Breaking: Marriage moves to House floor

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "ACLU of Illinois" <acluofillinois@aclu-il.org>
Date: Feb 26, 2013 10:41 PM
Subject: Breaking: Marriage moves to House floor
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

One step closer to winning the freedom to marry!

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Take Action Because Freedom Can't Protect Itself

Share this:    The marriage bill just passed in the House Executive Committee -- Tell your Rep to vote YES when it comes to the House floor! TAKE ACTION Dear Daniel, Just a few moments ago, the Illinois House Executive Committee approved Senate Bill 10, a measure that extends the freedom to marry to same-sex couples in Illinois. After this critical vote, the bill now goes to the full House for a vote. Act NOW: Tell your representative to support the freedom to marry. We now are one step closer to passing this historic measure and adding Illinois to the roster of states that recognizes that marriage is a loving commitment between two people, and that all couples should be given the freedom to marry. Keep following us on Facebook and Twitter as we will be giving live updates of activities on the House floor. It is time for Illinois to take this important step. We are very close. Take action now to ensure victory. Sincerely, Colleen Connell Executive Director ACLU of Illinois

HELP US PROTECT FREEDOM. JOIN THE ACLU Connect with the ACLU: Facebook • Blog • Twitter • YouTube

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William Rivers Pitt | The "Fix" Is In: Laying Bare Some Sequester Lies

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From: "t r u t h o u t" <messenger@truthout.org>
Date: Feb 26, 2013 3:52 PM
Subject: William Rivers Pitt | The "Fix" Is In: Laying Bare Some Sequester Lies
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

Tuesday, 26 February 2013 View Recent Newsletters Tell a friend about Truthout! Donate Today!   Truthout is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; donations are tax deductible.

BuzzFlash Gun Zealots Are More Interested in Being Seen as Dangerous Than in Using Guns for Self-Defense Mark Karlin, BuzzFlash at Truthout: What may really be driving the psyche of the rabid gun advocates is the need to feel that they invoke fear in others by possessing and carrying guns. Read the BuzzFlash Commentary   George Lakoff | Why Ultra-Conservatives Like the Sequester Read the Article at BuzzFlash   Why We Still Need the Voting Rights Act Read the Article at The Washington Post   Sand Land: Minnesota Mayor and Fracking Industry Lobbyist Resigns Read the Article at DeSmogBlog   At 55, the Peace Symbol Endures. Peace, Not So Much Read the Article at BuzzFlash   12 Ways the Sequester Will Screw the Poor Read the Article at Mother Jones   Prosecutor Rebuked by Sotomayor for Racially Biased Comment Referred for Internal DOJ Review Read the Article at Talking Points Memo   Michael Moore Battles Buzzfeed Over Palestinian Director's Airport Incident Read the Article at The Nation     Truthout uncovers the reality behind Beltway rhetoric: the devastating consequences of cuts to social programs, and the places - like the Pentagon - where taxpayer money is really being wasted. But we must raise at least $25,000 more before the end of the month in order to keep this work going. This has been a slow week, but we're getting closer to our goal - will you show your support and enable us to continue by making a tax-deductible donation today? Click here to donate. (Truthout is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN: 20-0031641) You can also donate by check, made payable to: Truthout, P.O. Box 276414, Sacramento, CA 95827 (Please include your email address on your check.) Or call in your donation: 213.489.1971 William Rivers Pitt | The "Fix" Is In: Laying Bare Some Sequester Lies William Rivers Pitt, Truthout: "We can fund the civilized society our citizens demonstrably approve of if we make some cuts to the biggest, fattest, happiest 'welfare queen' on the block: the Department of 'Defense.'" Read the Article  Our Food System Is in Crisis Due to Technology Run Amok and Monopolizing Corporations Wenonah Hauter, The New Press: "We must move beyond the focus on consumer choice to examine the corporate, scientific, industrial, and political structures that support an unhealthy system." Read the Article  Richard Wolff on Fighting for Economic Justice and Fair Wages Bill Moyers, Moyers & Company: Economist Richard Wolff joins Moyers to shine light on the disaster left behind in capitalism's wake, and to discuss the fight for economic justice, including a fair minimum wage. Watch the Video and Read the Transcript  How to Stop the GOP from Stealing the White House Thom Hartmann, The Daily Take: The Republican Party has been hijacked by a small group of cranky billionaires who want to rig the Electoral College in what have historically been blue or Democratic-voting states. Read the Article  Robert Naiman | Petitions of 23,000 to Lindsey Graham: No Foul to Use A-Word on Israel-Palestine Robert Naiman, Truthout: Chuck Hagel's confirmation as US secretary of defense looks likely, says Naiman, despite Sen. Lindsey Graham's attempt to smear him for using the same "A-word" used by former Israeli leaders to warn of Israel's future without peace. Read the Article  Greg Palast | Too Fat to Vote Greg Palast, Vice Magazine: An expert from the Pew Charitable Trust was recently featured in the New York Times claiming that the reason voter turnout in the Deep South was so low was because of high obesity rates. Read the Article  The School Security America Doesn't Need Chase Madar, TomDispatch: "Ending the cycle of armed fear and violence will require getting police out of schools." Read the Article  Bill Moyers and Michael Winship | The Revolving Door Spins from Sea to Shining Sea Michael Winship and Bill Moyers, Moyers & Company: The revolving door breeds distrust of the people who make our laws and regulations. Read the Article  Bless Me, Ultima: Movie Revisits Controversy, Succeeds, After 40 Years Roberto Cintli Rodriguez, Truthout: The visibility of brown faces - and not just in support roles or as extras - along with the magic of northern New Mexico's landscapes and Indo-Hispano culture, lend the film much of its power. Read the Movie Review  On the News With Thom Hartmann: Italian Voters Are Fed Up With Austerity, and More In today's On the News segment: Results from yesterday's election in Italy show voters are fed up with austerity; BP trial begins; Republicans have yet another anti-worker tactic up their sleeve; and more. Watch the Video and Read the Transcript  Christians Evangelizing Military Youth on the Taxpayer's Dime Mikey Weinstein, AlterNet: A group of opportunistic, fundamentalist Christians known as "Club Beyond" are using taxpayer dollars to aggressively proselytize to youth in military families. Read the Article  Profit, Austerity and Criticizing the System Richard D. Wolff, Economic Update/Truthout: This latest radio segment features updates on profit-driven scandals (horsemeat in Europe and fish in the United States); how long we work, Correa's anti-austerity victory in Ecuador and getting public benefits for public investment in sports stadiums. Listen to the Radio Segment

