All CA Citizen Hunters - tell Governor Schwarzenegger to STOP AB 32-- The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006

Taking action will not just have a local effect, but a worldwide one as well. California is the 12th largest source of Global Warming pollution in the world!

Economists are also estimating that passing this bill will produce 17,000 new jobs and add $60 Billion to the CA economy.

Polluters are working hard to pass amendments that would gut it and we can't let that happen!

Call the Governor (916) 445 2841 and ask him to stop the weakening amendments and help Stop Global Warming.

Call the Governor today, Wednesday or tomorrow, Thursday between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM PST

UPDATE 8/31: Good news - Citizen Hunters made a fuss and look what happened!

OK, I started with what may happen to the Internet in terms of our freedom to access the information we want on the web if Citizen Hunters don't stand up and take action now. Some of you e-mailed wanting to know about the evils of media consolidation I alluded to in the post.

We are blessed to live in a great democracy and our media system should reflect that. The public's trust in the media, its accuracy and its independence are at an all-time low due to well-publicized scandals and the tendency to focus on high ratings. This tendency often means that the information Citizen Hunters and the American public need and deserve is put on the back burner for the most titillating flavor of the moment. But the media's problems run even deeper.

Consider this:

Five corporate conglomerates control the four big networks, which make up over 70% of prime time viewing. They own most cable channels, lots of radio stations, Internet sites, movie studios, publishing houses - you name it. In other words, only a handful of people dictate what you read, hear, and watch.

Independent newspapers, radio and TV stations are disappearing by the day. Over half of the markets in the country are one-newspaper towns! Minority ownership is at its lowest point in 10 years. Clear Channel owns 1,200 radio stations alone. Educational programing for children is being gutted, replaced by more profitable shows. I could go on and on.

All of this is being done on "our" airwaves I might add. The public owns the airwaves and big media pays us nothing for what many estimate is worth over $350 billion. Yes, that's billion with a "B". We own the airwaves and yet they - Big Media - don't watch out for the public interest.

We are also getting hosed at the cable box, a fact that I'm sure you are already painfully aware of. Cable companies, with their deep pockets, lobbied and got more deregulation in order to "save" us, the consumers, more money. I have yet to meet anyone who thinks they are saving money on their cable bill. And of course they're right: Average cable rates have increased 50% since deregulation took place. Why is Big Media so good at getting legislation that helps them and hurts you? Campaign cash is one reason. But it's not too late to reverse course! Some Citizen Hunters thought their voices and interests should be heard as much as the special interests; they stood up and as a result this year many rollbacks that would have made things worse were stopped cold.

To get more information and take action visit Freepress.net - I love their tag line, "Reform Media, Transform Democracy!"

UPDATE: One more way to stop big media: Support the Community Broadband Act.

Countering efforts by big telephone and cable companies to outlaw municipal broadband, schools, community groups, local government would be able to provide cheaper and more affordable internet access to many Americans who are being left behind the digital devide. Big Media does not want the competition or local control. Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) are taking Big Media one and recently introduced S. 1294, the Community Broadband Act of 2005.

The Lautenberg-McCain bill would "preserve and protect the ability of local governments to provide broadband capability and services." This legislation would ensure that local communities could decide for themselves how to best serve the technology needs of their own citizens.

Big Media is spending lots of money to lobby on this issue to be sure, but Citizen Hunters are a force to be reckoned with. Please call your senators today and urge them to co-sponsor the Community Broadband Act.

UPDATE 9/16: FCC has FCC-commissioned report showing that greater concentration of media ownership hurts local TV news coverage "disappeared."

I am a proud member of the Philadelphia Daily News Editorial Board. You can usually find the latest here. I wanted to make sure you did not miss this one. If you can donate an air conditioner or some muscle to put them in for seniors who desperately need them, please do!

On a personal note, I have a few I would like to donate that are in storage. Not going to let my dad move them this time since he pulled his back last time (sorry for outing you dad, you still look young!) So if anyone can help me, please e-mail me.

If you have not already donated your old cell phone to help battered women in need, I have another idea for you. Donate your phone to be recycled and help an environmental cause - plus get paid for it!

OK, I cannot make this easier for you guys, so get to it. You know you have phones collecting dust in drawers and you think someday you will use it again. You won't. If you are like me you are holding onto an old phone because it contains all your numbers and you can't transfer them to the new one so you use it as a phone book. (Oh, that's just me? How embarrassing.) Anyway, if I can break my finger typing in all the numbers anew you can do it too! Gather up your phones and send them today. Your gift certificate will be in the mail.

OK, I have received a bunch of e-mails from folks thinking about buying a hybrid car this summer and a few telling me they already have. Since yours truly has never owned a car (hard to believe but true), I did some research. I hope my findings convince you guys still sitting on the fence to buy a hybrid car to help protect our environment, cut down our dependence on foreign oil, and protect your wallets from expensive spikes in gas prices. Sound good?

Honda and Toyota both have midsize hybrids. The Toyota Prius, as an example (the car Larry David drives on Curb your Enthusiasm), gets 60 miles to the gallon in city driving and 51 on the highway, more than double what a regular car gets! Lexus, Honda, Ford, and Mercury have SUV hybrids and Chevrolet and GMC have truck versions. Saturn is coming out with hybrids this year, including an SUV - the price point is great!

