Wednesday, 10/20 – “Dear Joe, is an inevitable tragedy an accident?”
10/20 Action: Write him and ask.
Sample letter: Dear Joe,
Californians awoke to another “accident” – a beach covered in oil, dead fish and wildlife. An anchor snagged a pipeline, leaking 588 barrels of oil. It joins 17 similar incidents, and more will come as the storms of climate change blow ships off-course, anchors dragging.
Is Enbridge’s next catasphrophe an “accident?” This foreign corporation, with 800 spills in the last 15 years, including our nation’s worst inland oil spill, has already breached an aquifer constructing Line 3, and spilled drilling fluid 28 times. Its line carries Canada’s tar sands oil – toxic sludge born in the destruction of boreal forests, whose first tears are acid rain, and whose waste – petcoke – poisons poorer countries and shreds our atmosphere. And between its birth and its burning, it crosses 227 water bodies, until human error, frost heave, or corrosion allow it to drift to the bottom, poisonous and unrecoverable.
Can actuaries quantify the risk to rice fields noted in records from the 1600’s, rice so sacred that it’s the first plant species in the US to be granted legal personhood, with legal rights to “flourish, regenerate, and evolve” in “pure water and freshwater habitat” and “a healthy climate.” How about the risk of poisoning Lake Superior, drinking water for 40 million?
Joe, stop this pipeline in the name of Native treaties, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, the National Historic Preservation Act, the EO on the Protection of Sacred Sites and the “disproportionate and adverse impacts” on Native people noted in the EIS.
Stop this pipeline for the Paris Accords. Even without the CEPP, preventing 50 new coal plants’ or 38 million additional cars worth of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere every year for the next three to five decades and a “social cost of carbon” to MN of $287 billion, is significant.
Stop this pipeline BEFORE the inevitable “accident” occurs, and we’re forced to quantify irreparable loss.
Contact Joe here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Continue reading “Wednesday, 10/20 – “Dear Joe, is an inevitable tragedy an accident?””Tuesday evening 10/19 – It’s done! Criminal contempt charges for Bannon!
The Jan. 6 House select committee will meet this evening (Tuesday 10/19) to consider holding just voted unanimously to ask the House to hold former Trump White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon in criminal contempt of Congress.
The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol shot down a last-minute request from former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon to delay a scheduled vote to refer him for prosecution based on a lawsuit filed Monday by President Trump. (Chairman Bennie G. Thompson’s statement of cooperation of witness Steve Bannon here.)
- He was fully aware of pending chaos on Jan. 6. He told listeners to his radio show on Jan. 5: “All hell is going to break loose tomorrow.” And again on the morning of Jan. 6 he warned: “Today’s not just a rally. At one o’clock that starts and there’s going to be some pretty controversial things going on.”
- Bannon was no longer part of the White House staff since being fired in 2017 and therefore is in no way protected by “executive privilege.
- By refusing to testify, Bannon’s breaking federal law. 18 U.S. Code Section 1505 state that whoever “influences, obstructs, or impedes or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration of the law” by government departments, agencies, and committees is subject to a fine and five years in prison.
What happens after now?
“The committee’s report is then referred to the House for a vote. If the vote succeeds, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi certifies the report to the United States attorney for the District of Columbia. Under law, this certification then requires the United States attorney to “bring the matter before the grand jury for its action,” but the Justice Department will also makes its own determinations for prosecuting. Any individual who is found liable for contempt of Congress is then guilty of a crime that may result in a fine and between one and 12 months imprisonment.”
Then other witnesses will see that they’ll face consequences and the committee can get on with their business.
Action #1: Call your legislator – Vote expected Thursday!
Continue reading “Tuesday evening 10/19 – It’s done! Criminal contempt charges for Bannon!”Tell your senators to vote “YES” on the Freedom to Vote Act and to kill the filibuster to get it through!
The Freedom to Vote Act (S.2747) has replaced the “For the People Act” in the Senate. This bill, which is backed by Stacey Abrams of Fair Fight, makes Election Day a holiday, ends gerrymandering, combats the anti-voting laws working their way through state legislatures, requires states to allow 15 days of early voting (including 2 weekends), massively expands voting access through automatic voter registration and Election Day registration, increase election security by creating a national standard for voter verified paper ballots, implement a national voter ID standard with reasonable alternatives like utility bills or bank statements, requires voting machines be made in the United States, protect nonpartisan election officials from partisan interference, shines a light on dark money, and makes it harder for billionaires and special interests to buy elections. It’s a good start and and Manchin’s reputation, and the future of the filibuster, is also on the line.
Action: Call. Today. Tomorrow. Wednesday.