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New study finds physical mechanism linking extreme weather to climate change | The Raw Story

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/25/new-study-finds-physical-mechanism-linking-extreme-weather-to-climate-change/

Democratic Party of DuPage County, Illinois: The Middle Class And Poor Are Collateral Damage In the Republican War on Big Government

http://dupagedems.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-middle-class-and-poor-are.html

Save Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Tim Carpenter" <info@pdamerica.org>
Date: Feb 26, 2013 7:53 AM
Subject: Save Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

Click here to View Online

Tell a Friend

Draw A Line Against Cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

	Sign the Petition

Dear Daniel,

In January during inauguration weekend, PDA created Progressive Central in Washington D.C. at which activists, progressive leaders, and members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus joined together to discuss and formulate a progressive agenda.

We welcomed Rep. Alan Grayson and Becky Bond--CREDO Action Political Director--to stand with us there, and we will be working more closely this year. This petition is our first coalition effort of 2013.

Last Summer seems so long ago, but during the Super Committee deliberations, Americans watched with increasing trepidation as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid were pushed toward the chopping block.

Fortunately, a strong coalition of progressives including PDA, CREDO Action, National Organization for Women, MoveOn, and many others staved off the proposed draconian cuts to these essential programs. Specifically we joined with courageous members of Congress who drew a line in the sand, vowing to vote against any deal which would cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits.

Unfortunately, the reprieve may have been temporary.
Unless you take action now, these cuts could happen!

Wall Street Profiteers and Tea Party Radicals are still trying to slash Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits in the name of "deficit reduction." President Obama may fall into their trap in the name of "compromise." Never mind that Social Security adds nothing to the deficit. Ignoring that radical proposed changes to Medicare and Medicaid will only shift costs to seniors, the disabled, and the poor while actually increasing long-term costs to the States and the Federal Government while undermining healthcare for millions.