To find out more about the particulars and do some comparative shopping, check this site out. And don't forget to make sure dealerships know you want more choices when it comes to hybrids. Consumer demand has a big impact on auto maker decisions.

If you need more incentives than helping to stop global warming, forking over less money to oil rich countries who don't exactly like us, and saving money at the pump, buying a hybrid brings other rewards as well: The federal government is offering tax breaks and rebates, as are some states. California, Florida, Virginia, Utah, and Georgia allow lone hybrid drivers to use carpool (HOV) lanes, cutting down the time you would normally spend in traffic. Cities like New Haven and Baltimore offer free parking or reduced rates to hybrid drivers, and more and more companies are matching government incentives to encourage their employees to buy fuel efficient cars.

If you are considering a hybrid or bought one after 2005, keep in mind you will get a federal tax credit for up to $3,400, and if you bought one before 2005 a tax deduction of up to $2,000. Find out what you qualify for and make sure to check with your state and employer to see what perks you can expect to receive for making a green choice.

(As an aside, while you're inquiring with your city and state about possible perks for driving a hybrid, you can ask about conserving water as well. Tons of cities across the country are giving rebates to people who buy low flow toilets, washers, you name it. In Glendale, Arizona for example some residents have gotten up to $3,000. In Albuquerque, the city has saved 100 billion gallons of water since they started offering the incentives.)

Back to Hybrids. It's important for us to keep the pressure on our representatives to increase fuel efficiency standards. The Boehlert-Mackey amendment would increase standards to 33 mpg by 2016, a great help in stemming our insane addiction to oil. Increased standards would also save the average family $485 bucks a year. Write your representative today and tell them to support the amendment. And tell Big Oil to support renewable fuels.

Whatever kind of car you drive, there are easy ways to save on gas. Get regular tune-ups, keep your tires properly inflated, no revving the engine or fast starts for you hot-dog drivers, and when you fill up stop a little short so you prevent spillage which wastes gas and pollutes the air. Also, remove any unneeded junk in the back of your car because it weighs you down.

All right, I hope that helps. Let me know if I've convinced you yet!

What We Can Do to Help

The study out of the University of California shows that middle school and high school age kids with depressive symptoms engaged in riskier sexual behavior.

Like many studies it just lends more specifics and empirical evidence to something that is just plain common sense. When bummed out or depressed, many will seek comfort in sex as others do in drugs or alcohol. They may think that sex will provide the escape from the isolation that depression brings. Many who are depressed self-medicate and sex can be strong medicine.

Without these higher risks caused by depression the picture is already bleak on teens and irresponsible sex. Teens make up over half of new cases of STD's and have a higher risk of contracting HIV.

Not only should this be a reminder to talk to our kids about the dangers, risks, and responsibilities that come with being sexually active, it should also remind us to keep the lines of communication open not just with our only children, but those we might mentor or know. Parents and others should be on the lookout for signs of depression so that they can lend support and also seek professional help if needed. I won't weigh in on the whole Tom Cruise Lauer interview except to say that while I have often thought our children are far too medicated in this country (ADD? I thought all kids had that), it is true that depression can be debilitating both physical and emotionally and should not be taken lightly.

Warning signs for depression in kids and teens vary from those found in adults. Here are some warning signs I have read about over the years from various publications:

Attend meeting and Contribute to the Debate

Citizen Hunters have been great on the issue of mercury pollution and wanted to alert you to an opportunity to let your voice be heard. To refresh your memory, check out that blog entry again.

On July 27th, state regulators will hold a public hearing in Norristown to gauge
public support for Gov. Rendell's mercury pollution reduction plan.

If you live in Southeastern PA and can go, please do. Filling the hearing room will help make it clear that Pennsylvania supports the state moving forward on this important issue.

WHAT: Public Hearing on Gov. Rendell's Mercury Pollution Reduction Plan
WHEN: Thursday, July 27th at 1pm
WHERE: The Department of Environmental Protection's Southeast Regional Office (2 East Main Street in Norristown, Montgomery County), Delaware Room

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP here.

Also, if you want to present testimony at the hearing, you should contact the
state Environmental Quality Board at 717-787-4526 at least one week in advance of the hearing to reserve a time slot at the hearing.

Congress has record low approval ratings, but that did not stop them from voting themselves yet another yearly pay raise. I would not exactly wait by the mailbox for a thank-you card for the $3,300 in extra cash we paid them. That brings the grand total to $168,500 annually, if you were wondering. I don't think Representative Matheson, a dem from Utah, made any friends when he suggested (oh, the horror!) that there should be an up-or-down vote to block the increase. That novel idea got shut down as fast as my fantasy final in the World Cup: Trinidad and Tobago vs. the good old USA. (I'll explain that one later.)

Let's hope we can be the gander to their goose and they show us as much financial compassion as they showed themselves. I was in college the last time the American worker got a raise and I think we more than deserve it. A new Pew Research Poll found that 83% of Americans agree with me and feel the minimum wage should be raised from its current $5.15 to $7.15 an hour, with half of the respondents saying they "strongly support" the idea. The poll showed the issue cut across party and economic lines, with all groups showing widespread support.