Minimal script for SEN. FEINSTEIN (not a cosponsor): I’m calling from [zip code] to ask Sen. [___] to support S.2747 – the “Freedom to Vote Act.” It’s imperative that we set a nationwide standard to protect the rights of voters and to strengthen our democracy. We also expect [her] to step-up and support killing the filibuster outright or carving out a voting-rights exception in it to support this bill
Minimal script for SEN. PADILLA (cosponsor): I’m calling from [zip code] to thank Sen. [___] for supporting S.2747 – the “Freedom to Vote Act.” It’s imperative that we set a nationwide standard to protect the rights of voters and to strengthen our democracy. We also expect [him] to step-up and support removing the filibuster to support this bill.
Cosponsor update (9/20/21): Check here.
Contact:
- Senator Feinstein: email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
- and Senator Padilla: email, DC (202) 224-3553, LA (310) 231-4494, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 981-9369, SD (619) 239-3884
- Who is my senator?: https://whoismyrepresentative.com
Information on the Freedom to Vote Act.
Continue reading “Tell your senators to vote “YES” on the Freedom to Vote Act and to kill the filibuster to get it through!”Update: Invest in the rest of us! It’s time to pass our budget reconciliation priorities!
What are we getting for our +20% in combined taxes? Let’s compare, point by point, with the Swedish guy above and they talk to our legislators…
- Healthcare: Even with the Affordable Care Act, two-thirds of all personal bankruptcies are due to medical bills, with 20% of those in the 55+ age group. 70% of Americans with medical bills had to cut their food expenses to avoid bankruptcy.Our students owe. A 2019 poll found 25% of Americans say they or a family member have delayed medical treatment for a serious illness due to the costs of care. 34 million Americans know of family member or friend who died in the last 5 tears after being unable to afford treatment.
- College: U.S. student loan debt totals $1.6 trillion as of March 31, 2021. 62% of students graduate with debt and the average U.S. household with student debt owes $57,520.
- Retirement: “The U.S. is on a path to a predictable and unfortunate outcome — millions of working Americans unable to meet their basic needs in retirement.” This is helped on by corporation replacing pensions with 401k’s or refusing benefits entirely.
- Welfare: Read and weep. “In comparing poverty in the U.S. to these OECD countries, we find that American poverty is both more prevalent and more extreme.”
- Parental leave: Among 41 countries, the U.S. is the only developed country that does not require employers to provide any paid leave to new parents, though some states, like R.I, and N.J. require it.
- Child care: Rich countries contribute an average of $14,000 per year for a toddler’s care, compared with $500 in the U.S. The Democrats’ spending bill tries to shrink the gap.
- Paid sick leave: The U.S. is the only developed country that does not guarentee paid sick leave in any capacity, though some states like NY and CA have statewide mandates.
Action: Call/email your legislators now! Pick a script to call or email!
Continue reading “Update: Invest in the rest of us! It’s time to pass our budget reconciliation priorities!”Undeniable – Addressing the systemic racism behind U.S. housing. Vote “Yes” for equity.
Event and an action!
The Event: Today, at 6:30, you can participate in a free webinar regarding Richard Rothstein’s book – ”The Color Of Law – A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America” (6:30 pm PDT) Sign up here – www.rebrand.ly/colorlaw
Rothstein, who is an engaging lecturer, documents how American governments in the twentieth century deliberately imposed residential racial segregation on metropolitan areas nationwide. His book offers “the most forceful argument ever published on how federal, state, and local governments gave rise to and reinforced neighborhood segregation.” If you can’t make this event, we’ve included two great video lectures to watch at the bottom.
Continue reading “Undeniable – Addressing the systemic racism behind U.S. housing. Vote “Yes” for equity.”Wednesday, 10/13 – “Dear Joe, did you mean what you said about listening to Indigenous peoples?”
Action: Write him and ask.
If you haven’t done Monday’s tasks yet, go here.
Today’s letter to Joe is a riff on what he promised in his proclamation declaring Indigenous People’s Day. Use what you want of it, or better yet, read the proclamation, and use your own voice.
Dear Joe,
In your proclamation, you wrote “…History demonstrates that Native American people — and our Nation as a whole — are best served when Tribal governments are empowered to lead their communities and when Federal officials listen to and work together with Tribal leaders when formulating Federal policy that affects Tribal Nations…The Federal Government has a solemn obligation to lift up and invest in the future of Indigenous people and empower Tribal Nations to govern their own communities and make their own decisions...”
I read it through several times and was struck by the evident respect and admiration for our nation’s Indigenous peoples. I’m writing to ask if you meant what you said. If your words were real. Actionable.
Continue reading “Wednesday, 10/13 – “Dear Joe, did you mean what you said about listening to Indigenous peoples?””Actions to take on Indigenous Peoples’ Day
(And all week as well…)
- Action #1: Make it official – remove Columbus Day from the books.
- Action #2 Sign a proclamation of opposition to LIne 3
- Action #3: Write to Jamie Pinkham of the Army Corp of Engineers
- Action #4: Write to Joe.
