4/28

Join or start a polar bear uprising in your area

From: Center for Biological Diversity <bioactivist@biologicaldiversity.org>

Date: Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 11:58 AM

Subject: April 28: Join a Polar Bear Uprising, Save the Arctic

You're Invited to Join a Polar Bear Uprising – Saturday, April 28 Dear Liz, Shell's drill ships are on their way to the Arctic Ocean right now to begin the most aggressive offshore Arctic-drilling program in history, endangering polar bears and their habitat -- unless President Barack Obama decides to stop them in the next few weeks. The clock's ticking, and if we want to get the president's attention -- before it's too late -- we have to get creative. Together with the Sierra Club and other allies, we're holding polar bear uprisings where crowds dressed in white with polar bear masks will dance, in unison, to bring massive public attention to the Arctic's plight. Across the country on Saturday, April 28 we'll set a world record for the most dancing polar bears and, united, we'll save the Arctic. Think of them as flash mobs with a purpose. Join or start a polar bear uprising in your area. It's fun and easy: We'll give you instructions, polar bear masks and all the help you need.  Please join the nationwide movement April 28 and sign up for a polar bear uprising -- and bring all your friends. Also, whether or not you can come to an event, sign our petition to protect the Arctic, then share it on Facebook and join a million voices against Arctic drilling. Donate now to support our work. For more information, please visit our Web page for Arctic oil development. Center for Biological Diversity P.O. Box 710 Tucson, AZ 85702 1-866-357-3349

Keystone

From: Will Bates - 350.org <organizers@350.org>
Date: Mon, Aug 22, 2011 at 1:44 PM
Subject: BREAKING: Bill McKibben sent to jail -- and how you can help.
To: Liz Marshall <lizardmarsh@gmail.com>

Dear friends,

We thought you should know that as of today over 150 people, including 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben, have been arrested at the White House.
Bill is just getting out of prison after spending 48 hours in a tiny cell -- and here in DC spirits are high and resolve is strengthening with each passing hour. For the past three days, large groups of Americans have joined a non-violent civil disobedience action at the White House. The goal is to send President Obama a simple message: "Stop the Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline." These protests will continue over the next two weeks -- and what the activists in DC need more than anything is the knowledge that there is a massive global movement backing them up.

There are three ways that you can stand in solidarity from wherever you are:

1. Sign the petition to President Obama to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline -- we've already rocketed past our initial goal of 35,000 signatures and are hoping to add as many names as possible before we deliver it to White House officials on September 3rd.

2. Send in a solidarity message or photo to the people taking action at the White House.

3. Take part in Moving Planet -- a worldwide climate rally on September 24 -- and move beyond all fossil fuels in the loudest, most beautiful way possible. 

You probably know that building the Keystone XL pipeline is a terrible idea. The oil it will carry from Canada's tar sands will travel all the way from northern Alberta to the Gulf of Mexico. Think: oil spilling all over America's heartland. Think: way more CO2 all over the atmosphere, since the tar sands are among the most carbon-intensive of all the fossil fuels. With so many strikes against the Keystone pipeline, it's understandable that folks are so fired up and willing to put their bodies on the line to stop it. 350.org isn't organizing the action in DC, but there's a separate website to find out more about the two weeks of daily sit-ins at the White House (today was just day #3).
When nominated for President in 2008, Barack Obama promised that his administration would ensure "the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal." It's not a protest I feel like I've been watching unfold here in DC -- but a big and beautiful reminder of that vision.
With rising hope from DC,
Will Bates for the 350.org Team
P.S. Our friends in DC just made an beautiful video about Day 1 of the action in DC -- click here to watch it and be sure to share it with your friends on Twitter and Facebook.
P.P.S. For an extra dose of inspiration, check out a few of my favorite photos from the protest:

Standing Strong on Day 3! (Photo Credit: Josh Lopez) 

Youth Keep Spirits High as Arrests Begin (Photo Credit: Shadia Fayne Wood)

 

Bill Mckibben Speaks to Tar Sands Action Participants (Photo Credit: Shadia Fayne Wood)

  

Media Take Opportunity To Capture A Piece of The Action at the White House Protest of Keystone XL (Photo Credit: Josh Lopez)

---

350.org is building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis. Our online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions are led from the bottom up by thousands of volunteer organizers in over 188 countries. You can join 350.org on Facebook by becoming a fan of our page at facebook.com/350org and follow us on twitter by visiting twitter.com/350. To join our list (maybe a friend forwarded you this e-mail) visit www.350.org/signup. To support our work, donate securely online at 350.org/donate.

What is 350? 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Scientists measure carbon dioxide in "parts per million" (ppm), so 350ppm is the number humanity needs to get below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. To get there, we need a different kind of PPM–a "people powered movement" that is made of people like you in every corner of the planet.

--

Songbirds

 Urgent! Contact Secretary of State Clinton!

Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis

NRDC Natural Resources Defense Council

Stop the Tar Sands Pipeline! SAVE OUR SONGBIRDS! http://bit.ly/obtPbM

 

Visit NRDC page to see Boreal migration routes and hear bird calls

http://www.savebiogems.org/birds/

BP

Some people try to hide the facts, and some people try to hide from the facts.

• Researchers find underwater oil plume in Gulf Researchers say the presence of a mile-wide underwater oil plume in the Gulf of Mexico proves environmental dangers from the BP well leak remain, according to a study published in the journal Science. Scientists do not yet know the levels of toxicity present in the plume, but say degradation of the oil is occurring at one-tenth the rate it would if the oil was on the surface. National Public Radio (text and audio) (8/20)

Songbirds

BP's oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico, disgustingly unchecked after two months, is a calamity in waiting for wildlife who are currently many miles away. Listen to CBC.CA radio podcast interview with Bridget Stutchbury, especially with concern for billions of "Canadian" songbirds passing through or landing in Gulf of Mexico region.

Birds In Danger

Guest host Kevin Sylvester spoke with Bridget Stutchbury. She is the Canada Research Chair in Ecology and Conservation Biology at York University.
Listen (runs 5:24) Browse everything in our show

 http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2010/06/27/a_canary_in_a_coal_mine/

Arsenic

There is naturally occurring arsenic and that resulting from mankind's pollution.

Ocean Arsenic: A ‘Ticking Time Bomb’ Oil Could Make Worse

July 2, 2010 article from The Gulf Oil Monitor

http://www.gulfoilmonitor.com/?p=189

Ponds 'caused Bangladesh arsenic'

November 15, 2009 article from the BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8361660.stm

Cheekiness

The Associated Press reports: Oil giant BP picks up tab for Durango fireworks
BP never displays shame or remorse, just nervy arrogance. If I were on the Durango City Council I would voice objection to accepting BP's money for fireworks. BP files false reports and is a killing machine, destroying human lives and wildlife alike. In good conscience the Council should forfeit fireworks (which in any event do not accomplish anything) and suggest that if BP still has an extra $15,000 they should allocate it to Sea Turtle Conservancy or other constructive organization.