Republicans lawmakers read these polls and know that if it came up for a vote it would have to get bipartisan support or they might not be in Congress to collect their next raise. For the last several years, Democrats have been pushing to raise the minimum wage; Republicans have blocked it every time.

You'd think the Republicans, who so closely associate themselves with "family values" would support a hike in the minimum wage. This is a moral issue. And what could be more moral, more life-sustaining, than ensuring that a working family will be paid the wages that can keep its members functioning?

Arguments that an increase would hurt small businesses (a GOP favorite promoted by the Employment Policies Institute), or that a raise would increase unemployment, or that more teens than adults are affected by the minimum wage (seven of 10 minimum-wage workers are 20 or older, 35% of whom are their family's sole provider, and 61% of these workers are women) have been shown to be wrong.

This week the House Appropriations Committee voted to raise the U.S. minimum wage in increments to $7.25 an hour by January 1, 2009, with seven Republicans on the committee supporting the Democratic amendment.

The legislation faces many obstacles, but as the proverb goes, every long journey starts with a small step, so let's follow them all the way to its end. Take action and let your Representatives know that you think we deserve a raise.

If you are a Citizen Hunter in Arizona, California, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma or Ohio, look to a ballot box near you as you will get to vote, and hopefully join 18 other states who got tired of waiting for D.C. to figure it out and raised the minimum wage above the federal level on their own.

UPDATE: GOV. RENDELL has been trying to get the Pennsylvania Legislature to increase the state minimum wage to $7.15 by 2007.

Legislators last year voted themselves a sneaky pay raise and then had an "Oops, my bad" makeup vote. The Senate is still stalling on voting us a raise. It passed with a 3-1 margin in the House, so the only tactic Republicans in the State Senate have is to make sure it does not come to a vote. This is shameful.

Rendell estimates that the minimum-wage increase, with a cost-of-living adjustment that kicks in next year, would affect 423,000 Pennsylvanians who make between $5.15 and $7.14 an hour.

In his letter to legislators, Rendell says a full-time minimum-wage worker, making $5.15 an hour, would make $206 a week, $10,712 a year: "Assuming that worker has one child, that family would still be $2,000 below the [federal] poverty level" of $12,830.

Two bills remain locked in the Senate - I support the more expansive Senate version. Legislators must vote on and approve this increase in the minimum wage. We will all benefit.

Pennsylvanians, take action and let your Senator know that we deserve a vote on this critical issue and we deserve a raise!

Television made history this past week. NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams' report was the first live American evening news broadcast from Africa. Williams was following Bono on a six country tour of some of the most destitute places in Africa, where Bono was checking on his "investment." Over the last number of years, Bono has given his heart and soul, in addition to aid, for a continent that has needed it the most.

In the countries of Mali, Ghana, Rwanda and Nigeria, Bono is not the lead singer of U2. He's not the front man of the biggest band in the world. He is a traveling salesman - an opportunist who sees the plight of Africa as the greatest chance to demonstrate real and tangible change.

The numbers are overwhelming. 40 million African children do not attend school. Over 26 million are stricken with AIDS. An estimated 9,000 people die every day. TB, Malaria and extreme poverty preside over the continent.

In 2002, Bono, along with Bobby Shriver, founded the organization Debt, AIDS, Trade in Africa (DATA). Its efforts and endeavors have lessened the numerous burdens that plague Africa, offering debt relief, adjusting trade rules, and attempting to eliminate the African AIDS pandemic.

Since 2002, Bono has successfully persuaded eight of the wealthiest nations to forgive massive African Debt. He has also enveloped himself in the One.org campaign.

What Bono offers more than anything, is hope: Change is indeed possible, one person at a time.

Here are 10 great ways you can make a difference on this very important issue. I learned about these tips from an organization I work with, Global Green.

Last weekend I discovered that gas prices went up an average of 17 cents in the previous two weeks - in fact it's up 40 cents from a year ago and is expected to rise even further - so saving energy can also save you cash! (Use this resource to find the cheapest gas is in your area.)

The driving we do every day is killing the environment. Energy saving cars drastically cut down smog, pollution and global warming. Energy independence is also a national security issue. We spend about $300,000 per minute buying foreign oil, much of it from, well, places that aren't exactly led by Citizen Hunters.

Write a letter to your representative to let them know you expect more than business as usual in terms of energy policy.

Get more information on how to break the chain of oil dependency by visiting the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) site.

My friend Laurie, on her website, gives other great ways for you to help!

It appears that the truth about Global Warming is indeed far too inconvenient for President Bush. He wants to "quit the debate about whether greenhouse gases are caused by mankind or natural causes." Not sure how he plans on working towards a solution when he won't acknowledge our role in creating the problem. Recognizing that is essential if Citizen Hunters are going to be spurred to take action. While President Bush continues to ignore the consensus in the scientific community, NASA and even his own EPA, Citizen Hunters must not.

Al Gore's new documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth," shows in such an accessible way the implications of global warming. It dispels the myths and shows us what we can do to make a difference.

It's time for us as a nation to look the science behind global warming squarely in the face and stop making excuses.

