The Fight to make the world a safer place continues.

The Arms Trade Treaty vs. the NRA

Negotiations to finalize an Arms Trade Treaty will be held at the United Nations from March 18 to 28. While efforts to reduce gun violence in the U.S. moving forward, the international community is watching closely to see if NRA lobbyists once again seek to derail the Arms Trade Treaty when the U.N. negotiations resume next month. 

When there are international laws for the sale of iPods and bananas but not AK-47s and grenade launchers, we've got a problem. The Arms Trade Treaty sets uniform standards for international arms sales -- bringing foreign governments up to high U.S. standards and the black arms markets out of the shadows. The Treaty protects legitimate trade and holds foreign governments accountable for selling arms to human rights violators. Without it, warlords and terrorists will keep exploiting loopholes to get weapons.

These weapons are used by warlords to force child soldiers to kill their parents, by terrorists to attack American soldiers and missionaries, and by gangs to rape refugee women and girls. NRA lobbyists know the Treaty only affects foreign countries, not gun laws for American civilians, and helps keep weapons out of the hands of terrorists who kill Americans overseas.

The Treaty protects law-abiding Americans' freedoms and our troops overseas, but NRA lobbyists are lying about it anyway to fundraise off American gun owners. This Treaty is in America's security, business, and moral interests. It protects legitimate trade and cracks down on weapons sales to war criminals and terrorists. We can't let NRA lobbyists derail it. Stay tuned for what you can do to make sure this does not happen.

GlobalSolutions.org's Annual Meeting: July 27, 2013

This is yet another reason why Gun Sanity must come to America, because the violence is spreading.

This is also why I am passing on this e-mail and petition>>>>>

Senator Rubio: Say no to NRA Leader's ugly racism.

I created my own campaign on CREDO's new site that allows members to start their own petitions.

My petition, which is to Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), asks the following:

Denounce NRA's Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre's racist, derogatory, and false attacks on America's Latino community and immediately return thousands of dollars of NRA contributions to your campaign.

If Republicans are serious about rebranding themselves as moderates and including Latinos within their party platform, they must distance themselves and condemn the vile remarks made by the NRA. This includes Senator Marco Rubio, who has positioned himself as the leading Latino voice within the party on immigration reform, and even offering an official Spanish-language response to President Obama's State of the Union address. Senator Rubio needs to show that he is bargaining for all Latinos in good faith, and not just trying to score cheap political points, by denouncing recent racist remarks from NRA and by returning the thousands in contributions he has received from that organization.

Sign the petition to ask Senator Rubio to say no to NRA leader's ugly racism.

Click here to learn more and add your name to my petition to Senator Rubio.

Thank you for your support.

Gabe Ortiz

This is For the Environment--The place We call home, Earth, where hopefully future generations will call home, too.

Groundbreaking Reports Show Fracking is a Risky, Short-Term Bubble

EcoWatch 

Hughes and Rogers suggest the fracking boom may be a costly, risky, short-term “fix” for America’s long-term dependency on depleting oil and gas. Rather than offering the nation a century of cheap energy and economic...READ MORE!!!!

 

Ohioans Shut Down Fracking Wastewater Storage Facility

Appalachia Resist!

Ohio residents and environmental groups including Earth First! have disrupted operations at Greenhunter Water's hydraulic fracturing or fracking wastewater storage site along the Ohio River in Washington County, Ohio. Nate Ebert, a 33-year-old Athens County resident and...READ MORE!!!!

 

Prevention as Cure: Breast Cancer and the Environment

Environmental Defense Fund

Breast cancer is largely a preventable disease. To reduce the risks of chemical exposures, we need tests that accurately detect breast carcinogens, and we need policies that demand...READ MORE!!!!

Take a look at our new online National Environmental Scorecard here >>

Dear Readers, I am passing on this e-mail so that every American Voter can find out, that is if they do not already know, where their Senator and or Congress Person stands with or against the Environment-- Yes, Here in my home state of Ohio, we not only ought to be ashamed of ourselves, but also this shows how much more work needs to be done

Today is a big day for us. Not only are we releasing the 2012 National Environmental Scorecard, but we're also unveiling a completely new, interactive Scorecard website, where you can see all the votes we've scored going back more than 40 years.

