Sneak Attack by Corporadoes on Local Laws Protecting Farmland

Disgusting sneak attack by corporations who want to win the ability to SUE local governments to demand ransom having to follow the law.

And even more revolting, the Democratic-majority Oregon House passed this offensive, Orwellian attack on democracy (letting corporations sue to make states pay for passing laws to protect the public that the corporations don't like):

Call your State Senator ASAP -- especially Salem folks living in Senate President Peter Courtney's district:

A year ago this month, voters in Jackson County – led by local family farmers trying to protect their crops from GMO contamination – voted overwhelmingly to ban genetically engineered crops from being cultivated within their borders. This landslide win was a victory for grassroots activists and a rebuke for Monsanto and other corporations that spent BIG money to defeat the measure.

But now, a sneaky new bill, HB 3212, is moving through the state legislature that would undermine Jackson County’s trailblazing legislation. It gives the same industrial farm interests that fought GMO labeling the right to sue counties, cities and the state for “compensation” due to important laws that protect the environment and the public.

Groups representing family farmers, such as Friends of Family Farmers and Our Family Farms Coalition, are opposing HB 3212 since it would also undermine laws meant to protect family farmers and organic farmers from being damaged by industrial agricultural practices. Laws protecting family farmers from GMO-contamination or pesticide over-spraying, for example, would be undermined by HB 3212.

The bill has already passed the Oregon House and could soon be considered by the State Senate.

John, we need all hands on deck to fight this damaging legislation. Click here to find the phone number and email of your State Senator. Then, ask them to OPPOSE HB 3212 since it doesn’t protect the public, family farmers, or the environment!

We only have a short time to stop this bill in its tracks. Tell your Senator to oppose HB 3212 today >>

Thank you,

Oregon GMO Right to Know

Hook 'em young: Educating kindergartners about sugary drinks on Pinterest | Sports Dr…

https://www.pinterest.com/colinpurrington/educating-kindergartners-about-sugary-drinks/


"Let's live on the planet as if we intend to stay."

ACT FAST to demand that USDA Diet Guidelines Consider Environmental Consequences!

Here’s the full story:

Every 5 years the US dietary guidelines are updated. And what goes into those guidelines informs the $16 billion school lunch program, WIC, and other institutional procurement standards nationally. Every 5 years an independent science panel recommends what should be updated in the guidelines- then there is a short public review period which typically involves industries advocating for their special interests “more sugar!” “more beef!” etc., while citizens remain uninformed and their voices never heard by the government agencies that decide on the final guidelines.

This year, for the first time ever, the science committee recommended considering the sustainability of the dietary patterns promoted by the dietary guidelines, for the sake of food security to feed our country healthfully today and in the future. This is an unprecedented and welcome change!

But Big Ag has pushed back saying there is no place for sustainability language in the dietary guidelines. The livestock industry have been mobilizing their membership to place comments protecting their interests, and working against that of the public, by objecting to the inclusion of sustainability, as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

Over the next few months a political process will take place behind closed doors to define what will be in our dietary guidelines. But we as citizens have one last chance to have our voices heard! We can submit a public comment directly to the HHS and USDA by May 8th.

http://cowspiracy.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=773de69b0ae89f48a7271e5e0&id=87dcb3d6c9&e=882dbc0b10

Here's the comment I just submitted:

PLEASE do not overlook the environment when considering dietary guidelines! The earth is our sole storehouse of food -- ignoring that we need to eat tomorrow and for years to come, as well as today, is not just short-sided, it's counterproductive to dietary guidelines.

MAKE SURE TO include dietary advice on health and the environment in the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as recommended in the 2015 Scientific Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The science is clear, a diet higher in plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and lower in calories and animal-based foods is more health promoting, less resource intensive, and is associated with less environmental impact.

Although we humans like to think of ourselves otherwise, we are part of the planetary ecosystem, and we are overwhelming it with our sheer numbers. To have a secure future, we must start being conscious of how we are degrading the planet's long term ability to provide for our needs, and to curb our appetites and to shift towards more sustainable choices in diet. We cannot afford to wait until the oceans are devoid of life and the climate is radically destabilized to realize that what's on our plates has a huge effect on what goes on with the planet -- and vice versa!