The World Health Organization estimates that 160,000 people die every year from side effects of global warming ranging from malaria to malnutrition. And what's worse, scientists say those numbers could almost double by 2020, children and the elderly being most at risk. When you think about that, it's easy to see why Al Gore talks about global warming as a moral issue.

And therein lies the solution for a change and the reason why seeing this movie is so important. I know that once Citizen Hunters know the truth they will lead the way. Americans have always shown the capacity to see important issues in their ethical context, even from the very beginning. Slavery was an issue in the Revolutionary War, long before the Civil War tore us apart. It took time for our government to catch up with the moral judgment of the people, but it eventually happened.

But how long will it take for us to see global warming in the same way? We don't have much time, so get started today in doing your part.

Pollution, heat waves, more violent hurricanes, weather patterns, flooding, disease - we already see the effects, and they will only get worse.

The cost of doing nothing now will be far too great to bear.

"An Inconvenient Truth" is a must see movie!

Go watch the trailer, get informed, pledge to see the film, get others to do the same and take action.

UPDATE 6/16: Gore will train 1,000 people to give the slide presentation you see in the film to help stop global warming.

As the absurd bi-partisan stir continues over whether the search of Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La) offices by the F.B.I. was too aggressive or violated the constitutional separation of powers, I think Citizen Hunters should make a stir about how this illustrates, yet again, the need for effective bi-partisan ethics reforms.

Jefferson, if you missed it, is the Louisiana Congressmen who has been at the center of a 14-month investigation for allegedly taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, $90,000 of which the F.B.I. says he stashed in his freezer.

Though many Democrats are drawing the distinction between the acts of an individual and the much broader pattern of corruption within the Republican ranks, which the Washington Post has called "a criminal enterprise operating out of" the Republican Leader's office, they would be smart to focus on what they plan to do to put in place a system that safeguards our halls of power from the influence of special interest money.

Kudos to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for having called publicly for an ethics investigation of Jefferson, a member of her own party. I wish Republicans would have done the same as they watched a systemic, massive ethics crisis unfold within their ranks. I was also heartened to see that Pelosi called for Jefferson to resign from his seat on the House Ways and Means Committee.

I realize there is due process involved here, but for goodness sake, can we not start holding those given the public trust to a higher standard than whether or not they committed a criminal offense? Pelosi seems to be taking a step in that direction.

Speaking of holding to a higher standard, I am still not satisfied with the Democrats ethics reform proposal. True it goes further than the watered-down, already weak Republican package, but it still only nibbles at the edges of a huge problem. I think Citizen Hunters are too smart to fall for small ideas claiming to be radical reform.

We need real-time reporting for lobbying contacts and serious enforcement of disclosure rules. We need an independent Ethics Commission to investigate congressional ethical misconduct. If zero investigations in this scandal packed year is not proof enough that Congress clearly can not police itself, I am not sure what would be. The revolving door has got to be shut and no gifts or private travel from lobbyists period!

The above would be a great start. But any serious response to these ethics scandals facing Congress must fundamentally change the system by taking money completely out of it. At the root of almost all of the ethics issues, particularly Jack Abramoff's dealings, is the fact that his clients gave loads of cash to members of Congress who used their power to help the clients out, a quid pro quo.

Democrats should acknowledge every politician, regardless of party, has been complicit in making Washington what it is today, and they plan to do something about it by passing real campaign finance reform: "Clean Elections." This form of voluntary public campaign financing is the only proposal guaranteed to make special interest money a non factor in politics.

Let the Republicans oppose this earthquake of an idea and explain to the American people why special interest money is so needed in government.

Take Action by telling our leaders that we want real reform now! A government so controlled by special interests cannot effectively deal with the real needs of our country and her people.

Senator Russ Feingold stormed out of a Judiciary Committee hearing on a gay marriage ban, Reuters reports. Feingold was protesting the lack of openness of the hearing and committee vote on a proposal by Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) alter the constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

Bravo to Senator Feingold to call a spade a spade and bring attention to this sham legislation the only way he could - by making a ruckus. Of course, I would rather see some sincere debate on such a weighty issue, but it is clear what Republicans are doing here.

A similar measure failed in 2004, and it will fail in the Senate again. This leads me to one conclusion - the Republican Congress, sensing that their majority is slipping away, wants to use the gay marriage bogeyman to stir up whatever votes they can. Why else would Arlen Specter (a man I usually hold in high regard) vote FOR the measure, even though he opposes it? He explains in the article that the only reason he voted for it in committee is so that it would go to the floor of the Senate (where it will be leveraged to turn out the GOP base in November).

Unfortunately, there are few Democrats with the courage to call BS on this issue, like Senator Feingold has. It's up to us to show Democrats that mainstream Americans don't want the Constitution used as a political football.

Take Action: Go to DontAmend.com, which lists a number of upcoming events that will protest amending our Constitution on this issue. Take a look and see what is happening in your area. All of these groups can use help, so visit their Web sites, attend their events, and let the Republicans know that we're not going to let them get away with inserting partisan politics in the very core of our republic!

