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Michigan advocate for women and children gets 2008 Sunshine Peace Award
Cathy Church, an Upper Peninsula advocate for protecting women and children from domestic violence, recently received the 2008 Sunshine Peace Award.
As an assistant prosecutor, Church put many abusers in jail.
The northern Michigan attorney has a long history of ongoing public service.
A longtime prosecutor of domestic abusers in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Cathy Church (center) receives Peace Award from Doris Buffett (right) on August 9, 2008 in Wilmington, North Carolina.
The Sunshine Lady Foundation was established in 1996 through the vision and determination of Doris Buffett, the sister of financier and philanthropist, Warren Buffett.
Church was honored as one of twenty extraordinary individuals who have worked in the domestic violence field and made a positive difference in the lives of battered women and their children.
Candidates for the prestigious award are selected from across the nation for excellence in developing resources and facilitating the social change necessary to end violence against women and children. Cathy Church, an Upper Peninsula advocate for protecting women and children from domestic violence, recently received the 2008 Sunshin... more -
Ordinary stock holder attempt a WaMu stock rescue!
There’s a movement among individual WaMu stock holders to keep the stock value from slipping.
Using chatrooms each person has been asked to make a bid at almost 4times the value of the stock, to prevent
speculators from “shorting” the stock. The idea is to make orders for the stock so that speculators can’t low bid and decrease the price.
If you don't know WaMu is one of the largest individual mortgage holders in the country but in the last year it's stock has dropped from to $39.25 - $1.50 per share. The discussion now is whether the government or private companies will bail it out, or if it can survive on it's own, because it's too large to be allowed to fail.
I don’t know how effective this will be with a stock numbered in the billions but so far hundreds have committed to the idea and at least count there have been over 300,000 shares of WaMu added to this collective protective plan.
If nothing else it gives ordinary stock holders a way to express their desire to keep the value in the company.
Check out the chat rooms to get the details:
http://finance.google.com/group/google.finance.611408/b...
and if you got WaMu stock spread the word There’s a movement among individual WaMu stock holders to keep the stock value from slipping. ... more -
Our Rights: A New Patriotism
“Bin Laden didn’t blow up the projects. It was you n----, tell the truth n----. Bush knocked down the towers. Tell the truth!” As the crowd bulldozed though the chorus of Immortal Technique’s inflammatory song “Bin Laden,” the Harlem emcee paced the stage of Manhattan’s The Madison, playing resident hype man of the 9/11 Truth Movement. The moment encapsulated the fervor of a patriotic night of hip-hop, truth telling and advocacy.
On a weekend where many opted for moments of silence to commemorate the seventh anniversary of 9/11, 2008 Now or Never sought to bring justice to the victims, first responders and the American public by demanding answers to what some left-wing watchdog groups see as suspicious questions surrounding the attacks.
The star-studded concert was a benefit for first responders, a group of 9/11 rescue workers who've been largely ignored by the government. They include firefighters, police officers, port authority workers and volunteers who searched for victims in contaminated debris at and around ground zero in the weeks following the attacks. Now, many suffer from life-threatening respiratory illnesses.
The concert, however, was only a portion of the four-day affair, which also included demonstrations, speeches, movie screenings and a barbeque.
The weekend also represented the convergence of activist groups like We Are Change, the 9/11 Truth Movement, and the FealGood Foundation, all of whom advocate for an independent investigation of the 9/11 attacks and aid first responders.
The night featured artists includingTiye Phoenix, Mr Green of Channel Live, the Beatminerz, surprise guest KRS-One, and the headliners, Immortal Technique and Talib Kweli.
While many benefit concerts are lost in the divide between the politics of the events and the subject matter of the artists, Now or Never was refreshingly consistent since most of the artists took time out to discuss the importance of helping first responders and demanding an independent investigation of the 9/11 attacks.
Immortal Technique voiced his distrust of the government’s handling of the attacks on his track with Mos Def called “Bin Laden” and the militant “Homicide Harlem.” Mr. Green relayed his memories of the attacks and spoke to the importance of holding our leaders accountable. Talib Kweli, who brought his kids out to the event, finished the evening by blazing thorough tracks from his latest album Eardrum, including the incendiary “Hostile Gospel.”