Please contact your Representative now, and tell him or her to take these programs off the chopping block by co-signing a letter written by progressive champions Rep. Alan Grayson and Rep. Mark Takano that draws a line in the sand against benefit cuts. You can read the entire letter and sign on here.

Even though Americans overwhelmingly oppose cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits, right wingers in Congress are threatening to use political gimmicks and power plays force deep cuts. Over the next few weeks, we will either win this fight, or suffer horrendous consequences. If we organize and get the word out to our Congress members and friends, we can protect our vital benefits from proposed cuts. As part of the letter, Congress members pledge to "[V]ote against any and every cut to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security benefits--including raising the retirement age or cutting the cost of living adjustments that our constituents earned and need." This strategy worked last Summer. It will work again, with your help!

Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are vital, successful, parts of our social safety net. Republicans cynically blame the deficit on these programs, seeking to undermine and destroy them--in ways that would enrich Wall Street, private insurance companies and other greedy special interests. Tell your Representative to co-sign the Grayson-Takano letter to take Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits off the chopping block. Click here to sign on. If enough House Democrats stand together now they can take cuts off the table. Act now! Tell your Representative to Co-sign the letter. Then share on Facebook, Tweet and Email your friends.

Please act now! Currently, House Republicans and President Obama are negotiating on deficit reduction to avoid the looming "Sequester" spending cuts set to take effect on March 1. The scheduled cuts would hurt many domestic programs and fall equally hard on the Pentagon, but would not cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits. Don't let them replace the "Sequester" cuts with devastating benefit cuts!

In Solidarity,

Tim Carpenter
PDA National Director

Mike Hersh
PDA Communications Coordinator

Update Your PDA Profile

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More Supreme Court treachery

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Move to Amend" <info@movetoamend.org>
Date: Feb 26, 2013 11:27 AM
Subject: More Supreme Court treachery
To: "Daniel Stafford" <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

The National Campaign to End Corporate Personhood and Demand Real Democracy! About | Donate | Take Action SUPREME COURT POISED TO DESTROY CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW Daniel, Last week, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a new case — McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission. The McCutcheon case attempts to undermine the total combined contributions limit for individuals (already set at tens of thousands of dollars), which will open a whole new floodgate of cash into our electoral system reserved only for the wealthy. We need the We the People Amendment to safeguard against this kind of treachery. Only an amendment that clearly states that money is not free speech will safeguard our democracy from control and manipulation by the super wealthy. Help us reach our goal of 250,000 more signatures on the Motion to Amend — spread the word by sharing this link with your friends! You can also ask them to text SIGN to 1-707-656-4019 to sign the petition by text message on their cell phone. If the court decides in favor of McCutcheon, it is only a matter of time before the rest of the limits fall, and our elections will become an outright auction to the highest bidders. Please ask your friends to join our cause by signing the Move to Amend petition — share this link: http://movetoamend.nationbuilder.com/petition!  Move to Amend is the only coalition working towards the real solution, while building the grassroots movement to win. There are many organizations doing similar work: Other groups propose only a legislative solution, which simply won't work.  Any legislation to counter Citizen's United or McCutcheon, if it succeeds, cannot overturn a Supreme Court decision — that can only be achieved by constitutional amendment. Some groups only support overturning Citizens United. Does anyone think that our electoral and legal systems were working for the people before Citizens United? Why waste the work of an amendment on such a paltry and meager solution? Some groups only support passing an amendment to overturn the doctrine that money is speech. But as long as corporations have constitutional rights they are entitled to overturn our laws meant to safeguard the public.  Corporations and the wealthy will keep chipping away at our constitution in their search for more and more wealth and power. We must answer them with an army of galvanized citizens willing to stand up for what is ours—the heart and soul of this great nation. Move to Amend must be even more successful than we have been, if we are going to pass on a functioning democratic republic to future generations. We believe we can double our size and reach this year, but we need your help to do it… Please spread the word and ask your friends to sign the Motion to Amend petition. You can also ask them to text SIGN to 1-707-656-4019 to sign the petition by text message on their cell phone. Building our movement signature by signature, Ashley Sanders, Ben Manski, Daniel Lee, David Cobb, Egberto Willies, George Friday, Jerome Scott, Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, Laura Bonham, Nancy Price Move to Amend National Leadership Team PS -- Join our next Take Action Webinar! On Tuesday, March 5 we will let you know how you can join our May 10 Day of Action. May 10 is the 127th anniversary of Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad, the "birthday" of the corporate person. Help us make a stand nationwide: 127 years is enough! Click here to RSVP for our webinar. MOVE TO AMEND PO Box 610, Eureka CA 95502 | (707) 269-0984 | www.MoveToAmend.org We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.     This email was sent to aquarianm@gmail.com. To stop receiving emails, click here.