That is the credo of the National Endowment of the Art and Humanities (NEA and NEH) and today we must make sure they can continue to promote excellence in the arts. The arts must be accessible and available to every American, regardless of their walk of life, whether they live in a small town or a thriving metropolis. Thanks in large Part to the NEA, gone are the days when ballet, opera, theatre, symphony orchestra, museums and more were only to be found in a few cities. Participation in the arts has increased because of that accessibility.

The arts take us on adventures of self-discovery and nurture our souls, as individuals and as a nation. They sharpen our minds and create paths to new insights, opportunities; they broaden our awareness, imagination and creativity. I think it was Matisse who once remarked that creativity is the ability to see something in a new way each time you look at it. Art helps us to expand that creativity, and that ability to see something in a new way is important in every aspect of our individual and collective lives.

Art teaches us much about who we are and who we can be. Helps us understand one another and ourselves. It is important that our great country be respected and serve as a beacon of hope and light not just for our strength, but for our culture as well. When we are gone, that is one of the marks we will leave for generations to come.

We must make sure that everyone has the chance to be exposed to such wonder. The NEA takes Shakespeare productions and related educational materials to small and mid-sized communities that otherwise would not benefit. Their programs encourage reading for pleasure. Poetry initiatives for kids help them learn their literary heritage and also build their public speaking skills. Millions are taken to exhibits, plays, museums, experiences that can be truly transformative.

The NEA helps returning soldiers with resources to write about their experiences and adds them to archives if they wish, for future generations to read and learn from. Similarly, newspapers are being digitized so that they are fully searchable and available online--when this project is completed, it will have over 30 million pages of newspapers. K-12 teachers and community college teachers can take workshops that help them bring new tools and enthusiasm back into their classrooms. Public and school libraries are provided with classic literature collections that don't have them and papers and writings of our founding fathers and earliest Presidents are preserved so that we may all enjoy them. These are just a few things that the NEA and NEH did.

I have only heard about the endowments when, on a few occasions, it was reported that they had funded art that was controversial and offensive to many. At the time, I looked at their itemized budget and wanted to share with you what I learned - the work of these foundations is not about a few big name artists who may have received a grant, but millions of children and adults whose names you haven't heard of having the opportunity to explore and experience the grace and beauty of the arts.

Please call your Senators and let them know that in the Interior Appropriations Bill of 2007 you do not want NEA funding to be cut, as it would devastate many important programs that support the arts in communities across this country.

As you guys know I am a member of the Daily News editorial board. Even though they are the anonymous voice of the editorial board, I do at times take extra time in crafting specific editorials that I feel are of utmost importance and share them with you -- like this one.

Months ago, when it was leaked that the NSA was tapping into phone conversations without a warrant, the president assured the nation that the program was limited to a very small number of people - those who made international calls and were suspected of terrorist activity. Now we know the president wasn't completely forthcoming. We now know that the NSA was secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans

Unfortunately for us, our elected representatives in Washington have been negligent in the most important of their duties - acting as an agent of checks and balances to ensure that this administration, or any future administration, always works within the bounds of the law and our Constitution. Our men and women are dying in the name of democracy, we should not be undermining that which they are fighting for here at home.

Checks and balances are an important part of our system of government. Our leaders must help to expose the truth and breadth of the program, Citizen Hunters deserve that.

Sign a petition asking for a full investigation. And call your Senators and ask for the same. (Here's a great contact link for anyone whose senator is actually on the Intelligence Committee.)

If you thought that DC was the only place where polluters help write the environmental laws, think again. It's happening in Harrisburg, PA!

The utility industry and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry have launched a fierce attack against the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) rule that would require power plants to cut their toxic mercury pollution by 90 %. Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin that can interfere with the proper development of babies' brains.

Last week industry lobbyists flocked to the PA capitol with a bill they helped write that would stop DEP from moving ahead with the PA rule and require us instead to fall back on the weak federal rule. They rounded up 121 co-sponsors for their bill - HB 2610. A similar operation in the Senate this week resulted in a bill being introduced there - SB 1201.

A firestorm has erupted over this bill and so far, four of the 121 have withdrawn their support. But that's not enough.

Take action today and email your Representative and Senator and let them know you want dirty power plants to cut toxic mercury pollution. Help protect the health of women and their babies: Send an email to your representative and senator today and tell them to oppose HB 2610 and SB 1201. Tell them not only to vote no on these bills but to remove their name if they have signed onto this polluter's dream legislation.

Get the Facts on Mercury and power plant pollution, the recent science, reports, and articles.

You don't live in PA? Want to see change on a national level?

Write to President Bush and tell him to enforce the law and require power plants to reduce toxic air pollution as quickly as possible! The analysis of his own EPA has told him to do so.

Think this issue does not apply to you? Think again. Put in your address and with this Power Plant Air Pollution Locator find out what kind of air you are breathing and what you can do to protect yourself and your family.

PA's coal-fired power plants are the second dirtiest in the nation for mercury pollution. We also have a serious and widespread mercury contamination problem. The Fish and Boat Commission has issued warnings to limit eating fish caught in any PA lake, river or stream because of high levels of mercury in fish. Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin and poses a serious health threat to developing babies. Babies exposed to too much mercury in their mother's bodies can be born with learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, coordination problems and even mental retardation.