****CONTINUES.... “Bin Laden didn’t blow up the projects. It was you n----, tell the truth n----. Bush knocked down the towers. Tell the truth!” As the ... more -
The largest grassroots solar event in history
A recent NBC/WSJ poll revealed that runaway energy costs is the #1 issue Americans feel most personally affects them.
Clearly there is a pressing need to let more people know about solar energy -- and how it helps families and businesses save on monthly utility bills.
That's why the American Solar Energy Society is organizing the largest grassroots solar event in history.
It's called the National Solar Tour and it offers you the opportunity to tour homes and buildings to see how neighbors are using solar energy and energy efficiency to combat rising energy costs.
As many as 150,000 people will be participating in 46 states across the U.S.
ASES coordinates the National Solar Tour in partnership with dozens of outstanding organizations. Most tours take place on October 4, though tours vary by location so be sure to check the listings for the latest details.
Last year more than 115,000 attendees visited some 5,000 buildings in 2,900 participating communities. Now in its 13th year, this event will take place in nearly every state in the U.S. so we invite you to get involved.
In addition to learning more about solar energy, an increasing focus of the National Solar Tour is on energy-saving techniques and sustainability through building design, energy efficient appliances, and use of green materials during remodeling. Solar tours also provide helpful, real-world examples of costs and how to save money with federal, state, and local incentives.
Ultimately the National Solar Tour inspires people across the nation to go solar and make sustainable energy choices that help lower costs, support energy independence, and reduce carbon emissions.
From their email.
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Let the sun shine in. A recent NBC/WSJ poll revealed that runaway energy costs is the #1 issue Americans feel most personally affects them. ... more -
LUSAKA SUNRISE
"In Africa, soccer is religion," commentator Dennis Liewewe declares. Using the power of soccer in the fight against AIDS, Grassroot Soccer http://www.grassrootsoccer.org provides African youth with the skills and support to live HIV free. With millions of fans and thousands of youth aspiring to be soccer stars, soccer effortlessly catalyzes community.
When Silas Hagerty http://www.smoothfeather.com took a trip to Zambia in the summer of 2006, he witnessed the power of soccer as an organizing principle and its potential to raise awareness about AIDS prevention. Here is what he saw.... "In Africa, soccer is religion," commentator Dennis Liewewe declares. Using the power of soccer in the fight against AIDS, G... more -
Enduring Love
Charlie Wilson is smart, cheerful, funny, dedicated to his work – and 92 years old. He's also got an important message for you. Follow Charlie as he distributes food, clothing, smiles and love to Portland, Oregon agencies serving those less fortunate, and learn about the inspiration behind his 35-plus years of dedication to the poor. Charlie Wilson is smart, cheerful, funny, dedicated to his work – and 92 years old. He's also got an important message for you. F... more
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Brazilians harness rainwater for change
Brazil's northeast, with the biggest population of any arid region in the world, is home to many of the more than 10 million Brazilians who live without regular access to clean and safe drinking water. For years the people of the region struggled to survive with no help from national public policy makers. Now policy makers are pursuing two very different approaches to the problem of the northeast's water community driven, grassroots public policy that supports building low-cost cisterns to provide water to the families who need it most, and a top-down mega-project to redirect the São Francisco River through a massive series of dams and canals.
Polo Sindical, an association of rural unions and a Grassroots International partner based in the northeastern states of Pernambuco and Bahia, is a key part of the movement that was instrumental in building the grassroots model and struggling to make sure that the mega-project does not have catastrophic results for the region's citizens.
Polo emerged in 1979 to protest the construction of the Itaparica Dam, a hydro-electric dam in the mid-course region of the São Francisco River. When the dam displaced thousands of peasants and small-scale farmers, bringing land and water rights became top priorities for Polo. One of their early victories was the resettlement of the affected families.
The idea for the cistern project was born in the 1980s, when Manuel Apolônio de Carvalho, a worker from the northeast, migrated to São Paulo to find work. He realized that the construction techniques he learned to build swimming pools for the wealthy could also be used to capture rainwater for the poor. He returned to the northeast and began collaborating with local groups like Polo to perfect the system using the principles of agro-ecology. Each cistern can capture enough water in a few rainy months to provide water for an average household of 5-6 people for the rest of the year.