Right now, I'm about to jump on a call to share this news with the national press, but I wanted to make sure that LCV members like you got an exclusive look at our new site before anyone else lays eyes on it.

Find out where your members of Congress stood on the most important environmental votes of the year. Explore LCV's 2012 National Environmental Scorecard on our new website here >>

Unfortunately the best thing that can be said about this session of the 112th Congress is that it's over.

This was hands down, the most anti-environmental House of Representatives ever. Continuing their bad record from 2011, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) forced through radical bills attacking cornerstone environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. They pushed to drill off our shores and in the Arctic Refuge, tried to approve the harmful Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, and attacked protections for our national parks, forests, and wildlife.

If it wasn't for our champions in the U.S. Senate and the Obama Administration, many of the environmental and public health safeguards we rely on would have been lost.

Want to know if your members of Congress stood with people or polluters last year? Take a look at the 2012 National Environmental Scorecard here.

The good news is: if we can educate the public about anti-environmental legislators' records, we can build the public pressure to hold them accountable and improve our environmental policies in the years to come.

So that's why we've completely overhauled our Scorecard website to make it easier for you to access and share the information not just from this year, but every year since the National Environmental Scorecard was first released in 1971.

On our new website you can not only read about the votes and check out the scores for your members of Congress, but you can also see how your state's congressional delegation has voted compared to the rest of the country using interactive charts and maps. You can look at votes taken over the years on just one issue like clean energy or climate change. And we've built in share features that make it easy to spread the word on social media or send a message to your members of Congress to thank or reprimand them depending on their vote history.

I hope you'll take a moment to explore and share our new National Environmental Scorecard website today at: scorecard.lcv.org

Thanks for helping us make a major splash with this release by getting the word out today.

Best,

                Gene Karpinski
           President
           League of Conservation Voters

4 Ways to A Greener Chinese New Year

February 10 was the start of the Chinese New Year, according to the lunar calendar. A traditionally celebrated Chinese New Year is a not the greenest of holidays. However, in a positive turn of events, it appears that this is changing.

Signs indicate that China is trying to be more environmentally conscious. Last year, after an “hours-long firework ignition spree” in Beijing on the eve of the New Year, air pollution rose dramatically. This year, Beijing authorities are asking people to limit how many fireworks they set off or forego doing so entirely.

For today’s Daily Action, in the spirit of celebrating new beginnings, read about four ways to start your Chinese New Year greener.

THANK YOU, CHINA--IF The Chinese can--so can we!! Let's Hear it For Animal Rights, Too!!!!

Quiz Time--After all, knowledge is power and power is best shared.

Dear Reader, I am passing on this e-mail with the hope that you to will take the quiz--After all, Knowledge is Indeed Power>>>

How many gun deaths, on average, occur in the United States each year?

Want to find out the answer? Take our quick quiz here:

Take the quiz.

We just spent this weekend with a set of incredibly brave UltraViolet members who have survived gun violence. The experience was deeply powerful. We met Casper from Wisconsin, a hunter whose daughter was murdered by her husband. He wants AR-15s off the streets. Julie from Texas lost her daughter, who was murdered by her husband when she was 39 weeks pregnant. And there was Diann, whose nephew was the victim of a drive-by shooting. And more.

We'll have more on their stories about gun violence soon. But this weekend, they had a very clear message for all of us: People need to know the facts and the truth about gun violence and how it impacts us every day.

Today you can help make sure those facts get out there. Our quick and informative quiz is easy to share online. And studies show that when it comes to social networks, people trust information and posts by their friends more than by anyone else.¹  It couldn't be more important to share this information right now--too many children, mothers, fathers, wives and husbands die every day because of gun violence. If we don't get the facts out now, we may lose our chance to do something about it.

Thanks!

--Nita, Shaunna, Kat and Karin, the UltraViolet team

THESE---These are also the reasons that Action Is So very Important.