The PA Department of Environmental Protection is trying to adopt new rules to require coal-fired power plants to reduce their mercury pollution by 90 percent by 2015. 2015 is years earlier and more protective that what would happen under the Bush Administration mercury regulations.

UPDATE 5/3: Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy and Republican Senator Susan Collins have introduced a bipartisan joint resolution to reject the Bush administration recently issued rules on mercury. These new rules let
polluters off easy and delay mercury reductions until 2018. Contact your senator and tell them to Save the Clean Air Act and stop the polluting.

UPDATE 6/7: Pennsylvania Scientists, Health Care Professionals Join Call for State Regulations on Toxic Mercury Pollution

You can take action on this issue by visiting these sites:

The Defense Department plans to double or even triple the health care fees paid by some of our military retirees. Our government cannot just say "We Support the Troops" - our policies must prove that we do. Write to your Senator and Congressman and tell them to support S. 2617, the Hagel-Lautenberg Military Retirees' Health Care Protection Act.

This important legislation ensures our veterans will be protected from soaring health care prices by limiting increases to TRICARE military health insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-payments.

To find out other ways you can Support our Troops, visit the Support and Defend Section and Take Action!

If you are a Vet and need to know what health care benefits are available to you, visit our Military Resources area.

Every 10 seconds a case of child abuse is reported, that's over 3 million a year. You and I also know that silence shrouds even more cases. Every day more that 4 children die as a result of child abuse. Suffice to say I believe every month should be Child Abuse Prevention Month, but as April comes to a close, the month designated as such, I wanted to make sure I asked Citizen Hunters to do all they can to protect our children.

Help Build Support for House and Senate Home Visiting Legislation. Quality early childhood home visitation programs lead to proven positive results for kids such as improved parenting practices and reductions in child maltreatment.

Please contact your Members of Congress and urge them to cosponsor the Education Begins at Home Act, so that more children and families can benefit from home visitors.

Learn how to prevent and detect child abuse and get the facts.

If you suspect abuse or neglect may be occurring, report it immediately! To find out how, call 411 or contact your department of social services listed under government agencies in the phone book. If you think a child is in immediate danger, call the police. (800) 4-A-CHILD is a 24 hour National Child Abuse Hotline which offers crisis intervention and helpful information.

Many girls around the world are forced to marry early, and in the process I believe their childhood gets stolen.

25,000 girls under the age of 18 get married every day. Marriage at 10 or 12 is not uncommon in many parts of the world. These girls face serious health risks from pregnancy and childbirth. Girls under 15 are five times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth than women who are between the ages of 20 to 24. Child marriage also results in low levels of schooling for girls.

Write to your Senators and Congressmen and let them know you support Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) legislation to help reduce child marriage in the developing world. First of all, we need to understand the scope of this problem. This bill will require better data collection efforts by the US government. It will provide much needed support for prevention efforts led by local organizations in countries where child marriage is all too common and will help those children who are already married by providing support and assistance.

Ok, I am a Philly girl and showed my bias, I suppose, in wanting urgent action to make sure discrimination does not get written into our state Constitution. Of all places, Pennsylvania should know that our Constitution was intended to give us rights, not take them away! Citizen Hunters from outside PA felt left out and wanted to know how to help.

Well, there are a few things that upcoming elections always seem to bring into town - TV ads like electronic wallpaper you can't escape and revved up rhetoric about what you should be scared of as well as other wedge issues perfect for ignoring Iraq, jobs, healthcare, and pretty much everything else most folks care about.

Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) has proposed an amendment to the Higher Education Act that would allow Christian Colleges to reject students solely on the basis of their sexual orientation. This amendment has passed the house and is now in the Senate. Please contact your Senators and let them know how you feel.

Also, as one of our Citizen Hunters pointed out, many states are preparing referendums to place on the ballot. Citizen Hunter will keep you informed and let you know how to take action!

Every newswire I looked at today reported that the situation in Darfur is worsening. It has been 3 years since the genocide began, 2.5 million people have been driven from their homes and up to 400,000 have died.

The UN has described it as the "the world's greatest humanitarian crisis." After 3 years of rape campaigns, starvation, and the destruction of village after village, no one has been held accountable. Many citizenhunters have e-mailed me about this grave issue - particularly, I'm proud to say, many young people wanting to know how they can make up for our goverment's slow and inadeqaute action.

Send a postcard to President Bush urging him to stop the genocide in Darfur, and talk with your feet by showing up to the rally on April 30 in Washington D.C.

The Bush administration has finally asked the UN to lead the peacekeeping efforts in Darfur, responding to what experts have been saying for years, that the conflict is too enormous for the African Union (AU) force to handle on its own. We do need to make sure the AU gets the funding it desperately needs, so call Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) at (202) 224-5054 to voice your concerns. He is the Committee Chairman for Senate Appropriations. Tell him to support the full $273 million requested for the AU peacekeepers.

And please be sure to check out all the Darfur action items and related site links to find out how you can stay informed and help make a difference today. Urgent action is needed!

UPDATE: Darfur is too dangerous for Red Cross to deliver humanitarian services. Take action: tell our government to help stop the genocide.