In addition to building cisterns with their own resources, the groups organized and lobbied and now the federal government is helping to finance cistern production. What began as a grassroots self-help movement has become a national policy–embodied in the Million Cistern Project–that will provide drinking water to 5 million people.
Polo Sindical and its affiliated organizations are members of a larger network called Articulação no Semi-Árido (ASA), or in English the Semi-Arid Network. ASA includes more than 800 organizations. As one of the 45 management units of ASA, as of 2005 Polo Sindical has overseen the construction 1,379 cisterns benefiting 7,049 people. In all, more than 100,000 cisterns were built between 2001 and 2005 (including 77,000 that were financed by the Brazilian government).
While cisterns provide life-giving water to thousands of homes, some would prefer to develop water resources on a grander scale. The Lula government is the latest in a series to propose a monumental reconfiguration of the landscape of the northeast by re-distributing the water of the São Francisco River. Political leaders believe that the plan will transform the dry northeast into a productive agricultural region, and re-cast the political landscape in favor of whichever party is able to succeed in pushing the plan through.
**article continues, click link to read** Brazil's northeast, with the biggest population of any arid region in the world, is home to many of the more than 10 million Braz... more -
Rescue of mortgage giants could hit $25 billion
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal rescue of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could cost taxpayers $25 billion, congressional budget experts said Tuesday, as lawmakers put finishing touches on legislation that would tap the troubled mortgage giants' profits to help save homeowners from foreclosure.
A costly rescue is just a worry, not a fact at this point. Peter R. Orszag, director of the Congressional Budget Office, predicted in a letter to lawmakers that there's a better than even chance the government will not have to step in to prop up the companies by lending them money or buying stock.
But Congress is expected to vote as early as Wednesday on a housing measure that would give the Treasury Department authority to throw Fannie and Freddie a temporary lifeline. WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal rescue of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could cost taxpayers $25 billion, congressional budget experts said ... more -
Ron Paul moves convention rally to bigger arena
(CNN)— Former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is moving forward with plans for his own rally during the Republican National Convention —and is moving his location to a larger arena to accommodate the unprecedented response.
The three day event called ‘Rally for the Republic’ will officially launch Paul’s new political action group: the ‘Campaign for Liberty.’ When planning for the event began earlier this year, it was originally scheduled to take place at the University of Minnesota, but due to a “strong initial response,” it was moved to The Target in Minneapolis, which can house up to 18,000 people.
"The Rally for the Republic will send a powerful, positive message to the Republican Party that there is an army of grassroots activists across the country ready to work with them if steer back to their traditions of limited government and personal liberty," said Campaign for Liberty spokesman Jesse Benton.
Paul, who has often voiced his differing policy views from presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, has made it clear in past interviews with CNN his supporters won’t be in Minneapolis to interfere or cause problems for the Republican Party.
“We’re not going to disrupt them,” Paul told CNN last month. “We’re not going to demonstrate as much as present a positive case for values that we believe should be the Republican values.”
From August 31 through September 1, the former presidential dark horse will hold a series of grassroots leadership and training events culminating with a “celebration of traditional Republican values,” where Grover Norquist, Tucker Carlson, Gov. Gary Johnson, Barry Goldwater Jr. and Bruce Fein are expected to speak. (CNN)— Former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is moving forward with plans for his own rally during the Republican National... more -
Elizabeth Kucinich, a Leader in Her Own Right
If you haven't seen her yet, here she is. Elizabeth Kucinich is a brilliant and compassionate thinker who knows the issues inside out. She also has more charisma than Hollywood can afford to pay for. If you haven't seen her yet, here she is. Elizabeth Kucinich is a brilliant and compassionate thinker who knows the issues insid... more
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CA Broke, but has $75 million to spray citizens with toxic synthetic pheromone
The CA Dept of Food and Agriculture plans to begin spraying untested synthetic pheromones and other ingredients that are known endocrine disrupters and/or carcinogens all delivered in tiny "time release" capsules made of polyurea plastic. The size in microns of these capsules (when actually measured and contrary to the manufacturer's claims) is such that over half of them are small enough (under 10 microns) to be inhaled and to lodge in the lungs.
Also worth noting is that the manufacturer of the synthetic pheromone, Suterra Inc, has donated almost $150,000 to Governor Schwarzenegger's campaign fund for his 2006 gubernatorial campaign.