Today Is For The Environment--since we all call Planet Earth--Home.

New Satellite Data Confirms Major Arctic Ice Loss

WunderBlog  

Continued sea ice loss will further increase melting from Greenland, contributing to sea level rise and storm surge damages. Sea ice loss will also continue to crank up...READ MORE!!!

 

Confirmed: Tar Sands Toxic Liquid Waste Contaminating Local Waterways

Environmental Defence

“For years, we’ve been concerned that toxic chemicals are leaking from the massive tailings lakes into the surrounding water. Governments repeatedly denied this...READ MORE!!!

 

Radical Shifts in Energy Policies Ignite Global Green Economy

United Nations Environment Programme

Germany, Kenya and the Republic of Korea, among other states, have set out radical changes in their energy policies to harness the power of renewables, and...READ MORE!!!

 

Ban Fracking Campaign, from Ireland to New Mexico

Drilling Mora County

Joining in solidarity with the work of citizens in Ireland, people in New Mexico are getting the message out that they do indeed have the rights to protect their communities from industry’s assaults against their pristine...

WHICH IS WHY>>>>>

Force Big Oil to Pay for Climate Change ! PLEASE SIGN ! !

Cher -

A piece of legislation forcing the nation's largest polluters to pay fees for carbon and methane emissions was recently introduced. Proposed by Senators Bernie Sanders and Barbara Boxer, the bill would use government revenue generated by the fees to....READ MORE!!!

Tell Congress to Fight Climate Change ! PLEASE SIGN ! !

Cher -

Tell Congress to stand with President Obama and the thousands of Americans who marched in the Forward on Climate Rally and fight climate change. Congress should back the rejection of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline and should support cracking down on....READ MORE!!!

Tell President Obama to Limit Off-Shore Drilling Permits to Shell ! PLEASE SIGN ! !

Cher -

Currently, the Interior Department is conducting a review of Shell's drilling plans. Some members have expressed concern over, in Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's words, Shell's "series of mishaps." On February 11th, 2013, Shell announced that it will be...READ MORE!!! AND BETTER YET, PLEASE SIGN CHER'S PETITION.

Tell President Obama to Reject the Keystone Pipeline and Pass the Climate Challenge ! PLEASE SIGN ! !

Cher -

The United States and global leaders have arrived at a crossroads. One path leads to a safe, clean future powered by renewable, sustainable energy....READ MORE!!! AND BETTER YET, PLEASE SIGN ANOTHER OF CHER'S PETITIONS.

Yes, Let Us Support the President as We build the Economy, Together.

Speaker Boehner Rejects Obama's Proposal To Raise The Minimum Wage

Carrie -

Contrary to Boehner's claims, research suggests that minimum wage increases have little or no effect on job creation. One study found "no detectable employment losses," another found "no impact on hours worker or employment levels," and another found ... READ MORE!!

Despite>>>

Rich Are Getting Richer and It's Hurting Social Security's Finances

Carrie -

Many people don't realize that Social Security taxes are capped. This year, workers only pay the Social Security FICA tax, up to $113,700 of what they make. Meaning, millionaires and billionaires are only paying a tiny portion of their income to SS taxes. READ MORE!!!!

Work is Becoming More Like Prison As Some Workers Forced to Wear Electronic Bands That Track Everything They Do (Including Bathroom Breaks)

Tana Ganeva, AlterNet

Grocery giant TESCO has strapped electronic armbands to their warehouse workers to measure their productivity. READ MORE»

The question becomes, instead of spending money on stuff like this, can we reason together as mature adults who are both worthy of respect, so that this US V THEM---Can end. After all, we are in this Economy, Together. Us V Them, will not solve anything to anyone's benefit.

So let us start building up the Middle Class and for those who truly hate their jobs, there are choices, grin and bare with it or move on to another job or start your own company>>>>>

Job Search Advice

Write Off Your Job Search
Did you know that if you were in the market for a new job in 2012, most of your expenses related to your job search are tax deductible? Job search expenses can be deducted as miscellaneous itemized deductions. Read more

» Mastering Video Conferences, Interviews and Calls

» 4 Tips to Insure a Successful Job Search

» More Job Search Advice

Resume Builders

Six Tips for a Solid Resume
In the current job market, employers have the advantage of hearing from significantly more applicants than they could possibly interview, let alone hire. So your resume and cover letter have to capture their attention in order to prevent your being overlooked. Read More

» Resume Keyword Mistakes – Are You Making One?