I felt the need to write about this not only because your help is desperately needed, but because there are not enough people talking about it, including our TV stations. Check this out and let them know you want that to change!

UPDATE 5/17: 7 members of the Congressional Black Caucus were arrested while protesting at Sudan's Embassy. "We will not tolerate genocide," said Rep. Mel Watt, (D-N.C)., the caucus chairman. "We are saying to Sudan this has got to stop."

The executives of AT&T, BellSouth and Verizon, among others, have drawn a line in the sand on the notion of a "free internet." These corporate giants want it their way: for their subscribers to only enjoy exclusive services on their network. That could mean anything from sites being blocked or only being able to download MP3s or podcasts from specific and provider-approved locations.

AT&T's Ed Whitacre bluntly noted, "The Internet can't be free…for anyone to expect to use these pipes for free is nuts."

I have been concerned about the issue of media consolidation for quite some time, and I believe that it contributes to the erosion of the very fabric of our democracy. When I read that the one place I felt was safe might fall prey as well, I was outraged. It is critical that we have an informed citizenry, and we should have access to a variety of news sources.

Citizen Hunter was my small way of contributing another place people could go to get information, and I would hate to think those with broadband might be blocked from viewing it or many other worthy sites on the web. In the current climate, the internet is the most open and independent venue for news and it helps to foster cooperation and democratic ideals. Please write to these CEO's and your Representatives in Congress and let them know you want it to stay that way.

As the key vote on net neutrality (telecom bill) comes up in the House in just a few weeks these articles spell out just the beginning of what we can look forward to if we don't win. So take action today and I will keep you up to date on what more you can do to keep the Internet free and independent in the days and weeks to come.

Also check out FreePress.net to learn more about "Internet Neutrality" and other crucial media policy debates. It is important to lobby and take action on issues to force our media to be more public interest-oriented.

UPDATE: Here is a second post on Big Media...

UPDATE 5/5: Congress Wrestles with Net Neutrality

UPDATE 5/6: Understand the Telecom bill before the house and take action!

UPDATE 5/15: Telephone and cable companies are spending millions in an attempt to mislead you on net neutrality. Stay informed, get the facts, don't be duped.

This is the web site for Pennsylvania Coalition against Rape. I worked a great deal with the PCAR chapter in Central PA when I lived in Harrisburg and it is an extraordinary group. PCAR uses its voice to challenge public attitudes, raise public awareness, and effect critical changes in public policy, protocols, and responses to sexual violence. They provide services to victims/survivors of sexual violence and their significant others.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or raped get help right away! First things first, go somewhere safe and call someone you trust to support you, then call 1-888-772-PCAR.

You are not alone; it is estimated that 876,064 American women were raped last year and 111,298 American Men. 7 in 10 people raped were raped by someone they know.

Rape is a Crime

Among the many reasons to report a rape, one being to try to prevent the perpetrator from raping another person, I was struck by a line I recently read in "Night", by Elie Wiesel. Night is an account of his experiences in an Auschwitz Concentration camp, an account which one reviewer described as "almost unbearably painful."

"I only know that without this testimony..my life would not have become what it is: that of a witness who believes he has a moral obligation to try to prevent the enemy from enjoying one last victory by allowing his crimes to be erased from human memory."(viii)

Rape is a crime no matter how well you know the person.

If you have been sexually assaulted or raped in the past it is not too late to get help. Call 1-888-772-PCAR. It is important to talk about your feelings. Survivors of rape have very high incidents of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, something that can be debilitating, we see it in many of our soldiers who fight in combat as well.

Here's my Daily News op-ed on domestic violence. If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship and wants help please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.

And as this article shows, men suffer from domestic abuse as well, both gay and straight. Remember, the resources and action steps I describe are not just for women.

Take Action: Please write your Senators to let them know you support full funding for the Violence Against Women Act.

ALSO: Please donate your old cell phone to CALL TO PROTECT program. An important tool for victims of domestic violence who may encounter emergency situations. The lifeline provided by donated phones has literally saved lives. To donate your used wireless phone, please send charger, battery and phone to:

NCADV

1120 Lincoln St, Suite 1603

Denver, CO 80203


303-839-1852, x105

Here's a Daily News column I wrote a couple years ago on global warming.

Also: Find out how you can win Larry David's hybrid car from his HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Plus see all that his wife, Laurie, is doing to help our environment. Do what you can to help her efforts. She is a good friend and a great gal! Oh and another thing, don't drive an SUV near her, she has been known to ticket big gas guzzlers and engage drivers in chats about what we can all do to conserve fuel.

UPDATE: Has your Mayor signed the Climate Protection Agreement?

Find out if he or she did and offer a congrats or a call to action depending.

UPDATE 5/15: The Christian Aid Organization warned that over 184 million could die in Africa alone due to droughts and famines caused by global warming in the coming decades, reversing the recent progress made on reducing poverty in the region.

It takes time and energy away from things I believe to be more important to Pennsylvanians. Things like property tax reform, raising the minimum wage, education and health care.