Any homo sapiens sapiens worthy of the title would realize that WE HAVE TO STOP EATING LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW IF WE WANT MORE TOMORROWS!

How Sustainable is Stored Sunlight? [feedly]

A must-read now that media is falling all over Tesla's plan to make money selling batteries for cars without the car . . .

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How Sustainable is Stored Sunlight?
// Low-tech Magazine

Picture: Tesla's lithium-ion home storage system.

One of the constraints of solar power is that it is not always available: it is dependent on daylight hours and clear skies. In order to fill these gaps, a storage solution or a backup infrastructure of fossil fuel power plants is required -- a factor that is often ignored when scientists investigate the sustainability of PV systems.

Whether or not to include storage is no longer just an academic question. Driven by better battery technology and the disincentivization of grid-connected solar panels, off-grid solar is about to make a comeback. How sustainable is a solar PV system if energy storage is taken into account?

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In the previous article, we have seen that many life cycle analyses (LCAs) of solar PV systems have a positive bias. Most LCAs base their studies on the manufacturing of solar cells in Europe or the USA. However, most panels are now produced in China, where the electric grid is about twice as carbon-intensive and about 50% less energy efficient. [1] Likewise, most LCAs investigate solar PV systems in regions with a solar insolation typical of the Mediterranean region, while the majority of solar panels have been installed in places with only half as much sunshine.

As a consequence, the embodied greenhouse gas emissions of a kWh of electricity generated by solar PV is two to four times higher than most LCAs indicate. Instead of the oft-cited 30-50 grams of CO2-equivalents per kilowatt-hour of generated electricity (gCO2e/kWh), we calculated that the typical solar PV system installed between 2008 and 2014 produces close to 120 gCO2e/kWh. This makes solar PV only four times less carbon-intensive than conventional grid electricity in most western countries.

However, even this result is overly optimistic. In the previous article, we didn't take into account "one of the potentially largest missing components" [2] of the usual life cycle analysis of PV systems: the embodied energy of the infrastructure that deals with the intermittency of solar power. Solar insolation varies throughout the day and throughout the season, and of course solar energy is not available after sunset. . . .

"Let's live on the planet as if we intend to stay."

Nice: Where is the Love? [feedly]

A small troupe of writers and artists create Salem Is, a worthy site for any reader

Where is the Love?
// Salem Is

"Let's live on the planet as if we intend to stay."

Amtrak Train Days -- in Salem May 16

"Let's live on the planet as if we intend to stay."

From: "Amtrak" <Amtrak@e-mail.amtrak.com>
Date: May 1, 2015 at 14:01:46 PDT
Subject: Amtrak Train Days arrive in Salem May 16

Learn more about Amtrak Train Days events in Salem's Riverfront Park. View as a web page PLAN YOUR NEXT TRIP » All aboard for Amtrak Train Days Saturday May 16 in Riverfront Park Celebrate your love of trains at Amtrak Train Days—the traveling, community-centric celebration of the history, importance and value of passenger train travel in America. At Riverfront Park you'll be able to climb aboard the Amtrak Exhibit Train and explore the history of Amtrak® and the future of rail travel with an array of interactive exhibits and rare Amtrak memorabilia. Plus, Amtrak will also be showcasing the Reason to Ride train—a dynamic experience that takes viewers on an interactive journey through the benefits of train travel. And the Chuggington Kids Depot will have plenty of toy trains and coloring tables for the kids. Book your ticket to Salem today and see for yourself why Amtrak is America's Railroad. BOOK TODAY Amtrak.com Deals Plan Contact Us Amtrak Guest Rewards® Amtrak and Amtrak Guest Rewards are registered service marks of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. Our mailing address is: Amtrak, Marketing Department, 10 G Street NE Washington, DC 20002 Stay Connected

A must read for all Americans: David Simon on Baltimore’s Anguish | The Marshall Project [feedly]

David Simon on Baltimore's Anguish | The Marshall Project
https://www.themarshallproject.org/2015/04/29/david-simon-on-baltimore-s-anguish
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"Let's live on the planet as if we intend to stay."

