Hundreds of American Arrested, Endless War and The Coddled Rich

Up to 1,000 Americans may be arrested to protest the Tar Sands Pipeline

As we anxiously await Hurricane Irene all along the east coast, we are reminded that storms have grown much more violent in recent years. Hurricanes draw their strength from the warming waters of the ocean and this has resulted in wind speeds of storms increasing 50% since the 1970's when sea surface temperatures began to rise. They are also growing in size. Irene spans 600 miles!

To fight against global warming, many are focusing on the proposed 1,700 mile Tar Sands Pipeline that would bring oil from Canada to Texas. This project could mean "game over" in our struggle to curb global warming emissions according to James Hansen of NASA. Tar sands oil is the dirtiest of the dirty fossil fuels and would create 400 gigatons (400 billion tons) of new carbon pollution into our atmosphere.

So far, 322 Americans (including 350.org leader Bill McGibbon) have been arrested demonstrating in front of the White House demanding that President Obama say no to this dangerous pipeline. The police tried to make an example of the first 50 arrested, by detaining them for two days under harsh conditions, but the next wave proceeded as planned. Another 700 have signed up to also risk arrest, making this the largest environmental civil disobedience this country has seen! Unfortunately, not many are actually seeing the drama play out, as the media is ignoring it.

This begs the question: If 1,000 Tea Partiers were being arrested to make a statement would the media fail to cover that?

It is so obvious that our future resides with green, clean energy! Consider this- The Maryland governor proposed a bill to construct about 100 wind turbines,10 miles off the coast. They could run a half million electric cars at the low price of $1.50 a gallon and create 2,500 new jobs! It is estimated that it would also save $4 billion in health costs by replacing polluting energy.

This could be Obama's shining moment to stand up to the dirty fossil fuel industry and to re-motivate a demoralized base, as he has the sole power to deny this pipeline. Call 202 456-1414 and tell our President to be strong and do the right thing.

Other News 
The Scourge of DU
Our Depleted Uranium munitions have left an epidemic of childhood leukemia and major birth defects in Iraq. In Fallujah, the site of two intense battles in 2004, they have 11 times the world average of major birth defects. In Basra, which was hit hard in the Gulf War, childhood leukemia more than doubled from 1993 to 2007.Read about it and sign a petition to ban DU weapons now!

Endless War? 
In a little noticed report, it was said that US forces, including special forces and air power, could stay in Afghanistan until 2024! There is also talk of extending the deadline for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq past Obama's promise of December of 2012. The very few continue to get very rich on death and destruction, while our country sinks into a deepening economic crisis. Bring the troops home now and invest that money in creating jobs and rebuilding America!
    
The Coddled Rich
Some hedge fund managers in the US make $1 billion a year and they are taxed at a lower rate than you and I are! The median income in our country is $29,000 (half make more, half make less)  It would take 34,482 years to make $1 billion! The 400 richest make more than 150 million Americans combined and most of them don't want to pay an extra nickle to help us in our time of greatest need.

Thank goodness for some voices of reason like Warren Buffet who wrote an op-ed in the NY Times called  "Stop Coddling the Super Rich", but most of the mega rich in this country, like the Koch brothers, want even more at the expense of everyone else. They should learn something from Buffet and from the millionaires and billionaires in France, who have asked for a tax increase to help save their country! 

All the Presidents Say It- Will Obama Do It and Say No to Tar Sands Oil?