Though this is only in NY I am sure most states would be equally disturbed by these striking results if they did studies in their own backyard. The study also shows something I discussed in my op-ed and became more aware of when moderating a panel at an AIDS symposium a number of years ago in Philadelphia. Though it was a small sample size of women and other evidence that weekend was anecdotal, my gut warned me of the scary fact this study puts into numbers. Women who were homeless had higher H.I.V. rates than men!

I applaud NY and their elected officials for taking action to discover what is going on in this oft forgotten population and for doing something about the results of the study. They are planning to be more vigilant about keeping track of the homeless AIDS population and to increase the use of rapid-results testing.

To take action on AIDS, visit the sites below and get involved.

I have to admit, I was somewhat surprised at how many positive comments I received about the idea for Democrats to back bold campaign finance reform as a response to the growing number of corruption scandals coming out of DC.

The number one question I got in the hundreds of emails I received was, "What can I do to help make this happen?"

Well, it's time to get out of our PJs, and keeping our opinions to ourselves on the comment threads, and take this one to the streets! Here are some suggestions on what you can do to make Clean Elections reform part of the Democratic campaign message.

First, join a group around you that is fighting for Clean Elections. There are groups in every state, with organizers in most counties. Visit Public Campaign at www.publiccampaign.org and click on "State Action" to find out who is organizing in your state. Give that group a call and see if they need some help. I bet they do. You also may want to check out this "Cleaning Up Our Statehouses" Conference in May.

Second, write a letter to the editor. Letters to the Editor are the most read section of the newspaper, so your letter will get noticed by a lot of people. Letters are more likely to be printed if they are tied to what is in the news, so use the resignation of Tom DeLay as the hook, and say this is why we need Clean Elections in this country, at every level. You know who has a nifty tool for writing letters? The DNC. You can use their tool by clicking here.

Third, for goodness sake, tell the Democratic Party and the Republican Party that it's time they get serious about proposing bold solutions to problems -- especially on corruption. Tell them that you would like to see them adopt Clean Elections as one of the highlights of their campaign message. Here's an easy way to send a message to Congress for ethics reform.

Fourth, tell your friends to do the same! There's a reason the saying "strength in numbers" became cliché, you know?

So what are you waiting for? Let's make this happen!

On Tuesday Jan. 31 in his column, Nicholas Kristoff pointed to a Gerber study that shows that french fries are the "vegetable" American infants and toddlers eat most! One-third of young children don't eat any vegetable daily and 20% of kids 19-24 mo. eat french fries every day. He also reminds us of the outrageous fact that babies born in the U.S. are less likely to survive their first year than babies born in Slovenia.

I am not blaming it all on McDonald's, I eat there from time to time along with IHOP, Burger King, Waffle House you name it. Moderation is the key.

No need to blame yourself - if this study by Gerber describes your child's diet, just resolve to do better! Our lives have become increasing complicated, we work longer for less money, and have less family support because our relatives are spread out all over the country.

To say that child care is too expensive and inflexible is a major understatement. I watch my dad and many parents who love their kids and want the best for them order Pizza and get fast food more than they should because there just aren't enough hours in the day.

One suggestion, cook in bulk over the weekend, it takes the same time to make more helpings of the same dish, freeze it and take it out in the morning and then pop it in at night. In college, trying to avoid the freshman 15 and manage time between activities, my studies and sports I did this and do it still. In terms of snacks there are fun ways to make veggies and fruit appealing--dips are always good and yogurts are great for on the go.

We talk about keeping our kids off drugs (a very important topic which will be discussed in future blogs and guest bloggers will join in, but remember obesity kills more Americans than Heroin does!) Good habits must start in youth!

How about those who say well I do my best at home, but they eat garbage at school what can I do?

Kristoff echoes a call to action I have mentioned on TV in the past. We should ban soda, potato chips, and other junk food in our schools. Make your concerns known to your school and if I hear from you that this concerns you as much is does me I will make it my business to discuss this issue even more than I already do.

So - I'm asking you to take a look at the site and consider using it as your search engine. Just designate a charity as the recipient and watch the contributions grow. It is an easy way to give to a cause you care about.

A new PAC called Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America PAC launched and, announcing that an Iraq Vet from Pittsburgh, Jon Soltz will head it, while Wes Clark will lead its Board of Advisors. It's about time! It's ironic and sad that not a single elected official who has debated the war in Iraq actually served in it. IAVA PAC is trying to change that, by existing for the sole purpose of getting Iraq and Afghanistan Vets into elected office. There are 10 Iraq Vets running in 2006 for Congress, ten Dems and one Republican. Frankly, I don't care which party they come from, - as long as they are willing to cut through the BS coming out of Washington. The President has bungled this war, and the Democratic leadership refuses to put together a plan to get out. The more heroes from the war in Iraq get into Congress, the more the course we are on in Iraq can change, because only these Vets have the credibility to really move the debate and push for serious action.

IAVA PAC will only help those Iraq Vets who are willing to challenge the President on Iraq and demand a strategy with hard metrics to measure goals that will trigger a safe drawdown of Troops. They will be the new generation of Chuck Hagels and Jack Murthas.

They are trying to raise $25,000 in one week. It won't be easy. But for those of you out there who say you support the Troops, it's time to put your money where your mouth is and support this PAC!

See more about them at www.IAVAPAC.org