obama said in his weekly radio address to the nation

Mr. Obama warned the U.S. shouldn't return to relying on growth fueled by consumer borrowing, urging the nation to spend less, save more and get the record federal deficit under control. He also called for a greater emphasis on exports, saying a 5% increase in U.S. exports to Asia would result in hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs

Exposed: How Businesses Are Undermining Efforts on U.S. Climate Committments

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:35:13 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4
clipper's remarks: Opponents say the approach is tantamount to a fuel tax that would burden families, cost jobs, and weaken an already sagging economy. Three government analyses, including one by the Congressional Budget Office, projected that because of its generous flexibilities for business the legislation under consideration would cost households $80 to $175 per year. But opponents continued to wave their own estimates that the legislation would add thousands of dollars a year to home electricity, gas, and oil bills. And although none of the opposition TV ads or public statements challenge the idea that fossil fuel emissions are causing dangerous climate change that the world must address, there have been other efforts to sow doubt. The boldest of these was the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's request that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hold a "trial" on global warming science -- a move its spokesman told the Los Angeles Times could be "the Scopes monkey trial of the 21st century."
Divisions Wit

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

Exposed: How Businesses Are Undermining Efforts on U.S. Climate Committments

Obama's negotiators have worked to lower expectations for what the world can expect from a nation where coal-fired, energy-gobbling industries dominate the political scene.

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

"They are spending tens of millions of dollars -- we can't document exactly how much because it is not public information," says Alden Meyer, director of strategy and policy for the Union of Concerned Scientists, which has worked domestically and internationally for action on climate. The business opponents' message is to disparage the “cap and trade” approach to addressing climate, in which a nationwide limit is set on the greenhouse gas emissions that come mainly from burning fossil fuels, and coal plants and other emitters are given leeway to "trade" obligations among each other depending on their varying abilities to meet the goals.

Share this petition: President Obama: It's Time to Sign

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:22:22 GMT

clipped by: brightlight4

Clip Source: us.greenpeace.org

Share this petition: President Obama: It's Time to Sign

We need 50,000 concerned Americans to tell President Obama that we need his leadership if the world is to sign a fair, ambitious, and binding climate treaty in Copenhagen this December. Please help us reach that goal by using the options below to tell your friends and family about this petition.

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