August 27, 2008
· Filed under feminism · Tagged post by Jenny
From Philly IMC:
Gov. Rendell is going to apply for funding for ABSTINENCE ONLY Education for Pennsylvania for the first time in four years??!?!?!
Join ACT UP this Thurs. August 28th at 10:00am in front of the Bellevue 200 s Broad St. to tell Rendell – Don’t be blinded by the Abstinence money to the bad science.
Four years ago, Rendell joined California in rejecting harmful federal abstinence funding. Next week, Rendell will formally make the application for abstinence money again. We can still prevent Rendell from making this embarrassing and harmful plea for funds, but he needs to hear that Philadelphia is outraged.
Evidence proves that comprehensive sexual education prevents the spread of HIV and encourages people that are having sex to have SAFER sex. Abstinence Only education promotes shame. It has also been disproved as a method of preventing the spread of HIV. Shame on Rendell.
His bad policy decison will effect the future of sexual education in Philadelphia, and we can stop it. Join us this Thursday at 10am at the Bellevue Hotel (where Rendell keeps a Philly office) to tell him to not be blinded by money to the bad science.
For more information, contact Sam Sitrin from ACT UP Philly at samsitrin500@hotmail.com or 215.870.7741.
For more about the decision: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/breaking/news_breaking/27505059.html
For the IMC article: http://www.phillyimc.org/en/node/73029
For ACT UP Philly: http://www.critpath.org/actup/
For Governor Rendell’s contact info: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=2998&&level=1&css=L1&mode=2&in_hi_userid=2&cached=true
August 27, 2008
· Filed under environmentalism · Tagged post by Jenny
Message from Congressman Scott Petri:
The state can help make the purchase of a new fuel-efficient vehicle more affordable with a $500 rebate to owners of eligible hybrid vehicles.
What is a Hybrid Vehicle?
A hybrid is defined by state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as a motor vehicle that draws its propulsion energy from an onboard source of stored energy that is both:
- An internal combustion engine using combustible fuel.
- A rechargeable energy storage system.
While flexible fuel and diesel fuel vehicles are not eligible, DEP maintains a list of specific vehicles whose owners can collect the rebate. These vehicles must be classified as a hybrid, and must have a combined Environmental Protection Agency city and highway MPG (miles per gallon) rating of more than 55 MPG. Additionally, the vehicle cannot emit more than seven tons per year of carbon dioxide.
About the Rebate
Rebates are offered on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is no longer available. Applicants must have purchased or leased the vehicle new and include a completed rebate form, a copy of a valid Pennsylvania vehicle registration, a copy of the invoice and proof of purchase. Rebate checks typically take between 10 and 14 weeks to process.
More Information
For a full listing of eligible vehicles or for more information about the rebate application process, visit: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/dep/site/default.asp and http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/enintech/cwp/view.asp?a=1412&Q=502288&PM=1
August 4, 2008
· Filed under environmentalism · Tagged post by Jenny
Dear Battenik,
Last week, Exxon Mobil announced record profits — at the same time that the rest of us were paying record high prices at the gas pump.
It doesn’t need to be this way. Our energy prices don’t need to be this high.
If we repower America and generate 100% of our electricity from clean sources within ten years, we can bring our energy costs down.
A lot of people are surprised when they find out how quickly we can make this transition. We’ve built a fun quiz to help show the way. How well do you know America’s energy? You might find the answers surprising:
http://quiz.wecansolveit.org/
We can start relying on fuels that are free and abundant right here at home. Fuels like the sun and wind. Once our electricity grid is based on clean sources, we can plug in our cars, use those free energy sources, and stop paying through the nose to the oil companies.
On the day Exxon announced its record profits, I testified before the U.S. Congress. I explained that there are no technical or material impediments to achieving the goal of 100% clean electricity within ten years. The only thing missing is political will. And that’s why the We Campaign exists — to build support for solutions that can revitalize our economy and solve the climate crisis.
The average score of people who’ve taken the quiz is 63%. Can you beat that? Find out:
http://quiz.wecansolveit.org/
Sincerely,
Cathy Zoi
CEO
www.wecansolveit.org
August 4, 2008
· Filed under animal rights, environmentalism, feminism, veganism · Tagged post by Jenny
Nicholas Kristof wrote a thoughtful op-ed the other day about animal rights and an upcoming animal-rights related referendum on the presidential ballot in CA. He says:
In a world in which animal rights are gaining ground, barbecue season should make me feel guilty. My hunch is that in a century or two, our descendants will look back on our factory farms with uncomprehending revulsion. But in the meantime, I love a good burger.
This comes up because the most important election this November that you’ve never heard of is a referendum on animal rights in California, the vanguard state for social movements. Proposition 2 would ban factory farms from raising chickens, calves or hogs in small pens or cages (full text).
I found the article interesting because although Kristof recognizes the intelligence, autonomy, and right to humane treatment of non-human animals, he simply can’t bring himself to stop eating them. This made me skeptical of Kristof’s praise for Proposition 2, and after some research I realized that (surprise) it’s really just a proposal to make the cages bigger.
How could this possibly be a “victory” for animal rights? Sigh…