E THIS WEEK

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "E - The Environmental Magazine" <karen@emagazine.com>
Date: Feb 26, 2013 1:27 AM
Subject: E THIS WEEK
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

View it in your browser February 24, 2013 WHAT WE'RE FOLLOWING Shoppers Choose Local Forget the aisles stocked with organics. If local foods are not available, 30% of consumers will purchase groceries elsewhere, reports a new study released this month by global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney. According to the study, named "Buying into the Local… Continue Reading » Soil to Blame for Spike in Kids' Lead Levels Lead-contaminated dust is behind a seasonal fluctuation in blood-lead levels observed in children living in urban communities. A nine-year study recently published in Environmental Science & Technology tracked more than 367,000 children in Detroit along with atmospheric… Continue Reading » FEATURED BLOGS Talking Points Obama has given Serious Lip Service to Combatting Global Warming -- Is Action Soon to Follow? The commencement of President Obama's second term has been characterized by an abrupt shift towards climate rhetoric—rhetoric geared as much at pacifying the president's environmentally conscious political supporters as at solidifying his own legacy. In not only his… Continue Reading » IN OUR CURRENT ISSUE Beauty and the Toxic Beast Cosmetics Are Full of Harmful Ingredients—Here's What to Avoid Actress Kristen Chenoweth loves her beauty products, but she won't be wearing a certain brand of eyelash extensions anymore. In March, the Emmy-award-winning actress discovered she had an allergy to formaldehyde, which was in the glue used to attach the lashes and caused… Continue Reading » By the Numbers: Cape Wind Comes Online 130 Offshore Wind Turbines Are Ready to Rise in Nantucket Sound 130. That's how many offshore wind turbines will be sited over a 24-square-mile grid on Nantucket Sound's Horseshoe Shoal about five miles south of Hyannis, Massachusetts. Known as Cape Wind, the offshore wind farm is in its final victory lap after a decade of… Continue Reading » Building National Support for Biking The Federal Transportation Bill Extends an Olive Branch to Bikers. Debate was long and intense on the reauthorization of the multi-year federal transportation bill. At one point, the Republican majority in the House eliminated all funding for bike and pedestrian enhancements. So it seemed like something of a victory when the final bill… Continue Reading » Biking Together Biking Is a Feasible Mode of Transportation for Just About Anyone Have you given up on biking because it's just not convenient enough as a working mom or dad, or you fear for your life pedaling alongside busy streets? Or maybe you'd like to bring your bike to work, but the train you commute on won't let you? These are among the… Continue Reading » EARTHTALK Q&A Is Organic Food Any Healthier Than Conventionally-grown Food? Dear EarthTalk: There's been a lot of coverage on the topic of organic foods and how they aren't actually any healthier than conventional foods. Is this true? —Gina Thompson, Salem, OR<… Continue Reading » The Environmental Justice Movement Dear EarthTalk: I understand that the "environmental justice" movement defends poor, non-white communities that too often serve as sites for polluting industries such as sewage treatment plants, factories and landfills. Have there been any notable victories? —P. Silver, Peekskill, NY… Continue Reading » WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT This content is brought to you free by E-The Environmental Magazine, which is published by Earth Action Network, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. Our address is 28 Knight Street, Norwalk, CT 06851. We ask that you: Subscribe to our magazine   Order a Free Trial Issue   Make a tax deductible donation Forward email This email was sent to aquarianm@gmail.com by karen@emagazine.com |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. E - The Environmental Magazine | 28 Knight Street | Norwalk | CT | 06851