Words to the Wise, a refreshing perspective indeed

JUNE 12: Annual Dinner for Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Annual Meeting & Banquet Featuring Keynote Speaker Mike Farrell Friday, June 12th at 5:00pm - Keizer Civic Center Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (OADP) has announced plans for their 2015 annual meeting, dinner and program. It will be held on Friday June 12th, at the Keizer Civic Center. This year's keynote speaker will be Mike Farrell, a political and social activist best known for his portrayal of Army Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt in the TV-series "M*A*S*H" and Dr. Jim Hansen in the weekly NBC series "Providence". Mike is the president of Death Penalty Focus, the "grassroots organizing" group comparable to OADP, seeking alternatives to the death penalty in California. Call (503) 990-7060 or visit oadp.org to Purchase Tickets Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty continues to promote the discussion on Oregon's death penalty and we are making progress toward the opportunity to repeal the fatally flawed public policy in favor of programs that demonstrate evidenced-based outcomes that really do deter crime, violence and murder. Also, on the program for the evening will be Danielle Fulfs, Outreach Coordinator for the Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. The death penalty is losing favor across the country and the West Coast organizations are working in concert to repeal the death penalty. Also on the program, representing Murder Victim Families for Reconciliation (MVFR), will be Becky O'Neil McBrayer. MVFR is a national organization of over 4,000 family members who have lost loved ones to murder and speak out against the death penalty. 2015 OADP Annual Meeting & Banquet  Friday, June 12th  5:00pm  Keizer Civic Center  930 Chemawa Rd NE Keizer, OR 97303  Click on the map for directions. The OADP Annual Meeting and banquet has grown to be the most important event of the year, as the organization moves toward repeal of the Oregon death penalty. The previous two keynote speakers have been retired Oregon Supreme Court Justice Paul DeMuniz and in 2014 Prof. Richard Stack, of American University, author of Grave Injustice: Unearthing Wrongful Executions. A reception with our 2015 guest speakers will take place starting at 5PM. Individual tickets are $40 and tables of eight can be reserved by calling (503) 990-7060. Tickets are also available online at oadp.org. Dinner will start at 6PM and the program for the evening will follow.  The Keizer Civic Center is located at 930 Chemawa Rd. NE, in Keizer, OR 97303. Driving on I-5 from the north, take Exit 260B to Chemawa Rd. Driving from the south on I-5, take Exit 260. Driving from Salem, take River Rd to Chemawa, then turn right. For more information call Ron Steiner at (503) 990-7060 OADP 2015 Annual Dinner Flyer (PDF) Contact Info: Address: PO Box 2765, Salem, OR 97308 Phone: (503) 990-7060 Email: info@oadp.org Website: oadp.org Help Us Repeal the Death Penalty in Oregon! The mission of Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (OADP) is to repeal the death penalty in Oregon as an essential step toward a more cost-effective, humane and restorative response to violent crime, and thus toward safer, more peaceful and just communities. DONATE TO OADP OADP is a 501(c)3 non-profit. Connect with Us: FacebookTwitterGoogle+YouTubeVimeoLinkedIn

You are being sent this email because you requested to be informed about abolition and death penalty repeal events and information in Oregon from Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. OADP values your privacy and will not share your information without your consent.

© Copyright 2015 Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (OADP) All Rights Reserved.

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Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty P.O. Box 2765 Salem, Oregon 97308 USA Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy.

"Let's live on the planet as if we intend to stay."

Oregon A-OK with exposing kids to toxic lead

People who should know better -- including the U.S. EPA boss -- wrongly think that lead is a past problem, even as we continue to allow civil aviation pilots, overwhelmingly the wealthiest among us, to coat our cities and farm fields with lead particles from leaded aviation fuel. 

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Freddie Gray's life a study in the sad effects of lead paint on poor blacks - The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/freddie-grays-life-a-study-in-the-sad-effects-of-lead-paint-on-poor-blacks/2015/04/29/0be898e6-eea8-11e4-8abc-d6aa3bad79dd_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage
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"Let's live on the planet as if we intend to stay."