June 2, 2008
Dear Friends,
I'm in the middle of a cross-country speaking tour. I always talk about my grandson, Grant, and the need to create a sustainable, just, and peaceful world for him -- which means doing that for EVERY child on this planet!
Imagine the pride I felt to see him and my daughter, Jessica, and son-in-law Dan featured on the front page of the Palm Beach Post.
I'd like to share that moment with you:
Palm Beach Post Article
And the full article (including a great quote from Dan, a professional gourmet chef, about preparing baby food)
Palm Beach Post - local news
Best wishes,
John
July 7, 2008
What's Up with Free Trade in Colombia?
On radio interviews I am frequently asked about the "free trade agreement" the Bush administration is trying to hammer out with Colombia and about John McCain's recent trip to Colombia. Here's my answer in a nutshell:
Nine countries in Latin America have recently voted in presidents who are saying "no" to staying the course with international policies that allow foreign corporations to exploit human and/or natural resources. These democratically elected presidents have gone on the record of not seeking US aid but instead asking for reversals in policies, including "free trade agreements," that have been very destructive to their economies -- and resulted in a huge influx of immigrants to the US.
Colombia is a major exception. Washington's push for a new trade agreement with Colombia is an attempt to bolster the Uribe administration -- a president who is held in very low esteem throughout most of Latin America and is seen (along with Mexico's Calderón) as one of the last of the old "Washington puppets."
Uribe infuriated many Latin Americans when he illegally sent troops into Ecuador to assassinate FARC representatives who reportedly were there to try to negotiate hostage exchanges and a peace deal. I was traveling in Central America at the time and heard first-had the anger directed at the Colombian president for the way he ignored Ecuador's sovereign rights and escalated hostilities.
This "free trade agreement" is Washington's desperate attempt to shore up one of its few remaining Latin puppets and at the same time tilt the playing field even further in favor of the big corporations.
What you can do: Speak out against "free trade agreements" that are written to help multinational corporations exploit other countries. Email your representatives and the corporations whose goods and services you buy. Tell them you know that what is best for the US are strong Latin American economies where local resources are channeled to the poor through health, education and other social services.
John
July 22, 2008
Hi Friends,
I'd like to urge you to sign the petition below. It will take about 10 seconds.
A huge wave is sweeping the country -- following Al Gore's courageous call for a totally revitalized energy sector.
Please join this wave. Now is the time to serve ourselves, future generations, and Pachamama.
Thanks,
John
_______________________________________________________________________
Click below to ask Obama, McCain, and Congress to accept Al Gore's challenge: "America must commit to producing 100% of our electricity from cheap, clean renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, within 10 years."
Sign the petition
Dear MoveOn member, Al Gore took a big risk when he called on us to get 100% of our electricity from cheap, clean sources within 10 years.
It's an achievable goal, but it's already under attack from the oil and coal companies. They're calling his plan unrealistic, impossible, and crazy.1
We're in a crisis. If this is the fate of any new idea to get us out of this crisis alive, we're toast. Gore's challenge will live or die on the reaction of people like us.
We can turn back Big Oil's attack if hundreds of thousands of us personally endorse Gore's challenge to power our country with 100% cheap, clean energy within 10 years—and then we urge Obama, McCain, and Congress to get on board.
Clicking here will add your support to Gore's challenge:
MoveOn.Org
The petition says: "America must commit to producing 100% of our electricity from cheap, clean renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, within 10 years."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says "it is absolutely possible" that Congress will accept Gore's challenge. 2 But to make it happen, we'll need to show Congress just how many people want bold action.
Al Gore laid out a far-reaching yet simple plan to deal with the most pressing issues of the day. Switching to clean energy will help us survive the climate crisis. And save our souring economy. And help end the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and possibly Iran. And offer relief from high gas prices.
In Gore's words:
"We're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that's got to change."
"But if we grab hold of that common thread and pull it hard, all of these complex problems begin to unravel and we will find that we're holding the answer to all of them right in our hand."3
That answer is a massive program to switch America to clean energy.
Crisis brings opportunity.
Solar, wind, and other clean energy sources are ready to replace oil and coal. And these abundant energy sources promise lower costs at a time when getting to work is getting too expensive for too many.
Such a simple, elegant solution. Can you make sure our country embraces change—100% renewable power in 10 years? Sign the petition to Obama, McCain, and Congress by clicking here:
MoveOn.Org
Thanks for all you do.
–Noah, Joan, Eli, Patrick S. and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Statement Regarding Former Vice President Al Gore's Speech on Climate Change," American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, July 17, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3951&id=13304-6830408-uF7aWBx&t=5
"Voinovich Finds Gore's Energy Speech 'Ridiculous,'" The Hill, July 17, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3952&id=13304-6830408-uF7aWBx&t=6
"Thinking green," Baltimore Sun, July 21, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3953&id=13304-6830408-uF7aWBx&t=7
2. "Appealing to Bloggers' Influence, Gore Asks for Help in Promoting Energy Challenge," New York Times, July 20, 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/us/politics/20netroot.html
3. "Al Gore's Challenge to Repower America," July 17, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3945&id=13304-6830408-uF7aWBx&t=8
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