Read Biden’s proclamation on Indigenous People’s Day, 2021, here, the first ever issued by an American president. Then, read why a lynching in 1891 of eleven Italians immigrants in New Orleans led to a holiday for a problematic man who never set foot in America. Another story we didn’t learn in school…
Action #1: Make it official – remove Columbus Day from the books.
HR 5473/S.2919 designates Indigenous People’s Day as a legal public holiday the second Monday in October and replaces any wording related to Columbus Day with “Indigenous People’s Day.”
Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Rep./Sen. [___] to support and approve (Rep. – HR 5473/Sen. – S.2919) – Indigenous Peoples’ Day Act.
(Or thank the legislators who’ve already cosponsored these bills. Everyone likes being thanked!)
- H.R. 5473 cosponsors here. Brownley hasn’t signed on yet, Carbajal has.
- S.2919 cosponsors here. Feinstein hasn’t signed on yet, Padilla has.
(3) fast immigration actions, aka “Seriously, WTH, America!?!”
- Action #1: Sign the “ICE OUT of Ventura County’s open letter to the Board of Supervisors – DEADLINE – Friday, October 8.
- Action #2: Denounce inhumane and discriminatory practices against Black asylum seekers at the southern border.
- Action #3: WTH, DHS? Why do we need to ask ICE to stop spraying detained people with toxic chemicals.
Action #1: Sign the “ICE OUT of Ventura County’s open letter to the Board of Supervisors – DEADLINE – Friday, October 8.
For VENTURA COUNTY RESIDENTS: Please sign ICE Out of Ventura County’s open letter urging our Board of Supervisors to protect all Ventura County community members by using its power to put an end to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office’s (VCSO) practice of collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The deadline to sign onto the form is Friday, October 8th.
- Read the full letter here. https://www.iceoutofvc.org/open-letter-to-the-bos
- The form to sign onto the letter is here: https://bit.ly/SignonLettertoVCBofS
- To access the form in Spanish, please visit: https://bit.ly/agreguelacartaabiertaalBoS
Action #2: Denounce inhumane and discriminatory practices against Black asylum seekers at the southern border.
Continue reading “(3) fast immigration actions, aka “Seriously, WTH, America!?!””Build Back Better without leaving anyone behind.
- Action #1: Advocate for a pathway to citizenship – Sign NAKASEC’s petition
- Action #2: Advocate for a pathway to citizenship – Call your legislators and Sen. Schumer.
- Action #3: Write to V.P. Harris.
- NAKASEC letter to V.P. Kamala Harris
We are tired of two rogue Democratic Senators and an unelected parliamentarian preventing the progress America needs. Today, at the Ellipse in DC, 51 people, representing the 51 votes required to pass the larger Build Back Better package, participated in a dramatic and traditional method of protest – shaving their heads as an act of personal sacrifice to demand that Vice President Harris fight harder to include a pathway to citizenship for 11 million immigrants in the package, many of whom are on the front lines as essential workers during this prolonged pandemic.
States event organizer NAKASEC – “The historical and cultural significance of a bald head cannot be understated. In religious context, a shaved head signifies one’s separation from the material and superficial world. Across cultures and generations, hair holds great significance and meaning. To voluntarily cut off or shave one’s head is an act of strength, rebellion, and devotion to one’s cause.“
Action #1: Advocate for a pathway to citizenship – Sign NAKASEC’s petition
Vice President Harris can reverse the Biden-Harris administration’s disastrous legacy on immigration by DISREGARDING the parliamentarian’s non-binding advisory opinion and provide permanent relief for millions of undocumented immigrants.
Sign their petition here: https://nakasec.org/c4all-action
(Founded in 1994, the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium’s (NAKASEC) mission is to organize Korean and Asian Americans to achieve social, economic, and racial justice. NAKASEC’s founding organizing values are: Live Right, Live Strong, Know Your Roots, and Live Together.)
Action #2: Advocate for a pathway to citizenship – Call your legislators and Sen. Schumer.
Continue reading “Build Back Better without leaving anyone behind.”Abolish the debt ceiling. No more toxic budget games with GOP legislators willing to destroy our democracy.
- Action #1: Call your legislators. There are already bills proposed to eliminate the debt ceiling.
- Action #2: Email Biden and tell him to flex his powers. No president should allow any faction of Congress to play power games that could destroy our country’s economy.
We are tired of both our lives and our democracy being threatened by Republicans, be they lawless insurrectionists intent on overturning an election, or a seditious congressman expressing the “dread” he would feel if he were forced to shoot us. We are tired of the GOP’s death cult spurring on the pandemic with fake cures, misinformation and threats against officials and scientists. And we are tired of GOP legislators, after spending like “drunken sailors” under Trump “on the rich, on the wealthy, on corporate interests,” taking our pandemic recovery package hostage by refusing to raise the debt ceiling, the equivalent of an economic nuclear bomb. All while squealing that we’re “mortgaging Our Children’s Future.”
It’s past time to get rid of this whole poisonous mechanism.