» 7 Ways to Update Your Resume

» More Resume Builders

Interview Prep

Bring These 5 Things to Your Next Interview
Job interviews are stressful and there is so much great advice available about what to wear, how to act and what questions to ask that it's easy to get overwhelmed. Before you walk out the door, however, here are 5 things you need to bring along with you. Read More

» How to Answer the Question

» Don't Make This Interview Mistake

» More Interview Prep

Small Business

Managing cash flow is one of the most important aspects of running a small business. We offer a number of financial tools that can help, including deposit and credit products, loans and financing, check and card payment solutions and more.   Business Checking Packages Overdraft Protection Business... READ MORE!!!

THANK YOU U.S. BANK!!!!!! I am not sponsored by, but rather am proud to share. After all, If You are tired of working for others and have the drive to be your own boss, good luck and more power to you, but as for me, I am at my best when I am being a good follower.

Today's Action Is Support

Dear Readers, I am passing on this e-mail, because this is what I call adding insult to injury. Don't get me wrong, I can understand and respect the need for cities to charge a fee for ambulances. After all, without some fees, some people would use them as medical taxis, But--But in this situation>>>>

This past New Year's Eve was one of the worst nights of my life. That's the night my father died waiting for an ambulance that never came.

Around 1am, my father was having trouble breathing, so I called 911. The nearest fire station is just one mile from our house in DC, at most a 5 minute drive. Firefighters arrived in just ten minutes, but no ambulance. I watched my father struggle to stay alive as we waited for Emergency Medical Services. And waited. And waited.

The ambulance that finally came 40 minutes later wasn't even from DC -- it had to come from another state entirely. By the time it arrived, my father was already dead.

Despite this, the DC Fire Department is charging my family $780 for an ambulance it never sent. I started a petition on Change.org demanding they waive the fee -- will you click here to sign?

So why did my father die waiting for an ambulance when there's a fire station just a mile from our house? It turns out that on New Year's Eve, nearly one third of DC's firefighters called in sick, meaning ambulances sat empty in fire stations. 

Long response times are a huge problem for ambulances, firefighters and police in cities all over America. The DC fire department needs to see that it can't just let my father die and then take my family's money.

My father was only 72 years old, a retired Air Force Veteran. He did not have to die on New Year's night. And my family certainly shouldn't be charged money for the reason he did.

Click here to sign my petition demanding that the DC Fire Department waive a $780 fee for an ambulance that never came to save my father.

Thank you,

Durand Ford, Jr.
Washington, DC

PS: If you've ever had to wait too long for an ambulance or other emergency services, tell us your story in the "Reasons for signing" comment section on the petition.

Personally, I have not had this experience. I have been blessed not to have need of emergency care, but then, again, this blog is simply gathered by me--Not About Me--It is about me being of service, which includes>>>>>

Support President Obama's Plan to End Gun Violence

In his State of the Union address, President Obama honored several victims of gun violence and urged Congress to take action to end these tragic deaths.

After years on the political backburner, we now have the momentum to make real progress against gun violence. We can't let this moment slip away.

For today's Daily Action, tell Congress you support President Obama's plan to take action against gun violence

If You Have Not already done so, please, do so. Thank You.

The NRA Does Not Speak For Me--Part II--The Action That is needed.

Dear Readers, I am passing on this e-mail, because the DSCC needs and deserves your support, IF Possible--

After the President's speech, and with Congressional hearings underway, it's clear momentum is building. The time is now to stand up to the NRA’s strong-arm lobbying tactics and the Republicans' never ending obstruction of President Obama’s agenda. Too many lives are at stake.

Sign here and demand action to reduce gun violence.

Thank you,

Guy Cecil
DSCC Executive Director