When a similar spray was used in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties there were hundreds of reports of reactions, ranging from rashes and difficultybreathing or asthma like symptoms, to headaches,dizziness, stinging eyes, sore throat and tremors. A private citizen was documenting these reactions in theabsence of any other monitoring by the state orfederal government. There was a significant increase in emergency room visits in the days following the spray.
This is supposedly to combat the Light Brown Apple Moth which the CDFA claims has just "invaded" CA in the last year. According to Dr. Daniel Harder of the UCSC arboretum & ecology dept the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) has likely been here for between 30 to 50 years. The LBAM is a leaf curling moth that does not nest in, eat or otherwise damage fruit, does not defoliate,does not even target fruit trees. There has been no crop damage to date.
The LBAM was originally classified as a threat in order to restrict apple importations from new zealand,which were an economic threat to California's applegrowers and had less to do with any actual threat than it does with trade politics. (There is amovement in congress to reassign or reclassify LBAM inorder to stop the proposed spray).
Eradication by means of pheromone has never been achieved under any circumstance, and eradication itself is extremely unlikely given the insect's range.
This issue has gotten little national media attention, but has created a large grassroots movement as seen on blossoming websites of organizations such as www.playnotspray.org, www.stopthespraysf.org, www.cassonline.org (CA Alliance to stop the spray), among others. The CA Dept of Food and Agriculture plans to begin spraying untested synthetic pheromones and other ingredients that are known endocri... more -
Gore Says Laws Must Change
AL GORE wants to make a sequel to his Oscar-winning documentary on global warming – and despite Earth’s “rising fever” he is still hopeful for a happy ending.
We are, he says, all players in deciding the outcome.
Despite the success of his film An Inconvenient Truth and last year’s Live Earth concerts in raising awareness, the former US Vice President believes little has changed where it counts and the situation is even more urgent.
And he warns that while individual efforts such as changing to low-energy lightbulbs are important, it is more significant for world leaders to change laws to stop pollution pouring into the atmosphere and affecting the climate.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Mr Gore – hailed as the world’s leading green campaigner – said recent polls had found that while people rate climate change as a “serious problem”, some ranked it lower than clearing up dog mess.
“When politicians walk down the pavement, four or five of every ten people they meet ask, ‘What are you doing to solve the climate crisis?’ he said. “If you ask people their opinion, more than two thirds will say, ‘It’s a very serious issue, we’re responsible for it. We need to take action’.
“But then if you give them a list of 25 or 30 issues and ask them to rank them in order of seriousness, climate change comes at the bottom or near the bottom.
“I remember one poll where it came under dog litter. People are more likely to respond to problems that can be felt – terrorism, traffic jams, anything that activates the responses in an immediate way.
“We think, ‘If it’s never happened before maybe it won’t ever happen in the future’. That’s a rule that can work but the exceptions can kill you. And global warming is one of the exceptions.” AL GORE wants to make a sequel to his Oscar-winning documentary on global warming – and despite Earth’s “rising fever” he is still hop... more -
Al Gore Won't Work For Clinton, Obama, or McCain Admininstration
Al Gore, in an interview with the Sun, said he will not be working, formally, in the next president's administration. Not for Hillary Clinton, not for Barack Obama, not for John McCain.
“I don’t intend to be a part of any administration,” he told the Sun. “I’ve been Vice President, I ran for President twice, so I don’t have any interest in being a cabinet member. I think my best use is in building grass-roots support. I will, of course, give advice to whoever asks me for advice on this and will work to help but not in a formal way.”
It's not much of a shock. Gore has grown so powerful as a campaigner for action to solve "the climate crisis," as he calls it, that he can have an audience with any world leader. He commands a far larger audience than any EPA administrator or energy secretary. In short, he's more powerful – and more likely to be effective – as is.
Right now, Gore's strategy includes a multimillion-dollar marketing campaign and an update to the famous slide show featured in An Inconvenient Truth. Al Gore, in an interview with the Sun, said he will not be working, formally, in the next president's administration. Not for Hil... more -
One million pills, One million tons of electronics targeted for Great Lakes 2008 E...
Numerous faith communities, American Indians tribes and many others being recruited to volunteer or participate in large eight-state Earth Day 2008 events across the Great Lakes Basin.
Collections sites will accept old/broken computers, cell phones, TVs and other electronics to be recycled, and old/unwanted medicines to be properly disposed during the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge
The EPA is awarding grants to some of the collection sites where residents can drop off e-waste and old/unwanted pharmaceuticals. The new Earth Healing Initiative will be organizing faith communities
For more details read the article or check out these links: Or call Greg at 906-401-0109.
Earth Healing official website::
http://www.EarthHealingInitiative.org
EPA Press Release on challenge:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/D48F2AD96EC6...
EPA GLNPO Official challenge link:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/earthday2008/index.html
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/earthday2008/events.html Numerous faith communities, American Indians tribes and many others being recruited to volunteer or participate in large eight-state E... more -
MoveOn.org pushes for Obama
I received the following email from "moveon.org" today and I think the contest is perfectly suited to the talents of CURRENT.COM members. Go for it and good luck.
Dear MoveOn member:
Your mission, should you choose to accept it: make a 30-second TV ad that tells the nation why Barack Obama should be our next President.
If you and your friends have writing, acting, or video editing talent—whether you're a total amateur or a total pro—now is the time to use your creativity to help Obama win.
Today, we're launching an ad contest called "Obama in 30 Seconds." Anyone can make an ad about Obama between now and April 1. The public will vote on the best ads, and a panel of top artists, film professionals, and netroots heroes will pick a winner from among the finalists. (Judges include Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Naomi Wolf, Oliver Stone, John Legend, Donna Edwards, and Markos Moulitsas. The full list is below.)
We'll air the winning Obama ad nationally, and the winner will receive a gift certificate for $20,000 in video equipment. Whether you're definitely interested or need time to think about it, let us know—we'll keep you in the loop as the contest proceeds. Get contest details, sign up, and watch a short video of MoveOn's Eli Pariser describing the contest by clicking here: I received the following email from "moveon.org" today and I think the contest is perfectly suited to the talents of CURRENT... more -
Global Micro-Clinic Project
The Global Micro-Clinic Project works to empower people to prevent and manage diseases in impoverished and conflict-ridden areas of our world.
More info on this great nonprofit organization founded by Daniel Zoughbie can be found at:
http://microclinicproject.org/ The Global Micro-Clinic Project works to empower people to prevent and manage diseases in impoverished and conflict-ridden areas of ou... more -
"An important lesson about grassroots media"
" learned -- the hard way -- some truths about grassroots content and online community. This is my attempt at preventing you from going through similar business heartache." " learned -- the hard way -- some truths about grassroots content and online community. This is my attempt at preventing you from... more
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KUCINICH: Takes House Floor, Moves for Cheney Impeachment
Impeach and Imprison. OK, maybe just impeach.... First things first.
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Elizabeth Kucinich / Strength Through Peace
Sunday November 11, 2007 Elizabeth Kucinich arrived in Denver to attend the Colorado for Kucinich fundraiser brunch held at the Mercury Café. The Mercury Café is one of Denver's alternative hotspots and has led the way in greening Denver by installing solar panels and wind turbines. The Mercury has been sponsoring bio diesel support groups, and owner Marilyn McGinnity is a great supporter of the Kucinich campaign.
The turn out was large and Kucinich was well received. Colorado4Kucinch organizers stressed the need to get Kucinich supporters out to the precinct caucus process which is held on February 5, 2008. Colorado does not hold a presidential preference primary. Campaign organizers urged members of the audience to remind their friends that December 5, 2007 is the deadline for registering to vote as a Democrat in order to be eligible to participate in the Democratic caucus process.
Paige Tompson introduced Elizabeth Kucinich who took the stage and gave a brief talk about the campaign and some key issues before saying she really wanted to hear from the audience, and answer any questions they may have about issues or the campaign. Sunday November 11, 2007 Elizabeth Kucinich arrived in Denver to attend the Colorado for Kucinich fundraiser brunch held at the Mercur... more -
Kucinich: A Democrat's Dream?
Dennis talks about ending the war, creating a national, not-for-profit health plan, a full employment economy, and other major issues. ABC asks: Rep. Dennis Kucinich: A long-shot candidate or a dream contender for the party?
I know Mrs. Kucinich is very dreamy, almost too hot to be first lady.
:)
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dennis talks about ending the war, creating a national, not-for-profit health plan, a full employment economy, and other major issues.... more
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Grassroots
